Michigan State University
WISCONSIN*
Spartans Split Sunday's Games With Wisconsin
4/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State softball split its Sunday doubleheader with Wisconsin at Old College Field, as the Spartans took the first game, 7-5, and dropped the second, 11-8. Nicole Mercado was 4-for-8 at the plate with a double, a run scored and two RBI on the day, while Angel Merren was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored in the second game.
In the first game, Wisconsin scored two in the top of the third inning, as a leadoff single followed by a wild pitch put the Badgers in position to score. An error by State pitcher Christy McGrew allowed UW to score its first run. A bases-loaded single produced the second Wisconsin run of the day, though the score stayed 2-0 for just three plays more.
State scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning, beginning with singles from Jessica Beech, Natalie Furrow and Elizabeth Peterson's RBI single that scored Beech. From there, a double from Dayna Feenstra cleared the bases and made the score 4-2. Two errors by the Badgers combined with two more Spartan hits gave State the 7-2 advantage after three innings. MSU held that lead until the top of the fifth, when two more Spartan errors allowed Wisconsin to put two more runs across the plate. The Badgers made the final score 7-5 with another run in the top of the seventh.
McGrew started the game in the circle for State, and worked a total of 3.2 innings. She allowed four runs, three earned, on two hits and two walks. She struck out two. Beech picked up the win, throwing 3.1 innings in relief. Beech gave up one run on three hits and a walk. She struck out seven, and moves her record to 17-10 on the season.
Beech and Furrow each posted two hits and a run scored in the game, as Furrow also added two RBI. Feenstra was 1-2 with her three-run double.
The second game of the day saw the teams post a combined 19 runs on 28 hits. State started the scoring as it put two runs on the board in the top of the first inning. The Badgers loaded the bases and pitcher Katie Layne hit Peterson to bring in MSU's first run; the second came as Layne walked Janette Hurtado to score Furrow. State put one more on the board in the top of the second, as Angel Merren doubled to start the inning and scored on a Beech sacrifice fly.
 Angel Merren was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three RBi in State's loss to Wisconsin Sunday.  | |
Wisconsin posted four runs on five hits and an MSU error in the bottom of the fifth. Beech got the first out of the inning, but then gave up four hits, including a two-run double, before striking out designated player Anastasia Miller. A wild pitch and an error by State leftfielder Victoria Morache brought two more Badger runs around to score. State allowed four more UW runs to score on catcher Boo Gillette's grand slam in the bottom of the sixth, putting the Badgers up 11-6.
The Spartans rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh, as Peterson, Hurtado, Merren and Mercado all posted singles, as Merren drove in Peterson and Mercado brought Hurtado around to score. Though the Spartans had Furrow, their leading hitter, at the plate with two runners on, it wasn't enough, as the inning ended with the final score of 11-8.
In addition to Mercado and Merren's 3-for-4 performances, Peterson was 3-for-3 in the second game, with an RBI and two runs scored. Hurtado was 2-for-3 with a walk, and also posted two runs scored and drove in one. The Spartans notched 15 hits in the game, but left 10 runners on base.
McGrew started the game, and threw 3.0 innings in which she allowed three runs on five hits. She struck out one. Beech worked 2.1 innings in relief, and gave up eight runs on eight hits and two walks. She struck out two. Jackie Noble mad her fourth appearance of the season, and threw 0.2 innings, walking one. Beech took the loss, moving her record to 17-12 on the season.
The Spartans host Oakland in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 14 at 3:30 p.m. before traveling to Ohio State and Penn State for Big Ten play next weekend, April 16-18.
