Mississippi State
15-1
#12 Baylor
13-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Mississippi State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Softball Drops 1-0 Decision To No. 12/12 Baylor
February 28, 2014 | Softball
GULFPORT, Miss. – Mississippi State softball's 15-game winning streak came to an end Friday night in a pitching duel that resulted in a 1-0 eight-inning loss to No. 12/12 Baylor at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Softball Classic. The Bears used an eighth-inning two-out single to left field by Ari Hawkins that plated Jordan Strickland to come away with the victory.
Despite the loss, MSU's 15-1 start to the campaign is the second-best beginning in program history, trailing only the 2006 squad's 16-0 mark. In 2006, Baylor also snapped the Bulldogs' season-opening winning streak.
Senior Alison Owen (7-1) went the distance in the circle for Mississippi State and scattered four hits and yielded an unearned run. She fanned nine and issued one walk. Heather Stearns (6-1) threw all eight innings for the Bears, allowing six hits while striking out 12 and walking two.
After retiring Baylor in order in the top of the first, the Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the frame but could not convert. Senior Heidi Shape led off with a double and, after a groundout, moved to third on a single to left from classmate Logan Foulks. Stearns wiggled out of trouble with a strikeout and fly out.
Baylor (13-4) mounted its first threat in the top of the third. With one out, Holly Holl became the Bears' first base runner with a walk. After a pop out, Kaitlyn Thumann ripped a single up the middle that bounced off Owen and into right field. Holl moved to third and Thumann stole second with Lindsey Cargill at the plate. Owen shut the door, striking out Cargill to end the threat.
MSU had another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the frame and was again held off the board. Sophomore Loryn Nichols led off with a single just off the glove of a diving Hawkins at second base. Shape followed with a walk to put runners at first and second, but a foul out on a bunt attempt and consecutive strikeouts closed the frame.
Both teams recorded two-out doubles in the fourth, from Baylor's Linsey Hays and MSU's Ashley Phillips, and both runners were left stranded.
Neither team had another chance to break the draw until the bottom of the sixth, when MSU mounted a two-out rally. With one down, freshman Caroline Seitz slapped an 0-2 pitch through the right side for a single. After another whiff, Phillips was hit with a 3-2 pitch to put runners on second and third. Stearns again kept the Bulldogs off the board with a pop out to third.
Owen and Stearns sent down both teams in order in the seventh and the game went to the eighth, when the international tie breaker rules began. Each team started the frame with a runner on second base. Baylor opened with Strickland on second base. A sacrifice bunt by Robin Landrith moved Strickland to third. After a pop out, Hawkins sent a single to left to drive in Strickland. Thumann singled up the middle and the pair of runners executed a double steal, but Owen kept it a one-run game with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the eighth, Mississippi State began with junior Julia Echols on second base. Stearns retired the first two batters with a strikeout and lineout before issuing a four-pitch walk to Seitz. Stearns bounced back with a fly out to deep left to end the contest and seal the victory.
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday with a noon CT contest against Memphis before taking on Nicholls State at 3.
Post-Game Notes
- The Mississippi State pitching staff has allowed just 43 hits in 16 games, good for an average of 2.7 hits a contest. Last season, the Bulldogs allowed opponents to average 5.1 hits a game.
- MSU has yet to allow more than five hits to any opponent this year.
- Mississippi State's eight runs allowed are the fewest through the first 16 games of a season in program history.
- Junior Ashley Phillips recorded her first hit of the season with a fourth-inning double.
- Senior Alison Owen has struck out five or more batters in every appearance this season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stearns, Heather (6-1)
L: Owen, Alison (7-1)
Batting:
2B: Hays, Linsey 1
RBI: Hawkins, Ari 1
SH: Landrith, Robin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Strickland, Jordan 1
SB: Thumann, Kaitlyn 1 ; Hawkins, Ari 1
Batting:
2B: Shape, Heidi 1 ; Phillips, Ashley 1
Base Running:
HBP: Phillips, Ashley 2
