April 27, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Timely hits and a three-run fifth inning lifted the Michigan State softball team over Purdue in Game 1 of the Sunday doubleheader.
The Spartans scored first on a pair of hits in the first inning. Sandy Lewis led off with a single that land just inside the left field line. She then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. Tiffany Wallace slid a two-out offering into the right center gap to score the run.
The Boilermakers put a runner in scoring position in the second inning as Heidi Foster walked and pinch runner Cheryl Buergler advanced on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Lauren Devich launched a long ball to the left field warning track, but left fielder Angel Marren came down with it against the wall to end the inning.
With two outs in the fifth, MSU's Brittney Green knocked a home run off the scoreboard in left field. Lewis followed with a single into shallow left field and moved to second on a Robyn Golden walk. Freshman Diana LaRiva took over on the mound following the walk. Natalie Furrow tabbed the first hit off the reliever with a triple up the right field line, scoring both base runners and giving the Spartans a 4-0 lead.
Purdue got on the board in the top of the sixth on a pair of hits by junior Angela Knight and senior Angi Roembke. Knight singled up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice hit, putting her in scoring position for Roembke. In a bizarre sequence of events, Roembke sent a grounder to the edge of the dirt in right center and none of the Spartans made a play for the ball, allowing the batter to reach safely and Knight to score without a throw. A double play ended the inning.
The Boilermakers scored one run on three hits, while committing two errors, neither of which proved costly. Michigan State posted six hits in the contest, including two by Lewis and two by Furrow.
Jessica Beech moved to 22-7 with the win, while senior Leighann Burke fell to 18-13 with the loss.
Purdue looks to split the series with a victory in Game 2 of the doubleheader.