With the 2003 season on the horizon, the MSU softball team is hoping for a complete turnaround from its 2002 campaign.

Last season the Spartans went 24-35 while winning just four of 19 Big Ten contests. But MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said the pieces are in place for the Spartans to make their first appearance in the Big Ten tournament since 2000 and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1999.

"We're more experienced and deeper at every position," Joseph said. "We have depth at every lineup spot and it's not often a coach can say that. There's no reason we shouldn't be able to contend for a Big Ten or NCAA bid."

The 2002 season was a banner year for the MSU defense as the Spartans led the Big Ten with a .973 fielding percentage, which set an MSU single-season record. Joseph said every position player is back and the defense gives the team the opportunity to stay close in every game.

And the defense might need to be even better with the loss of senior pitcher Becky Gray. She pitched 210 innings last season and ended her career with 407 strikeouts - second most in MSU history. If no one steps up, the team's pitching could be an adventure.

"Our pitching is unproven compared to those teams (we play) who have their starting pitchers back," Joseph said. "And everyone knows what a world of difference pitching makes."

Junior pitcher Jessica Beech is being asked to step into the No. 1 spot after posting an 8-9 record, while registering a respectable 2.52 ERA. She also combined with Gray to pitch the only perfect game in MSU softball history. Beech said she's ready to be the top hurler.

"It's not necessarily a lot of pressure," she said. "I've had some time under my belt, and I think I'm prepared for it."

But Beech is the only pitcher with substantial experience on the mound. Junior college transfer Stephanie Christner, who went 10-3 with an impressive 0.61 ERA last season at Indian Hills Community College, is expected to make an immediate impact. Freshman pitcher Katie Joosten will add depth to the pitching staff when she returns from an injury to her nonthrowing hand.

The Spartans hope to improve on the 3.10 team ERA they posted last season, which was ninth in the Big Ten. Beech is confident they can do it.

"We're young, but we have a lot of potential," Beech said. "I think we'll do well. I'm not worried."

But pitching and defense were not the problem for the Spartans. Last season, the Spartans struggled most at the plate, especially in key situations.

"Offensively, we were very average," Joseph said. "The numbers weren't that far off, but the RBIs were off. We didn't seem to have the big hit when we needed it."

As a team, the Spartans batted .257 - eighth in the conference. As proof that MSU was outperformed in the clutch, opponents outscored the Spartans by only 13 runs all season. However, with the return of six of the team's top seven hitters, including junior Brittney Green who led the team with a .326 batting average, MSU's offense could surprise some people.

"I think we could shock some people," said Green, who plays third base. "I'm just going to try to build on the success I had last year."

Although the team is poised to make a run at the conference title, Joseph knows it will be an uphill climb.

"It's going to be the toughest race ever," she said. "We fully expect to be right in the mix. If we can get it going early, there's no reason we shouldn't be able to contend for the title."

Joseph is hoping her five seniors can provide leadership for the team. And while she said the entire team is doing a good job, two have stood above the rest. Senior outfielder Sandy Lewis and senior catcher Lacy Hauxhurst captain this young team, but Joseph isn't quick to give them too much praise.

"Their personalities lend themselves to the rah-rah type," she said. "They're saying and doing the right things now, but April is when I'll be able to say the maturity level has caught up with the talk."

With more than five weeks of practice almost over, it's evident the team is antsy to get the season underway. Beech's comments speak for everyone on the roster.

"We're sick of playing indoors," she said. "We just want to get outside in the dirt."