MSU Softball Wins Pair to Open Fall Schedule
September 20, 2009 | Softball
- Official Statistics (Game 1)
- Official Statistics (Game 1) (PDF)
- Official Statistics (Game 2)
- Official Statistics (Game 2) (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Chelsea Bramlett collected seven hits and four RBI, and freshman Shelby Fisher drove in five runs as the Mississippi State softball team opened the fall schedule with 14-2 and 19-0 wins against Southern Union State at the MSU RecPlex.
Bramlett, the senior three-time all-American, followed a three-hit opening game with a 4-for-5, three-RBI effort in the second game. Fisher, making her MSU debut, went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored in the second game of the doubleheader after going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored in the fall lidlifter.
Sophomore Ka'ili Smith, a 2009 All-SEC selection, drove in five runs in the pair of games, and junior Brittany Bell drove in a team-high five runs on a triple and home run in the nightcap.
“It was frustrating having to fight the weather. We lost our games on Saturday and had to play in sloppy conditions on Sunday,” MSU head coach Jay Miller said. “Despite the conditions, however, I was pleased with our first time out. We got a lot of innings and at-bats for our newcomers, and I thought we played solid defense despite the tough field conditions. We did a good job swinging the bats, and I thought our pitching did really well.”
State used four-run first and third innings to open the fall with a 14-2 victory. Bramlett opened the game with a base hit and scored on a Fisher double. Junior Ali Bainbridge advanced Fisher with a base hit, and Smith put State up 2-0 with a ground-out to second base.
Bainbridge extended the lead to 3-0 as she scored on a ground-out from freshman Erin Nesbit, and fellow rookie Jessica Cooley capped the four-run first with an RBI double that scored Bell after she reached on a walk.
The four-run first proved to be plenty for MSU pitchers Misty Flesher and Kylie Vry. Flesher allowed a pair of runs on four hits with two strikeouts over four innings. Vry allowed a walk and struck out two over the final three innings.
Smith extended the lead to 5-0 with a second-inning RBI single before the Bulldogs added another four-run burst in the bottom of the third.
Jessie Spain and Bramlett both doubled before Fisher added the big blow with a two-run triple to the fence in right-center. Fisher later scored on a passed ball.
State added a pair of runs in the fourth before capping the opening-game scoring with a run in both the sixth and seventh innings.
The MSU offense continued its hot hitting in the day's second game, pounding out 19 runs and 16 hits in support of a State pitching staff that limited SUSCC to a single hit.
Lindsey Dunlap pitched a perfect opening three innings before giving way to freshman Stephanie Becker, who allowed a hit and struck out eight the rest of the way.
MSU plated the decisive two runs in the opening frame on a Bell triple and Smith ground-out, but they added six runs in the second and eight more in the third.
Bramlett sparked the scoring with an RBI single, and Fisher added the big blow with a two-RBI base hit through the right side of the infield. Bell added a run-scoring fielder's choice, and four batters later, Erin Nesbit brought home a run on a base hit through the left side of the infield. Cooley added the inning's final score with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Freshman Chrissie Rovtar sparked the eight-run third with a leadoff single to left field. Spain reached on an errant throw following a sacrifice bunt attempt, and both scored on Bramlett's base hit through the right side of the infield.
Bramlett extended the lead as she scored on a Smith ground ball that was mishandled at first base, and Nesbit followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Fisher, who singled to shortstop. Cooley added an RBI double, and both she and Smith eventually came home on a pair of wild pitches. Spain capped the eight-run frame with a base hit to left that scored junior Chelsea Raines.
The Bulldogs capped the scoring with three more runs in the sixth inning. Back-to-back singles from Bramlett and Fisher set up Bell, who lined a shot over the fence in left field.
Mississippi State returns to action at the MSU RecPlex on Sunday, challenging Wallace State-Hanceville at 1 p.m. and Delta State at 3 p.m.
