Mississippi State
Georgetown
Bulldogs Sweep Saturday's Twin Bill at Bayer Cropscience Classic
March 13, 2010 | Softball
• Official Statistics (vs. Georgetown)
• Official Statistics (vs. Georgetown) (PDF)
• Official Statistics (vs. ETSU)
• Official Statistics (vs. ETSU) (PDF)
FRESNO, Calif. – Chelsea Bramlett collected five hits and Ka'ili Smith hit two home runs and drove in seven runs as Mississippi State swept East Tennessee State and Georgetown Saturday afternoon at the Bayer Cropscience Classic in Fresno, Calif.
The Bulldogs (16-9) closed the afternoon with an 8-0 win over ETSU after Erin Nesbit clinched a 7-6 win against Georgetown with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly in the opening game of the twin bill.
Against the Lady Bucs (9-13), State took advantage of several miscues to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs in the frame, Ali Bainbridge reached on an error by the shortstop. Erin Nesbit moved her to second with a base hit to center field, and Courtney Nesbit cleared the bases with a pinch-hit double down the line in left field.
Nesbit came home when Bramlett, who went 3-for-3 in the game, singled up the middle to push her career-long hit streak to 23 games, two shy of the school record. A fielding error in center field allowed Bramlett to take second. She proceeded to steal third, and came home when the catcher's throw sailed into left field.
The Cordova, Tenn., native finished the game with four stolen bases, giving her 30-straight on the season and 38 consecutive steals going back to the 2009. Her 38 stolen bases tie her own mark, which she set as a freshman, for second all-time.
The four-run second would be all State starter Kylie Vry would need. Vry moved to 5-3 on the season as she scattered six hits and struck out four in the complete-game effort.
MSU extended the lead to 5-0 with a run in the third. Jessica Cooley drew a walk with two outs, and Bainbridge brought her home with a double to the gap in right-center.
The Dawgs added three more runs in the fourth to take an 8-0 advantage. Bramlett and junior Brittany Bell each singled, and Smith cleared the bases with her sixth home run of the season, a three-run shot that bounced off the top of the fence in center field.
MSU added the game's final run in the top of the fifth. Bainbridge doubled down the left-field line to open the frame, and Courtney Nesbit walked two batters later. A wild pitch put runners at second and third, and Bramlett plated Bainbridge as she lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.
Shelby Morris suffered the loss for ETSU to fall to 1-3 on the year. She allowed nine runs, five earned, on nine hits while striking out six in the complete-game effort.
“Kylie did a great job in the second game. I thought we came out swinging the bats in both games. We were more patient at the plate, and we did better execution-wise,” Bulldog head coach Jay Miller said. “I was a little disappointed we let Georgetown back in the game after we took the lead, but we were able to scratch out a win there. I liked the way we bounced back and had a good dominant performance in the second game. Kylie did a great job, and hopefully we can build on that and finish strong tomorrow.”
In the day's opening game, Erin Nesbit's sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning plated Cooley with the winning run as Mississippi State defeated Georgetown 7-6.
Smith capped a two-hit, five-RBI outing with her second grand slam of the season in a four-run fourth inning. Bramlett went 2-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Just as they did Friday night, the Bulldogs took an early lead with a run in the first inning. Bramlett opened the game with a single. After stealing second, she moved to third on a Bell sacrifice bunt and came home when Smith lined a two-out triple to the fence in left field.
Georgetown (6-10), however, answered with the tying run in the bottom of the second. Demetria Cipriano lined a two-out base hit to right field, and Jordan Hansen brought her home with a double to the gap in right-center.
The Dawgs had a chance to recapture the lead in the top of the third but left the bases loaded. Jessie Spain opened the frame with a single to left field. Bell followed with a walk, and three batters later, Bainbridge was issued a free pass. State couldn't get the big hit, however, as Georgetown pitcher Mackensey Carter got Jessica Cooley to pop-out to second base to end the threat.
MSU loaded the bases again in the top of the fourth, but this time managed to capitalize thanks to Smith's second grand slam of the year and team-leading fifth home run of the season. Erin Nesbit kicked off the inning with a base hit and moved to second on a sacrifice from her sister, Courtney.
Bramlett followed with a fly ball to left that was dropped by Jadig Garcia. Two batters later, Bell drew her second walk of the game to load the bases for Smith. The Kapolei, Hawaii, native took a 2-0 offering from Carter and lined it over the fence in center to put the Dawgs up 5-1.
The Bulldogs extended the lead to 6-1 the next inning. Cooley singled to open the inning. After moving to second on an Erin Nesbit sacrifice, she took third when Courtney Nesbit grounded out to shortstop. Bramlett scored her from third with a base hit.
Stephanie Becker retired eight Hoyas in a row until she found trouble in the bottom of the fifth. A Mckinley Cooper RBI single scored a run, but the big blow was dealt by Samantha Peters, who lined a three-run home run just inside the foul pole in left field. Carter helped her own cause two batters later, singling home the inning's final run to tie the game at 6-6.
State, however, captured the win as Cooley opened the seventh with a double down the line in right field. She moved to third on a wild pitch and came home on Erin Nesbit's sacrifice fly.
Misty Flesher tossed a perfect final two innings to pick up the win and improve to 6-3 on the year. Becker went five innings in the start, allowing four earned runs, six total, and six hits.
Mississippi State wraps play in the tournament on Sunday, taking on Cal State Northridge at 11 a.m. CT and host Fresno State at 4 p.m.
