Bramlett Sets Another Career Mark as MSU Falls Twice to No. 3 Alabama

Saturday, May 8

Starkville

1:00 PM

Mississippi State

26-27, 7-18

#4 Alabama (DH-1)

43-9, 21-4

Alabama

Mississippi State

Bramlett Named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America of the Year

Bramlett Sets Another Career Mark as MSU Falls Twice to No. 3 Alabama

May 08, 2010 | 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. – Chelsea Bramlett collected four hits and matched the school's career runs record as the Bulldogs fell 10-1 and 8-2 to No. 3 Alabama Saturday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.

Bramlett posted a perfect 3-for-3 effort in the series opener, her SEC-leading 33 multiple-hit game of the season. She scored State's only run in Saturday's StrikeOut Cancer Day opener to move into a tie with former MSU all-American Iyhia McMichael for the school's career runs record. The senior from Cordova, Tenn., went 1-for-3 in Saturday's second game.

“Chelsea has been a tremendous offensive force for us,” Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller said. “I'd like to see her and Jessie Bailey finish out their careers on a strong note tomorrow.”

Bramlett also added her 59th and 60th stolen bases in Saturday's opener. She joined Georgia's Nicole Barber (2002 and 2003) and Alabama's Brittany Rogers (2008) as the only players in SEC history to swipe 60 bases in a season.

Playing in front of 976 fans, the fourth-largest crowd in school history, Mississippi State fell to 26-28 overall and 7-19 in SEC play. Alabama improved to 44-9 overall and 22-4 in league play.

“It was a struggle out there today. We spotted them runs in both games, and you can't do that against a good team,” Miller said. “I was pleased with the way our freshmen, Kylie Vry and Stephanie Becker, came in and pitched. Overall, we have to get more production out of the lineup. We had opportunities in both games but were unable to drive runners in.”

In the day's opening game, Alabama jumped out to a quick lead with four runs in the first inning off MSU starter Misty Flesher (12-10).

Flesher tossed just that one inning before giving way to Vry, who tossed the final five frames.

The Crimson Tide extended the lead to 5-0 in the second before the Bulldogs answered with a run in the bottom of the third. With one out, Bramlett singled and stole second before coming home on a Ka'ili Smith RBI single.

State was unable to get any closer as the Crimson Tide pushed across another run in the fifth and four more runs in the sixth. Kayla Braud scored three of UA's runs on a 3-for-4 effort while Jazlyn Lunceford contributed three RBI.

Kelsi Dunne went the distance for Alabama to improve to 23-4.

The Bulldog bats pounded-out six hits in Saturday's nightcap, but the Dawgs were unable to come up with the big knock as they left 10 runners on base.

The Crimson Tide struck with two first-inning runs off MSU starter Lindsey Dunlap (5-8), but the Dawgs cut the lead to 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the second.

With one out in the inning, junior Courtney Nesbit reached on an error. She took second on a ground-out by her sister, Erin, and scored as the next batter, freshman Jessica Cooley, doubled to the wall in right-center.

The Crimson Tide pushed three more runs across in the top of the third off Dunlap, but the Maroon and White managed to get a run across in bottom of the third to cut the lead to 5-2.

Smith reached on a fielder's choice and took second on a base hit by Bailey. The Kapolei, Hawaii, native then came home as Brittany Bell dropped a single down the line in left field.

MSU was unable to get any closer, however, as Alabama added a fourth-inning run off Dunlap and a run each in the sixth and seventh innings off Becker.

Charlotte Morgan turned in a complete game for Alabama to improve to 7-2 on the season. Courtney Conley paced the Crimson Tide with a pair of hits and four RBI.

The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide close the series with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Mississippi State will recognize Bailey and Bramlett during Senior Day festivities prior to the series finale.