Michigan State University
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Michigan State Softball Downs Eastern Michigan, 5-1
4/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 28, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Natalie Furrow was 2-for-4 at the plate, and Jessica Beech shutout Eastern Michigan for 4.0 innings as Michigan State softball defeated EMU, 5-1, in East Lansing Wednesday. Eight Spartan batters recorded a hit in the game. MSU moves to 27-21 overall, while EMU is now 13-26.
Beech was 1-for-1 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored. Five different Spartans - Furrow, Dayna Feenstra, Elizabeth Peterson, Janette Hurtado and Victoria Morache - drove in MSU's five runs on the day. Peterson was 1-for 3 with two runs scored.
"I was pleased with our entire game today," said head coach Jacquie Joseph. "We pitched well, we hit well, we handled ourselves well in the field. It was good to see."
The Spartans scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, as Beech singled to left field. She stole second and advanced to third on an error by the EMU catcher. Natalie Furrow drove in Beech with a single of her own. Feenstra walked, and Peterson singled to drive in Furrow. Janette Hurtado walked to load the bases, but the Spartans weren't able to get another run out of the inning.
State added another run in the bottom of the third inning, as Peterson reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an error by the EMU shortstop. Hurtado singled to right field on the next play, and scored Peterson. The Spartans added another run in the bottom of the fourth, giving them the 4-0 lead. Beech walked to reach base with two outs, and Furrow singled to put runners at first and second. Feenstra singled to right field, scoring Beech. State held the lead at 4-0 until the top of the fifth inning, when MSU pitcher Christy McGrew, who entered the game in relief for Beech, gave up a leadoff triple that eventually came around to score on an error. The Spartans got out of the inning and took the 4-1 lead to the bottom of the fifth, as they put one more run across on one hit and an EMU error.
Beech (21-12) picked up the win as she threw 4.0 innings and allowed just one hit. She struck out three. McGrew worked 3.0 innings and allowed one run on three hits. Eastern Michigan's Michelle Lloyd (4-9) took the loss, as she gave up four runs, three earned, on eight hits and three bases on balls. She struck out two Spartans in 4.0 innings.
Michigan State takes on Michigan in a home-and-home series Friday-Saturday, April 30-May 1. Friday's game is at 6 p.m. in Ann Arbor, while Saturday's game at Old College Field begins at 1 p.m.
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