Spartans end softball streak

EAST LANSING - Michigan State softball coach Jacquie Joseph knew it was going to take a little something extra to beat No. 2 Michigan.

So she told her pitching staff before the game, "I'm gonna use all of you," and she said she "threw everything but the kitchen sink" at the Wolverines.

It worked. Joseph's Spartans took the second game of yesterday's doubleheader from Michigan 7-4. The Spartans' upset snapped Michigan's 25-game Big Ten win streak after the Spartans relinquished the first game, 3-0.

Tammy Mika went 3-for-3 in the first game, including a two-RBI double to left in the sixth. Sara Griffin, who picked up the 32nd shutout of her career, also added an RBI single. All three runs came against Michigan State's third pitcher of the day, freshman Erica Strutz.

So her 'musical pitchers' system didn't seem to work in that game.

But between games, Joseph said she didn't need to make any adjustments. The way she looked at it, the Spartans held Michigan to three runs - they didn't hit enough to overpower the Wolverines. And in the second game, Joseph still might have been doubting her team, especially after they "blew it" in the bottom of the fifth after going up 4-0, she said.

In the top of the fifth, Michigan State second baseman Carrie Fry singled to right on a full-count Marie Barda pitch. After advancing on Jacqueline Hall's fly ball, Fry scored on an RBI by the Spartans' leading hitter, catcher Margaret Hollis. Molly Hugan then hit an RBI single to center and Shealee Dunavan scored on an error by Traci Conrad, Michigan State led by four after the two-error, four-hit inning.

Carden, homered to the same spot that Morrison's ball had just landed.

After giving up back-to-back homers, Alexander struck out the next two to end the inning.

But Alexander's second-inning strikeouts did not propel a more advantageous performance in the fourth. Niemet hit a two-run home run to right center. Zahn decided to keep Alexander on the mound despite being hammered for two innings.

The onslaught by Bowling Green did not end. The Michigan defense responded to the home run by committing two crucial errors.

The combination of three singles and poor throwing by infielders Mike Cervenak and Bobby Scales combined for three more Falcon runs.

"We just got beat up in the third and fourth innings," Besco said. "We were in control for the rest of the game after that. We were unable to battle back after they scored all those runs."

Alexander was replaced by Bryce Ralston, who pitched three innings while retiring 10 out of the 12 batters he faced. Robbie Reid, who had his best outing of the season this past weekend, continued to pitch well against the Falcons, throwing two innings and retiring all six batters he faced.

Parrish added a solo home run in the sixth, but it was about as useful to the Wolverines as an appendix. As usual, the Wolverines' offense was productive, but the pitching and defense failed once again.

04-15-98