Softball Edged By No. 12 Michigan, 3-1

Sunday, February 26

Clearwater, Fla.

9:00 AM

Mississippi State

8-5

#12 Michigan

11-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mississippi State	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	5	1
Michigan	0	0	0	2	0	1	X	3	4	0

Softball Edged By No. 12 Michigan, 3-1

February 26, 2012 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Two close plays at the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning was all it took for No. 12 Michigan to snatch a 3-1 victory from the hands of Mississippi State Sunday at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. The loss on the final day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic dropped the Bulldogs to 8-5 on the season, while UM improved to 11-3.

"Michigan was very efficient on offense today with three runs on four hits," head coach Vann Stuedeman said. "We improved tremendously this weekend. Everyone involved is ready to get back to Starkville and get back to work. We are hungry for the next game."

"You have to give Michigan credit for being efficient with its offense today," head coach Vann Stuedeman said. "We are all disappointed with the result of this trip, but we don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves. We must get back to work as soon as we return home."

Senior designated player Brittany Bell finished off her stellar weekend with a 2-for-3 outing, including a run batted in. Senior catcher Ka'ili Smith (1-for-4) and juniors Shelby Fisher (1-for-3) and Jessica Cooley (1-for-3) also tallied singles for the Bulldogs.

Kylie Vry took the loss on the rubber for MSU, falling to 4-2 in 2012. The junior left-hander gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits in 4.1 innings of work, striking out four and walking four. Senior lefty Lindsey Dunlap pitched an inning for MSU as well, allowing one run on three walks. Junior southpaw Stephanie Becker closed out the game with 0.2 hitless innings for Starkville's team. Michigan left-handed freshman Haylie Wagner picked up the win for UM to improve to 7-0, allowing one run on four hits over 4.2 innings, while issuing one base on balls.

Solid pitching and great defense held both teams scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when the home Wolverines plated two runs on two hits and an error. Michigan third baseman Amanda Chidester led off the inning with a double to right-center field, taking second once the ball scooted past a diving Brittany Gates. She was stranded for two batters as Vry forced a popout to the catcher and then struck out UM's Lauren Sweet. With two down, Wolverines' catcher Caitlin Blanchard singled up the middle and Chidester rounded third, headed for home. Bulldog center fielder Jessica Offutt fielded it and gunned it home, but Chidester slid safely under Smith's tag in a bang-bang play at the plate. After giving Michigan a 1-0 lead, Blanchard advanced to second on the throw home and scored three pitches later when a ground ball by junior teammate Amy Knapp went through the legs of Fisher at first base.

The Maroon and White responded in the top half of the next inning, starting with a single by Cooley just over the shortstop's head in left. Cooley made it to second on a sacrifice bunt by Offutt, and then advanced to third on a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right by Smith. With two outs, junior pinch hitter Chrissie Rovtar reached first when she took a 2-2 pitch up and in on the hand. With two on, Bell singled right up the middle, allowing Cooley to cross the plate for the Bulldogs' only run of the day.

Michigan added an insurance run with a bases-loaded walk by Vry in the bottom of the sixth to give the game its final score of 3-1.

Stuedeman's squad travels next to Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, for a 4 p.m. contest against Jackson State at the JSU Softball Complex. For more information regarding the MSU softball program follow the team on Twitter at @MStateSB, and like the team at Facebook.com/MStateSB.

POSTGAME NOTES

Mississippi State fell to 1-7 all-time against Michigan (1-5 at neutral sites), dropping the last three games in the series.
Brittany Bell and Ka'ili Smith have reached base in all 12 games this season.
Bell led the team with a .462 batting average (6-for-13) at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, six walks, two runs, a run batted in and a double.
Of Mississippi State's 49 RBIs this season, 27 have come with two outs.
Brittany Gates' career-long four-game hitting streak came to an end.
After starting the tournament 0-for-6, Jessica Cooley went 1-for-3 in each of the last three games in Clearwater.