Beech triumphs 3 times in tournament
The MSU softball team opened its season with three wins at the North Carolina Triangle Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C.Junior pitcher Jessica Beech(3-0) won each game, including a complete-game no-hitter in the 1-0 victory over East Carolina in the season opener. She was just two walks away from a perfect game. The win was the Spartans' first season-opening win since 1999. MSU's first and only run was scored by senior Lacy Hauxhurst in the sixth inning.
In the second game on Friday the Spartans defeated Temple 5-3in eight innings.
After seven innings the score was 2-2. But in the extra inning junior Brittney Green, Hauxhurst and Beech crossed the plate, giving the Spartans the win.
Saturday, MSU blew out Radford with a 12-4 victory in five innings. Green hit a home run in the second inning to give MSU a two-run lead. Then, with only one out in the third inning, the Spartans went through their entire lineup and scored nine runs. In the three games, MSU outscored its opponents 18-7.
The classic was scheduled to run through Sunday but due to weather and poor field conditions the games were canceled.
Alexander stars in gymnasts' conquest
New Hampshire, the second-place team, had 191.875.
Freshman Sarah Alexander won event titles in the balance beam (9.850) and the floor exercise (9.875). Those performances propelled her to the all-around title of the competition.
Sophomore Kristin Merritt tied with Alexander for second on the uneven bars with a 9.800. Senior Kristina Petersen and sophomore Lauren Simpson tied for fourth on the same event with scores of 9.700,giving the Spartans four of the top-five finishes for the uneven bars.
Senior Julie Devaty finished third on the balance beam with a 9.825.
