Michigan State University
Ohio State Tournament vs. Oakland
Spartan Softball Takes Two Decisive Wins At Buckeye Invitational
3/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 20, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Jessica Beech threw her second no-hitter of 2004 and allowed just one hit in nine innings of work, while Natalie Furrow was 4-6 at the plate, including a grand slam and two doubles in State's 2-0 day in the Buckeye Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday. State defeated Oakland (7-9), 10-0, in the five-inning no-hitter, and topped Robert Morris (1-17), 9-0, also in five innings. The Spartans are now 15-10 on the season.
Victoria Morache and Elizabeth Peterson added home runs in the Spartans' wins, while Angel Merren and Janette Hurtado each had a double on the day. Beech struck out nine batters against Oakland, and added two more Ks in the game with Robert Morris. She did not allow a walk in either game.
There have been 15 no-hitters thrown in Michigan State history, and Beech is just the second pitcher at State to have thrown three in her career. She's the third to throw multiple no-hitters in a season, as Wendy Greenwood recorded two, both in 1981, and Gloria Becksford threw three in 1976.
In the game against Oakland, State threatened to score in both the first and second innings, but left five runners on base in both. However, the Spartans rallied in the top of the third inning, as Dayna Feenstra singled to right, moving over Brittney Green, who was hit by pitch. Merren hit into a fielder's choice, and Green was out at third, but Hurtado doubled to right to drive in both Merren and pinch runner/right fielder Erin Harvey. Amy Szawara walked, and Morache hit her first home run as a Spartan, which cleared the scoreboard in right-center field, to drive in Merren and Harvey.
 Natalie Furrow posted her first career grand slam Saturday against Oakland.  | |
Hurtado and Morache were both 2-2 at the plate and each contributed two runs scored and a walk. Hurtado drove in two, while Morache had three RBIs. Furrow went 2-3 against Oakland, with four RBIs and a run scored, while designated player Feenstra was 2-4 in the game. Freshman Dana Rosenblatt had her first collegiate hit as a pinch hitter.
In the second game of the day, State jumped on the board in the first inning, as Furrow drove in leadoff hitter Nicole Mercado. State only got one run in the first inning, but added four more in the bottom of the second. Merren led off the inning with a double and Szawara drove her in two plays later. Furrow added a two-out double that brought in Szawara, Mercado and Beech. State scored three more in the third, as Peterson added her fifth home run of the year, a three-run shot to right field. MSU added one final run in the bottom of the fourth as Green drove in Beech, who walked to start the inning.
Beech (11-6) threw 4.0 innings in the second game, and allowed just one hit. She struck out two. Christy McGrew worked the top of the fifth in relief, and faced just three Robert Morris batters, giving MSU the 9-0, five-inning victory.
Three Spartans went 2-3 at the plate in the game with Robert Morris, including Mercado who added a stolen base and two runs scored, Furrow, who drove in four on her two doubles, and Green, with one RBI, were both 2-3 at the plate. Szawara was 1-1 with a run scored and an RBI in her second start of her career.
The remaining games of the Buckeye Invitational were canceled because of poor weather conditions. State plays its home opener on Saturday, March 27 when the Spartans host Valparaiso in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. at Old College Field on the MSU campus.
