Bailey Homer Lifts State To 8-3 Win At Auburn In SEC Opener; AU Rallies For Split

Tuesday, March 11

Auburn, Ala.

5:00 p.m.

Mississippi State

22-4, 0

Auburn (DH-1)

20-4, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mississippi State	0	0	2	0	1	2	3	8	11	0
Auburn	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	9	3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mississippi State	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	7	1
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	1	5	9	1

Bailey Hits Team-Leading Fourth Home Run As Bulldogs Drop 3-2 Decision To Arkansas

Bailey Homer Lifts State To 8-3 Win At Auburn In SEC Opener; AU Rallies For Split

March 11, 2008 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: hailstate.com

? Official Statistics (Game 1)
? Official Statistics (Game 1) (PDF)
? Official Statistics (Game 2)
? Official Statistics (Game 2) (PDF)

AUBURN, Ala. ? Jessie Bailey's two-run home run in the sixth inning of game one lifted No. 15 Mississippi State to an 8-3 victory in its SEC opener, but a split for the doubleheader as AU got a walk-off home run in the ninth inning for a 5-4 win to force a rubber game Wednesday at Jane B. Moore Field.

The Bulldogs stand at 22-5 on the season, while Auburn moved to 21-4.

"We came out nice and got some runs in the opener," Jay Miller, MSU head coach, said. "We had some opportunities in the second game but couldn't get the runs across. They came back strong, and we have to hold that lead. We have to bounce back and get a big SEC road series win tomorrow."

Freshman Ali Bainbridge had an outstanding conference opener, going 4-for-8 with three RBI and two runs scored. Chelsea Bramlett continued her solid hitting, going 3-for-4 and scoring two of MSU's eight runs. MSU plated five of its eight runs in the game with two outs, including the deciding runs in the sixth.

With one out in the inning, Courtney Bures singled off the wall in right center field. Following a Sammie Jo Bailey pop-out, Jessie Bailey launched her first home run of the season, a two-run shot over the wall in left field, to give MSU its second lead at 5-3.

Misty Flesher, making her first SEC appearance, made the lead hold up, allowing three runs on nine hits with four strikeouts over six and a third innings to move to 7-2 on the year. Elizabeth Woolven picked up her third save of the year, tossing a perfect final two-thirds of the game.

After a Jorja Bell three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the fourth put Auburn on top 3-2, the Bulldogs tied the game the next half inning. After a pair of strikeouts, Bramlett singled to second base and stole second. She scored the tying run on Ali Bainbridge's ground ball to short that was booted by Kyndall White.

After taking the lead with Jessie Bailey's sixth-inning home run, MState expanded the advantage with three runs in the top of the seventh. Nakita Boyce led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bramlett then beat out a bunt single to third base to put runners at the corners. Bainbridge scored both as she singled up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error by the AU catcher. Following a Guess pop-out for the second out of the inning, Bures singled up the middle and scored Bainbridge to put State on top 8-3.

MSU got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the third inning. With one out, Boyce walked and stole second with two away. Bainbridge scored her as she dropped a double into right field. Guess followed with a single to left field that scored Bainbridge from second base.

In the nightcap, State struck first with two runs for the second straight game. With one out in the second inning, Sammie Jo Bailey hit a ground ball to short that deflected off White and allowed Bailey to reach second base. She scored two hitters later as Jessie Spain belted her first career triple, a shot off the wall in left field. Brittany Bell scored Spain as she hit a hard ground ball that a diving Cassie Trosclair at second base couldn't corral.

MSU added two more critical runs in the sixth to extend its lead to 4-0. Bures led off the frame with her third home run of the season, a solo shot well over the wall in left field. Sammie Jo Bailey followed with a double to right center, and pinch-runner Lindsay Hunley advanced to third before scoring on a wild pitch.

AU started a furious rally with a run in the sixth and three runs in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. With one out, Myesha Finney and Taryn Gray singled. Tatiana Fernandez then hit a line drive to left field that Boyce misplayed to allow Finney to make it a 4-1 game.

The Tigers kicked off the seventh as Krista Clyde hit a lead-off home run just inside the foul pole in left field. After a ground-out, Jessica Martin was hit by a pitch. Following a ground-out, Finney delivered a double that scored pinch-runner Cassie Trosclair to cut the lead to 4-3. AU leading hitter Taryn Gray delivered her third hit of the game, a base hit through the left side that scored Finney with the tying run.

After sending the game to the ninth inning, White delivered the final blow as she blasted a walk-off shot over the wall in left field.

Misty Flesher took the loss in the finale, giving up the run on two hits in and inning and a third to fall to 7-3 on the season. Brittany Day earned the win for the Tigers, tossing a hitless final four innings with four strikeouts and a walk.

The series finale is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch.