Offense Catches Fire As Bulldog Softball Sweeps Pair Of Fall Games
September 27, 2008 | Softball
? Official Statistics (vs. Mississippi Valley State) (PDF)
? Official Statistics (vs. Hinds CC)
? Official Statistics (vs. Hinds CC) (PDF)
STARKVILLE
Sammie Jo Bailey drove in three runs in the opener with a 2-for-4 plate performance. She also scored three times on the afternoon. Courtney Nesbit went 4-for-8 in the two games with a pair of RBIs and two runs, while Laurie Siebert collected three hits and drove in four runs as the Bulldogs improved to 4-0 this fall.
MSU opened Saturday's nightcap with a pair of first-inning runs. Chelsea Bramlett led the game off with one of her three hits in the contest. She moved to second on an Allie Heon walk and stole third. The returning first team all-American put State up 1-0 as she scored on a double steal in which Heon took second. Heon moved to third on an Ali Bainbridge fly out and scored on a wild pitch.
HCC starter Meghan McDaniel kept the Bulldog bats in check the next two innings, but head coach Jay Miller's team found its rhythm with 13 runs over the next three frames.
Nesbit drove in Brittany Bell to lead off a three-run fourth inning that pushed the Bulldogs to a 5-0 lead. Siebert capped the frame as she lined a single to right that scored Jessie Spain and Jessie Bailey, who pinch-ran for Nesbit.
After Ka'ili Smith scored on an error in the fifth to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 6-0, MSU plated nine additional runs in the sixth. A Siebert walk coupled with consecutive hits from Brittany Gates and Bramlett loaded the bases with no outs. Heon hit a ground ball that was misplayed at second, allowing Gates and pinch-runner Sammie Jo Bailey to score.
Bramlett made it a 9-0 game as she came home on a Bainbridge fielder's choice. Smith followed with a base hit, and
Elizabeth Woolven picked up the win for State as she tossed four scoreless innings and allowed four hits while striking out three. Kelsey Nurnberg struck out five as she tossed a perfect final three innings.
“We got good pitching in both games today,” Miller said. “Kelsey really looked good in relief. We played well defensively, and at the plate we did a better job. We adjusted much better in our at-bats this weekend. I thought our team got better this weekend, and that's the goal of the fall.”
In its opening game of the day against MVSU, State plated all 11 of its runs over the opening two frames. Bramlett led off with a bunt single, and after stealing second and third, scored as Heon drew a walk on a wild pitch. Consecutive walks to Bainbridge and Smith loaded the bases, and Heon extended the lead to 2-0 on a wild pitch.
Sammie Jo Bailey, who finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI, extended the lead to 4-0 as she lined a double down the third-base line that brought home Bainbridge and Smith. Bailey moved to third on an illegal pitch, and
MState followed up the five-run first with six more in the second. With one out in the inning, Smith walked and took second on a wild pitch. Bailey picked up her final RBI of the game as she lined a base hit that put the Dogs up 6-0. Following back-to-back singles from Nesbit and
State pushed the lead to 9-0 as Siebert lined a pinch-hit single to left center that scored
Freshman Lindsey Dunlap picked up the win as she allowed two runs on a hit with nine strikeouts over five innings.
The Maroon and White returns to the field Sunday, taking on
