Michigan State University
Florida
Spartans Fall In Two At Cal State Fullerton
3/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 11, 2004
FULLERTON, Calif. - Michigan State softball fell to No. 21 Florida, 9-4, and Cal State Fullerton, 7-5, in two games at Titan Softball Complex in Fullerton Thursday. Senior Natalie Furrow was 5-7 on the day with two RBIs and a double. State falls to 12-8 on the year, while Florida moves its record to 21-3 and CSF is now 7-14.
Florida posted five unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning of the first game as the Spartan defense committed two errors after it recorded two outs in the inning. State scored one run in the top of the fourth, as Janette Hurtado scored on a single from Beech. In the next inning, the Spartans added another run to make the score 5-2. Natalie Furrow doubled and was driven in on another double from Brittney Green. The Spartans allowed two more Florida runs in the bottom of the fifth, but posted two more of their own in the sixth as Furrow drove in two more runs on a single. The Gators scored two more in the bottom of the sixth, making the final score 9-4.
Nicole Mercado, Furrow and Green each posted a double in the first game. Mercado was 3-5 at the plate with a run scored, while Beech and Furrow were both 3-4 with a run scored. Green was 2-4 with an RBI. The Spartans left 12 runners on base to Florida's four, and out hit UF 12-9.
Katie Joosten (2-2) started the game for the Spartans, and worked 2.2 innings and allowed five runs, none of which were earned, on five hits. She walked one and struck out two. Jackie Noble made her third appearance of the season and recorded her first collegiate strike out as she threw 2.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits and a walk. She struck out one. Freshman Christy McGrew worked one inning in relief, and allowed two runs, neither earned, on one hit and a walk.
In the second game, both teams posted two runs in the first inning, as Merren doubled to left center and scored on a double from Beech. Green reached on a fielder's choice, and was caught stealing, but allowed Beech to score. In the top of the second, State posted another two runs, gaining base runners on a hit by pitch and a walk. Mercado's two-out double to right drove in both Spartans.
The Titans scored one run in the bottom of the third inning, as State allowed its second unearned run of the game. The Spartans posted one more in the top of the fourth, with two wild pitches from Titan pitcher Candice Baker bringing in the only run of the inning, though they left three on base. State would not score again, though the Titans would add three runs in the bottom of the sixth to give them the 7-5 advantage.
Furrow was 2-4 in the second game, while Beech and Merren were both 1-3 at the plate with a double and each scored a run. Catcher Elizabeth Peterson was 1-2 in the game, but extended her current hitting streak to 12 games, tying the eighth-longest hitting streak in MSU history.
Beech was the pitcher of record, and with the loss is now 8-5 on the season. She allowed seven runs, four earned, on 10 hits and three walks in 6.0 innings. She struck out six.
State plays again tomorrow, Friday, March 12, at Loyola Marymount in a noon (PST) doubleheader. The Spartans round out their spring break trip Saturday, March 13 with a 2 p.m. single game at Cal State Northridge.
