Michigan State University
UNLV Tournament vs. Butler
Spartan Softball Splits In First Day Of UNLV Tournament
2/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 21, 2004
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Senior Natalie Furrow was 4-of-6 at the plate with three doubles and catcher Elizabeth Peterson notched her first two home runs of the season Saturday as Michigan State softball went 1-1 in the first day of the UNLV Tournament. State defeated Butler in MSU's first shutout of the season, 6-0, and fell to host UNLV in eight innings, 3-2. MSU is now 3-3 on the year, while Butler is 1-3 and UNLV moves to 6-8.
"Overall I'm disappointed we didn't get a sweep on the day," said head coach Jacquie Joseph. "But we played another tough opponent in UNLV. All in all, we're still sticking with our plan for the season."
The game with Butler began as a pitchers' duel, as MSU put the first run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with the second hit of the game. Peterson's first home run of the day was State's first hit in the game. The Spartans added five runs to their total in the bottom of the sixth with a two-RBI double from Furrow followed by Dayna Feenstra's first home run of her collegiate career. An RBI single from Angel Merren rounded out State's scoring and made the final 6-0.
Senior pitcher Jessica Beech struck out 10 in the game, and moved into second place all-time at MSU with her 17th career shutout. She walked one and allowed only three hits in the game.
Beech took the loss in the extra-innings affair with UNLV, moving her record to 3-2 on the season. She allowed three runs, one earned, on six hits and three walks. She struck out seven Rebels. UNLV pitcher Jacque Kerrigan dominated the State batters, as she struck out 15; nine were called third strikes.
UNLV posted a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, though the Spartans answered with a two-run inning of their own in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Furrow recorded her third double, and Peterson added her second home run of the day in the next at bat. The score remained tied at 2-2 until the Rebels scored on a single to shallow right field in the bottom of the eighth.
Furrow was 3-for-3 in the second game, with a walk and a run scored, and accounted for half of the Spartans' hits in the game. Peterson was 1-for-4, while Feenstra and Merren were both 1-for-3 in the game. Feenstra extended her hitting streak to six games, as she has posted a hit in each of MSU's games this season.
State finishes the UNLV Tournament with two games Sunday. The Spartans face Arkansas at 11:15 a.m. and UTEP at 3:45 p.m. MSU travels to Miami Friday-Sunday, Feb. 27-29 for the Florida International Tournament.
