Bulldogs Down Louisiana Tech 3-2 in Home Opener
February 18, 2011 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Stephanie Becker and Misty Flesher turned in stellar efforts in the circle, and seniors Chelsea Raines and Courtney Nesbit had big RBI hits as Mississippi State softball team opened the home slate and the Bulldog Round-Robin with a 3-2 win against Louisiana Tech Friday afternoon.
Becker, a sophomore from Aurora, Ill., allowed two runs and six hits over five innings to earn the win, her first of the season. Flesher picked up her inaugural save of 2011 as she held the Lady Techsters to a hit and struck out two over the final two frames.
"I thought Stephanie had a great outing. She came out and really took control of the game. Misty came in and shut them down, which is a good sign for us," MSU head coach Jay Miller said. "Offensively, we left a lot of runners on base, but you have to give credit to Louisiana Tech's pitcher. She was tough to hit, and we didn't adjust very well at the plate. Hopefully we can do a better job of that tomorrow and keep this string of wins going."
Nesbit and Raines combined for two of six hits as the Bulldogs improved to 2-4 despite stranding eight runners.
Nesbit hit .563 last weekend in Las Vegas, and she continued her hot streak in the first inning. Louisiana Tech starter Meghan Krieg, who fell to 1-2 in the complete-game effort, issued one-out walks to freshman Heidi Shape and senior Ali Bainbridge. Nesbit rifled a 1-2 offering down the line in right field that cleared the bases and put the Dawgs up 2-0.
Louisiana Tech (2-4) answered with a run in the bottom of the first on Meghan Knowles' base hit, but Becker ended the inning with one of her three strikeouts.
State added what would prove to be the winning run in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Jessica Cooley hit a double down the line in right field. Raines then hit a deep fly ball that bounced off the wall in center field, scoring Cooley to extend the lead to 3-1.
After Mississippi State failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded situation in the top of the sixth, the Lady Techsters cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the frame.
Back-to-back singles to open the inning brought Flesher into the game. The Lone Grove, Okla., native immediately got Allie Geisler on an infield pop-out before striking out Molly Goza. Heather Doiron lined an RBI single, but Flesher got a Cassie Krieg to fly out to left field to preserve the one-run advantage.
Nesbit just missed another extra-base hit in the seventh. With one out and a runner at second, she hit a deep fly ball to center that Louisiana Tech's Charday Wilson managed to corral in the end of her glove.
A leadoff error opened the door for the Lady Techsters in the seventh, but Flesher got a huge double play and strikeout to clinch the win.
The Bulldogs play a doubleheader on Saturday, taking on Butler at 2 p.m. and Southern Illinois at 4 p.m. Admission to all games at the MSU Softball Field is free.
Mississippi State 3, Louisiana Tech 2 (Feb 18, 2011 at Starkville, Miss.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mississippi State... 200 100 0 -Â 3Â 6Â 3Â Â Â Â Â (2-4)
Louisiana Tech...... 100 001 0 -Â 2Â 7Â 2Â Â Â Â Â (2-4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Mississippi State - Stephanie Becker; Misty Flesher(6) and Sam Lenahan.
Louisiana Tech - Meghan Krieg and Allie Geisler.
Win-Stephanie Becker(1-0)Â Save-Misty Flesher(1)Â Loss-Meghan Krieg(1-2)Â T-1:40Â A-341
S. Becker faced 2 batters in the 6th.
Becker, a sophomore from Aurora, Ill., allowed two runs and six hits over five innings to earn the win, her first of the season. Flesher picked up her inaugural save of 2011 as she held the Lady Techsters to a hit and struck out two over the final two frames.
"I thought Stephanie had a great outing. She came out and really took control of the game. Misty came in and shut them down, which is a good sign for us," MSU head coach Jay Miller said. "Offensively, we left a lot of runners on base, but you have to give credit to Louisiana Tech's pitcher. She was tough to hit, and we didn't adjust very well at the plate. Hopefully we can do a better job of that tomorrow and keep this string of wins going."
Nesbit and Raines combined for two of six hits as the Bulldogs improved to 2-4 despite stranding eight runners.
Nesbit hit .563 last weekend in Las Vegas, and she continued her hot streak in the first inning. Louisiana Tech starter Meghan Krieg, who fell to 1-2 in the complete-game effort, issued one-out walks to freshman Heidi Shape and senior Ali Bainbridge. Nesbit rifled a 1-2 offering down the line in right field that cleared the bases and put the Dawgs up 2-0.
Louisiana Tech (2-4) answered with a run in the bottom of the first on Meghan Knowles' base hit, but Becker ended the inning with one of her three strikeouts.
State added what would prove to be the winning run in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Jessica Cooley hit a double down the line in right field. Raines then hit a deep fly ball that bounced off the wall in center field, scoring Cooley to extend the lead to 3-1.
After Mississippi State failed to capitalize on a bases-loaded situation in the top of the sixth, the Lady Techsters cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the frame.
Back-to-back singles to open the inning brought Flesher into the game. The Lone Grove, Okla., native immediately got Allie Geisler on an infield pop-out before striking out Molly Goza. Heather Doiron lined an RBI single, but Flesher got a Cassie Krieg to fly out to left field to preserve the one-run advantage.
Nesbit just missed another extra-base hit in the seventh. With one out and a runner at second, she hit a deep fly ball to center that Louisiana Tech's Charday Wilson managed to corral in the end of her glove.
A leadoff error opened the door for the Lady Techsters in the seventh, but Flesher got a huge double play and strikeout to clinch the win.
The Bulldogs play a doubleheader on Saturday, taking on Butler at 2 p.m. and Southern Illinois at 4 p.m. Admission to all games at the MSU Softball Field is free.
Mississippi State 3, Louisiana Tech 2 (Feb 18, 2011 at Starkville, Miss.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mississippi State... 200 100 0 -Â 3Â 6Â 3Â Â Â Â Â (2-4)
Louisiana Tech...... 100 001 0 -Â 2Â 7Â 2Â Â Â Â Â (2-4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Mississippi State - Stephanie Becker; Misty Flesher(6) and Sam Lenahan.
Louisiana Tech - Meghan Krieg and Allie Geisler.
Win-Stephanie Becker(1-0)Â Save-Misty Flesher(1)Â Loss-Meghan Krieg(1-2)Â T-1:40Â A-341
S. Becker faced 2 batters in the 6th.
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference at Oklahoma (NCAAT) 5/28/26
Thursday, May 28
SOFTBALL | Women's College World Series Media Day Press Conference
Wednesday, May 27
SOFTBALL | Super Regional at Oklahoma Game 3 Highlights - 5/24/26
Sunday, May 24
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference at Oklahoma (NCAAT) 5/24/26
Sunday, May 24