Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan State
MSU Ends Northwestern's Big Ten Tourney, 2-0
5/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 15, 2004
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Following an exciting, last at-bat, two-day win over Minnesota in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, Northwestern ran out of gas against Michigan State, dropping its semifinal contest with the Spartans, 2-0.
The shutout is only the second of the season posted against the Wildcats. NU has shutout its opponents 14 times on the year.
Senior Carri Leto singled to lead off the game, extending her team-best hitting streak to 15 games. She has now hit safely in 24 of Northwestern's last 26 games.
In the top of the fifth inning, freshman Jessica Miller launched a double into the left centerfield gap. Miller now has three career hits -- all doubles -- and all against MSU starter Jessica Beech. Sophomore teammate Jamie Dotson hit doubles for her first four career base hits last season.
Reminiscent of the last matchup between Northwestern and Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, Eileen Canney and Beech matched zeros on the scoreboard through the first five innings. In last year's first tourney game, the two teams played an 18-inning marathon, with Northwestern prevailing 1-0 on the strength of a complete game shutout from Courtnay Foster.
The Spartans finally broke open the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning, plating two runs on an Elizabeth Peterson single to center to give MSU a 2-0 lead.
Northwestern attempted a comeback in the seventh inning for the second consecutive game. Jamie Dotson led off the inning with a double, then was replaced on the base paths by Ashley Crane, but the rally would end there.
Eileen Canney pitched the entire game for the 'Cats and was pinned with the loss, dropping her record to 18-3. The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, who earned the win against Minnesota in NU's first tourney game, had won 11 decisions in a row. The loss is her first since March 24th.
Beech earned the complete game win for Michigan State, upping her record to 26-14. The Spartans improve to 33-24 overall. With the loss, Northwestern falls to 32-18 overall. The Wildcats now await the NCAA Tournament selection show at 7:30 p.m. CDT to find out if they receive an at-large bid to one of the eight regionals.
