Michigan State University Athletics
Brittney Green Named Big Ten Softball Tournament MVP
5/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 27, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Brittney Green was named the Big Ten Softball Tournament's Most Valuable Player, and Jessica Beech, Natalie Furrow and Angel Merren each were named to the tournament's All-Tournament team, released by the Big Ten Conference Thursday. The four seniors led State to its first-ever Big Ten Conference title as it took the tournament championship in Ann Arbor, Mich., May 13-15.
Green, a senior from Simi Valley, Calif., batted .500 (4-for-8) in the three games, as she drove in seven runs and scored three of her own. She had two home runs to lead MSU to a 7-5 victory against Illinois in the title game, and went yard earlier in the tournament against Michigan. She walked three times, including one intentional base on balls, and was perfect in the field as MSU's third baseman. Green posted an on-base percent of .600 and a slugging percentage of 1.625 in the three-game tournament.
Beech, MSU's senior pitcher/outfielder from Okemos, Mich., led MSU in the circle, as she threw three complete games for a 3-0 record at the tournament. She posted 12 strikeouts and walked just three batters. She had a 2.00 earned run average on the weekend, as she allowed six runs on 24 hits. She gave up just four extra-base hits on the weekend. At the plate, Beech was 1-for-4 against Michigan in the first-round game.
Furrow, a San Diego, Calif., native and four-year starter at first base, batted .444 (4-for-9) in State's three games, as she scored three runs and drove in two. She recorded one double and two walks on the weekend. True to form, she did not commit an error at first base. Furrow was 1-for-4 against Michigan with a run scored and an RBI and 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in the semi-final game with Northwestern. In the title game with Illinois, Furrow was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, a double and a walk.
Merren, MSU's senior center fielder from Wayland, Mich., hit .500 (4-for-8) in the tournament's three games, and posted a double and a run scored. She went 2-for-3 against Michigan in the tournament's first game, 1-for-2 against Northwestern and 1-for-3 against Illinois in the title game. A four-year starter, Merren recorded three putouts in the three games, including one that preserved State's 2-0 lead in its semi-final game with Northwestern.
The Spartans ended their season with a 36-26 record on the year, and finished seventh in the Big Ten at 8-12. State won its first-ever Big Ten Conference title when it took the Big Ten Tournament championship in Ann Arbor, Mich., by defeating Michigan, Northwestern and Illinois.
2004 Big Ten Softball All-Tournament Team
Brittney Green, MSU (Tournament MVP)Jessica Beech, MSUNatalie Furrow, MSUAngel Merren, MSUSarah Baumgartner, IllinoisAmanda Fortune, IllinoisLindsay Hamma, IllinoisKristen Amegin, NorthwesternEileen Canney, NorthwesternCarri Leto, NorthwesternKristi DeVries, Ohio StateMegan Schwab, Ohio State
