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

Wednesday, March 18

Starkville

4:00 PM

Mississippi State

14-12, 0

Arkansas

16-9, 0

Arkansas

Mississippi State

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

March 18, 2009 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

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STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Jessie Bailey's lead-off home run in the seventh cut Arkansas' lead to a single run, but the Bulldogs were unable to complete the rally as Arkansas held on for a 3-2 win Tuesday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.

Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, Bailey led off with her team-leading fourth home run of the year, a solo shot over the wall in left. Representing the tying run, pinch-hitter Laurie Siebert stepped up with her first hit of the season, a ground ball that deflected off the glove of Razorback third baseman Amie Hubbard.

Three batters later, Chelsea Bramlett, who paced the six-hit MState attack with a 2-for-3 effort, drew a two-out walk that put the tying run at second base. The Bulldogs (14-12, 0-6 SEC) were unable to get the tying run across, however, as UA starting pitcher Miranda Dixon sealed the win with a strikeout.

“We're just struggling offensively right now,” MState head coach Jay Miller said. “The players are pressing a little, and when that happens, breaks don't go your way. We had some opportunities late, but we didn't give ourselves any chances early. When things are going bad, the little things don't go your way. I was proud of the way we kept fighting, however. We could have given up but didn't, and that is something we can take into the series with LSU.”

Dixon improved to 9-2 as she surrendered the two runs, one earned, on six hits with six strikeouts and a walk in the complete-game effort. MState freshman Lindsey Dunlap also went the distance, surrendering three runs, two earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts and three walks in falling to 6-7 on the campaign.

The Razorbacks (16-9, 5-0 SEC) jumped out to the early 1-0 lead as Kayla Johnson led off the second inning with her second home run of the year. Johnson paced UA on the day as she went 4-for-4 and scored twice.

State answered back with two outs in the home half of the third to tie the game at a run apiece. Brittany Gates dropped a bunt back to Dixon, but an errant throw to first allowed Gates to advance to second. Bramlett scored Gates with the tying run as she delivered an RBI single up the middle.

Arkansas regained the lead in the fourth as Hubbard led off with a single and scored three batters later on a Brittany Griffiths pop-fly to shallow center that was dropped by Jessie Bailey. Hubbard, who went 2-for-2 in the game, drove in the winning run in the fifth as her two-out base hit up the middle scored Johnson from second after she reached on a single.

The Bulldogs continue their six-game home stand this weekend, hosting SEC West foe LSU in a three-game set Saturday and Sunday on the MState campus. First pitch for both days is scheduled for 1 p.m.