Shape's Homer Rallies MSU Past No. 22 Auburn, Gives Miller 1,000th Win

Friday, April 8

Starkville

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

20-19, 8-6

#22 Auburn

30-9, 9-6

Auburn

Mississippi State

Shape's Homer Rallies MSU Past No. 22 Auburn, Gives Miller 1,000th Win

April 08, 2011 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller claimed his 1,000^th career win as freshman Heidi Shape hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally the Bulldog softball team to a 4-3 win against No. 22 Auburn Friday night at the MSU Softball Field.

The win puts Miller at 1,000-655 in his 29^th season as a head coach. MSU's all-time wins leader, Miller becomes the 13^th Division I head coach and 18^th among all divisions to reach the milestone.

"This group of kids have really worked hard since last August, so you want to see them be rewarded for that hard work. They did a great job coming out to start the series against Auburn. It was a big win against a ranked team," Miller said. "That's the kind of win we need to get us going, and hopefully we can build on it this weekend."

Entering the sixth, Mississippi State (20-19, 8-6 SEC) had managed just one hit off Auburn starter Jenee Loree, but junior Ka'ili Smith sparked the rally with a single to shortstop. Senior Courtney Nesbit moved to her second with a groundout, and freshman Sam Lenahan walked to bring Shape to the plate with the go-ahead run.

A double steal put the tying run in scoring position, but Shape instead gave the Dawgs the win as she lined a 2-0 pitch off the scoreboard in left field.

"That was a big home run by Heidi, but before that she made a great play at home plate to allow us to steal second and third," Miller said. "She's been swinging a good bat lately, and she just missed a pitch earlier. I'm glad she got another chance to face their pitcher today."

"I was feeling really good because I had just missed one the previous at-bat. I saw the pitch and just wanted to jump on it," Shape said. "This is a big accomplishment for Coach Miller and our team. I was just glad I could help us get the win."

Auburn (30-9, 9-6 SEC) put the leadoff runner on base in the top of the seventh off MSU reliever Kylie Vry, but Chelsea Raines made a stellar stab at third base to record a double play. The Bulldogs went to Misty Flesher to close the game, and the Lone Grove, Okla., native got a fly ball to clinch the milestone victory.

Flesher notched her team- and SEC-best fourth save, while Vry tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win and run her record to 8-8. Stephanie Becker allowed three runs on six hits and struck out six over the opening five innings.

Becker retired the first seven Auburn hitters she faced, and her offense responded by giving State a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

Freshman Sam Lenahan lined a one-out double to center field, and after moving to third on a wild pitch, she scored on a sacrifice fly to deep right-center by senior Chelsea Raines.

The Tigers erased MSU's lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. Caitlin Stangl hit a one-out triple and came around to score on a double by Amber Harrison. Two batters later, Kyndall White capped the inning with a two-out double of her own.

State rallied to clinch the win and improve to 16-2 at home this season. The Dawgs also handed Loree her third loss of the season against eight wins. She allowed four runs on three hits while striking out nine.

The Bulldogs go for the series win tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. Prior to the game, Mississippi State will recognize a number of alumni in town for this weekend's Super Bulldog Weekend presented by Region's Bank.

Mississippi State 4, Auburn 3 (Apr 08, 2011 at Starkville, Miss.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Auburn.............. 000 030 0 - 3 7 1 (30-9, 9-6 SEC)

Mississippi State... 010 003 X - 4 3 0 (20-19, 8-6 SEC)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitchers: Auburn - Jenee Loree and Elizabeth Eisterhold; Caitlin Schultze. Mississippi State -

Stephanie Becker; Kylie Vry(6); Misty Flesher(7) and Sam Lenahan.

Win-Kylie Vry(8-8) Save-Misty Flesher(4) Loss-Jenee Loree(8-3) T-2:09 A-663

HR MS - Heidi Shape (4).

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 87 degrees

S. Becker faced 1 batter in the 6th.