Thursday, March 28, 2024

'U' hosts team on 17-game slide

April 14, 2004
MSU outfielder Angel Merren fouls off a pitch during Sunday's doubleheader against Wisconsiin at Old College Field. —

The MSU softball team hosts an Oakland squad that has less than half the wins the Spartans have. But given MSU's struggles, this doesn't provide much comfort to the team.

The Spartans' (21-16, 3-5 Big Ten) doubleheader against the Golden Grizzlies (9-26) starts at 3:30 p.m. at Old College Field.

"What we're trying to focus on is winning. It sounds like a cliché, but it's true," head coach Jacquie Joseph said. "We're concerned with ourselves, not the jersey."

Oakland is nowhere near the team from last season, when the Golden Grizzlies had an overall record of 34-26-1 and finished second in the Mid-Continent Conference. Oakland is on a 17-game losing streak.

But the Spartans have shown signs of struggle as well, splitting four outings this past weekend after dropping three straight.

Much has been expected of senior hurler Jessica Beech, whose accomplishments last season included third team All-America and second team All-Big Ten honors. She also led the conference with a 1.25 ERA, was second in victories with 27 and sixth in strikeouts with 235.

On Sunday, Beech earned the first win in the doubleheader against Wisconsin but gave up eight earned runs in the second game, including a grand slam, for an 11-8 loss. her record stands at 17-12, after going 27-11 last year.

But Beech still is tied for the lead in the Big Ten in batters struck out looking (47), innings pitched (164.2) and is tied for wins (17) with Illinois' Amanda Fortune.

Beech said whatever expectations others have of her this season is irrelevant at the moment.

"I try not to think about it," Beech said. "It's more important now to focus on what's going on and the team we have now. Our team is definitely different (from 2002-03), having lost five seniors - not to say we're worse, we're different."

Joseph hasn't named a starting pitcher until the game begins but said fans can expect to see Christy McGrew pitch.

McGrew, a freshman, struggled in the beginning of the season, but has shown steady improvement, Joseph said.

"Her job is to only learn to pitch at this level," she said. "She's been plagued with inconsistency early on, but her last four to five outings have been positive."

McGrew understands the pressure of the Big Ten conference and is dealing with that with every inning she pitches.

"I knew the Big Ten was a competitive conference, which is one of the main reasons I chose to come here," the Santa Monica, Calif., native said. "But you don't understand the competition level until you get here and play those Big Ten games."

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