Bulldogs Sweep UK With Pair Of Shutouts

Thursday, April 3

Starkville

4:00 p.m.

Mississippi State

31-11, 0

Kentucky (DH-1)

13-20, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
Mississippi State	0	0	1	0	0	0	X	1	7	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kentucky	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3
Mississippi State	0	0	5	3	X	8	8	0

MSU's Misty Flesher Named SEC Softball Freshman Of The Week

Bulldogs Sweep UK With Pair Of Shutouts

April 03, 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)

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Behind a pair of three-hit pitching performances from Misty Flesher and Kelsey Nurnberg, the Mississippi State softball team swept a Southeastern Conference doubleheader from Kentucky Thursday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.

The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs won the opener 1-0 and took the nightcap 8-0 in a five-inning game shortened by the run rule. MSU improved to 32-11 overall and 6-7 in conference play, while Kentucky fell to 13-21 and 1-10.

In the second contest, the Bulldogs pounded out eight hits and broke open a scoreless game with five runs in the third inning and three more scores in the fourth inning.

Such offense was more then enough for Nurnberg (15-5), who settled down after issuing a pair of walks in the first inning. Nurnberg finished with a five-inning three-hitter, including three strikeouts, She wound up facing four batters past the mininum, thanks in part to a caught stealing by MSU catcher Chelsea Bramlett.

"Kelsey Nurnberg struggled early," MSU head coach Jay Miller said. "But she settled in and really threw a great second game for us. Our defense played well for us today. Our bats finally came around in the second game.

"I hope that helps us out this weekend with a very good Florida team coming to Starkville."

In the MSU third inning, the hosts finally broke a scoreless tie. Gina McCloud started things with a leadoff single. After a strikeout, Bramlett followed with a single. Courtney Nesbit reached on a fielder's choice, which brought home a run on a UK error. Courtney Bures followed with a two-run single. Sammie Jo Bailey followed with a hit. After both Bures and Bailey advanced on a double steal attempt, each scored on a two-run single by Jessie Bailey.

An inning later, a single by Ali Bainbridge started the offensive attack. Bramlett then beat out an infield single on a bunt attempt. After a throwing error on that play, Nakita Boyce reached on a fielder's choice plating one run. Bramlett stole home for another run, while an RBI-double by Hayle Guess closed out the scoring.

Offensively, Bramlett had two hits to pace the MSU offensive attack. Guess extended his hit streak to 10 games, matching a career high. Meanwhile, Bramlett now has a six-game streak.

Kentucky had three hits - a double by Megan Yocke and singles by Molly Johnson and Meagan Aull. Starting pitcher Amber Matousek (7-12) took the loss.

In the opening game, Misty Flesher was equally as effective. Flesher (13-6) pitched seven innings, allowing three hits, with three strikeouts and two walks. Flesher faced five batters past the minimum, thanks to the three hits and two walks.

"Misty Flesher was outstanding in the first game," Miller said>. "In a 1-0 game, every play the game is on the line. She did a nice job of shutting them down when runners were on base."

The Bulldogs scored the lone run of the game in the third inning.

Ali Bainbridge started things with a single through the left side. Bainbridge then stole second base and took third on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Boyce. Bramlett hit a sacrifice-fly to bring home the game's only run.

MSU finished with seven hits in the opener. Bramlett and Bainbridge were the lone multiple hitters in that contest.

For Kentucky, Jennifer Young (3-7) was the tough-luck loser. Young allowed seven hits and one run, with three strikeouts and no walks. For the Wildcats, Natalie Smith, Annie Rowlands and Aull had a hit apiece.

MSU hosts third-ranked Florida this weekend in a three-game SEC series at the MSU Softball Field. The Saturday doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Sunday's series finale will also start at 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast locally by WMSV-FM 91.1.