Monday, April 7, 2025

Take a peek behind the curtain and test drive the NEW StateNews.com today!

Sports | Softball

SOFTBALL

Spartans continue to sputter

Esther Gim
April 26, 2004

Down by five at the top of the seventh inning Sunday, with one out and the bases loaded, the MSU softball team was hoping to pull off an upset against Indiana. Up to bat was senior third base Brittney Green, wanting to be the hero again after hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning in the first game of the afternoon's doubleheader. Green faced Megan Roark, the same Purdue pitcher in the second game as she did in game one, when she hit her fifth home run on the year. But this time, Roark struck out Green and then sophomore catcher Elizabeth Peterson to hang on for an 8-3 Hoosiers win. "We continually have inconsistencies in our performances," MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said.

SOFTBALL

Hard hitting

Scott Bartosiewicz
April 23, 2004

Sporting dreadlocks and a killer swing, senior first base Nat Furrow is carrying the MSU softball team to offensive greatness. Furrow leads the team and Big Ten with a .447 batting average, in addition to owning the most hits (63) and doubles (16). "I think as you get older, if you keep working, you become a better player," she said.

SOFTBALL

Spartans missing pitching in losses

Poor pitching continues to plague the MSU softball team, which dropped both games in a doubleheader against Penn State Sunday. The Spartans (24-19 overall, 4-8 Big Ten) lost, 6-1 and 11-6, to the Nittany Lions (18-25, 4-6) at Nittany Lion Field in University Park, Pa.

SOFTBALL

'U' readies for 4-game weekend

Megan Homanick
April 16, 2004

The MSU softball team is at a critical stage in its Big Ten season as it travels to Ohio State and Penn State for four games this weekend. "We're 3-5 in the Big Ten and we're going to play two teams that are right about where we're at, with Penn State being a little down in compared to Ohio State," head coach Jacquie Joseph said.

SOFTBALL

WEB ONLY: Softball mauls Golden Grizzlies, 7-0 and 8-0

Esther Gim
April 15, 2004

Jessica Beech pitched her third no-hitter of the season and senior Nat Furrow hit two home runs as MSU swept Oakland on Wednesday at Old College Field by scores of 7-1 and 8-0, respectively. Beech is now alone atop the Big Ten in wins, with 18. "I was thrilled with the effort, because a lesser team would've had a letdown today," MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said.

SOFTBALL

Senior infielder reunited with longtime rivals

Evan Rondeau
April 13, 2004

A friendly softball rivalry that has survived almost 10 years and more than 2,200 miles is still alive and well. On Sunday, MSU third base Brittney Green faced two longtime rivals, catcher/first base Meghann Reiss and utility player Kaitlin Reiss of Wisconsin.

SOFTBALL

Sloppy split

With a five-run lead and an ace in the hole, MSU softball head coach Jacquie Joseph thought a doubleheader sweep of Wisconsin was a safe bet. After winning the first game, 7-5, the Spartans (21-16 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth of the second game.

SOFTBALL

Spartans return home to play Big Ten opponents

Esther Gim
April 9, 2004

After spending the majority of the season on the road, including the past six games, the MSU softball team is back in the comforts of its own dugout to open up the Big Ten season at home. The Spartans (19-14, 1-3 Big Ten) hope to put their recent woes behind them - 1-4 in the past five - as Minnesota (22-11, 3-1) and Wisconsin (21-17, 1-3) come to East Lansing.

SOFTBALL

Pitcher breaks record, can't help 'U' struggles

Despite a record-setting performance from its star pitcher, the MSU softball team endured a rocky start to its Big Ten season this past weekend. Two losses in a doubleheader at Iowa on Sunday capped a four-game road trip for the Spartans (19-13 overall, 1-3 Big Ten). Before falling to the Hawkeyes (22-15, 4-0), MSU split a pair of games at Illinois, losing, 7-1, in its Big Ten opener on Friday and winning, 2-0, on Saturday.

SOFTBALL

Spartans sweep Valpo

Scott Bartosiewicz
March 29, 2004

Led by senior pitcher Jessica Beech, the MSU softball team launched its home season with a convincing sweep of Valparaiso on Saturday at Old College Field. The Spartans (17-10) made just one error and registered 15 hits and three home runs in the doubleheader. "These are the things we need to do," head coach Jacquie Joseph said.

SOFTBALL

'U' to host Valpo in home opener

Returning home to Old College Field after more than a month of road games, the MSU softball team (15-10) begins its home schedule against Valparaiso (3-8) on Saturday. MSU looks to improve upon its 0-3 record when facing nationally ranked opponents this year with the start of their home schedule and Big Ten Conference games. Head coach Jacquie Joseph conceded the team has dropped a couple of games they could have pulled out, but added that they are in a good position for this time of the year. "We are exactly where I thought we would be," she said.

SOFTBALL

Spartans hoping for easy weekend, more wins

Benita Mehta
April 25, 2003

The MSU softball team hopes to continue its quest for a Big Ten title this weekend when it faces conference cellar dwellers Indiana and Purdue. The fourth-place Spartans (30-14 overall, 8-5 Big Ten) will tussle with both the Hoosiers (17-27, 0-12) and the Boilermakers (31-22, 4-8) - 11th and ninth in the Big Ten, respectively - at Old College Field.

SOFTBALL

'U' tries to avoid upset

Benita Mehta
April 23, 2003

The MSU softball team's tour against in-state competition continues with a nonconference doubleheader against Oakland today. The Spartans (29-13 overall, 8-5 Big Ten) have already faced Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Central Michigan, with games against Detroit-Mercy and Michigan still ahead.

SOFTBALL

Queen of the mound

Benita Mehta
April 21, 2003

On a team with a young, unproven pitching staff, junior pitcher Jessica Beech has put the MSU softball team on her back and has the team in the thick of the Big Ten conference race. After being No.

SOFTBALL

Softball goes .500 over weekend

Benita Mehta
April 21, 2003

The rollercoaster that is the MSU softball team's Big Ten season continued this weekend as the Spartans split a four-game road set with Penn State and Ohio State.The Buckeyes (23-18, 4-6 Big Ten) used the longball to defeat the Spartans (29-13, 8-5) in the opener, as two of Ohio State's three hits in the game were home runs.MSU's best chances to score came in the first and seventh innings.