Bell Is Grand As Bulldogs Beat South Alabama, 7-2

Thursday, February 9

Mobile, Ala.

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

1-0

South Alabama

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mississippi State	0	0	0	1	0	0	6	7	12	3
South Alabama	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	7	2

Bell Is Grand As Bulldogs Beat South Alabama, 7-2

February 10, 2012 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

MOBILE, Ala. - Down to their last out and the difference between winning and losing as thin as the cold wind whipping in the air, senior designated player Brittany Bell launched her first career grand slam to propel the Mississippi State softball team (1-0) to a 7-2 victory over host South Alabama (0-1) Thursday night at Jaguar Field. Game one of the 2012 Mardi Gras Invitational gave head coach Vann Stuedeman her first victory in her debut as a head coach.

"The Bulldogs came out fighting tonight and battled hard," Stuedeman said. "With our backs against the wall, we competed till the very end. We put together a great seventh inning and you can't ask for anything more than that."

Facing the preseason Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year in Hannah Campbell, Bell finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBI, one home run and a run. Junior Jessica Cooley connected on a home run in the seventh as well, finishing the game 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Also collecting multiple hits were sophomore catcher Sam Lenahan and sophomore center fielder Jessica Offutt, who both went 2-for-4.

"Today was about a process and executing our game plan," Bell said. "I've been working with Coach (Alan) Reach a lot on my swing, but I would not have had that opportunity if it was not for my teammates in front of me who reached base."

In the circle, junior left-handed pitcher Stephanie Becker picked up the first win of the 21st season of Bulldog softball, going the distance for her ninth career complete game. The Chicago native gave up two runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking none.

The Maroon and White fell behind 2-0 after a first-inning sacrifice fly and a third-inning solo home run by the Jaguars. Down a deuce after three, MSU jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Bell notched her first hit of the game with a single to right field and was pinch run for by freshman Ashley Phillips. Phillips proceeded to steal second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Jaguars' right fielder. The Water Valley, Miss., native broke for home on the last pitch of junior Erin Nesbit's at bat and slid past USA's catcher for the Bulldogs' first run of the season.

Both teams proceeded to trade zeroes on the scoreboard until the final frame. Down to their last two outs, MSU junior pinch-hitter Chrissie Rovtar worked a full count before singling to left. Sophomore Shana Sherrod pinch ran for Rovtar and advanced to second on a single to the left side by Lenahan. The bases became juiced when freshman third baseman Swayze Hollenhead was hit by a pitch on a 2-2 count with two outs. That set the stage for Bell, who on a 1-0 pitch, drove a no-doubter screaming over the fence in center field for a grand slam and a 5-2 MSU lead.

Stuedeman's squad was not finished, as Nesbit singled up the middle on the very next pitch. Cooley officially put the game out of hand with a 2-2 swing over the fence in center to give the game its final score of 7-2.

The Bulldogs return to the field tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. CT against Lipscomb at Jaguar Field in Mobile for their second game of the 2012 Mardi Gras Invitational. Fans can visit HailState.com for live stats and follow along at Twitter.com/MStateSB for live in-game updates.