May 21, 2004

ATHENS, Ga. - Michigan State softball scored eight runs on eight hits in the seventh inning of its NCAA Second Round game of the NCAA Regional in Athens, Ga., Friday, but could not overcome the 12-run deficit it began the seventh inning with, and fell to No. 7 Washington (38-17). Michigan State (35-25) faces Massachusetts in its second game of the day in the double-elimination format at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Nicole Mercado was 3-for-5 with one run scored and one RBI, and Brittney Green posted her 10th home run of the season in a grand slam in the seventh as she went 2-for-3 with four RBI, a run scored and a walk. Janette Hurtado also had a multiple-hit day, with a 2-for-4 game at the plate.

In the top of the first, Washington started the inning with two hits, but first baseman Sarah Hyatt popped up to second base, and the Spartans got a double play out of the deal to leave one runner on base. State walked catcher Kristen Rivera, and with runners on first and second, Dena Tyson lined out to short to end the inning. For the second consecutive day, MSU led off with a single from Mercado, but couldn't push across a run.

In the second inning, Washington's leadoff batter, Kathy Fiske, reached on a strikeout and passed ball by MSU. Fiske came around to score on a ground out to second base. Amanda Oleson was hit by pitch, and eventually scored to give UW the 2-0 lead. With two outs, the Huskies added two more hits from the top of their order, but State got the ground out to third to end the inning. The Spartans started off the bottom of the second with a Green walk followed by a single from Elizabeth Peterson, but the Washington pitcher, Ashley Boek retired the next three Spartan batters in order.

State got a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third inning, and had the top of the order up in the second half of the third. With two outs, Natalie Furrow reached as she was hit by pitch, but State again left a runner on and trailed 2-0 entering the fourth inning. Oleson singled to start the inning and stole second. She reached third on a sacrifice, and with two out, scored on Dominique Lastrapes' single to second base. A double to left field scored Lastrapes, and Hyatt singled down the left field line to drive in Aimee Minor. The Huskies pushed across three runs on three hits to take the 5-0 lead entering the bottom of the fourth inning.

Hurtado singled up the middle with two outs and moved to second as Meghan Darhower reached on an error by the Washington shortstop. A fielder's choice ended the fourth. The Spartans made a pitching change in the top of the fifth, and Christy McGrew made her first appearance since May 11 at Detroit (no decision). Against UW in the fifth, she allowed a two-out double that scored Washington's sixth run of the game.

State again went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, and singles in the top of the sixth scored a run for UW, giving the Huskies the 7-0 lead. In the bottom of the sixth Washington's Tia Bollinger came in and Green singled, but State again was unable to score a run. The Spartans' Jackie Noble came into the game in the top of the seventh, and allowed five runs on six hits to make the score 12-0, Washington.

State batted around in the bottom of the seventh inning, and posted its first two runs of the game on three singles - Merren, Mercado and Beech - and consecutive walks from Furrow and Feenstra to each post an RBI. Green hit her 10th home run of the season, tying her for second on that season record list, a grand slam to left field, to make the score 12-6. Peterson singled and scored on an RBI double from Meghan Darhower to make the score 12-8. Boeck re-entered the game with one out and got Merren to ground out for the second out of the inning. Mercado singled to score State's eighth run of the game as Hurtado crossed the plate. The game ended on a called third strike on a full count, moving State to the consolation bracket.

The Spartans face UMass (34-16) in the game immediately following the loss to Washington. If State wins that game, the Spartans play the winner of the Texas A&M-Georgia game (slated for 8 p.m. Friday) at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.