First Inning Rally Helps No. 6 Georgia To Series Victory Over State, 6-4
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Official Game Statistics
State Gets To Kasi Carroll Quickly, But Georgia Responds With Four-Run First
ATHENS, Ga. -- Mississipi State blistered Georgia starter Kasi Carroll with a pair of runs in its first four at-bats to chase the rookie quickly, but Georgia responded with a big inning of its own to move past the Maroons in the rubber match of its weekend series and come away with a series-clinching 6-4 victory Sunday afternoon in college softball action at the Georgia Softball Complex.
Mississippi State (18-13, 2-7 SEC) got a pair of hits and two RBI from Jennifer Waterman, who also turned in a walk in four trips to the plate, with teammate and fellow senior Kate Jaspers crossing the plate three times on a 1-for-3 day at the plate. Iyhia McMichael (1-for-3) stretched her hitting streak out to seven games on a single through the right side in the first inning. Nicole Barber and Courtney Knight both tallied a pair of hits for Georgia (23-5, 2-1).
Mississippi State starter Kelli Miller (4-5) pitched a pair of strong innings after a nightmarish first frame and took the loss for the Maroons after allowing five runs on seven UGA hits. The Red and Black got a tag team effort from two hurlers, with Michelle Green (12-2) tallying the victory after striking out six and walking three in three and one-thirds innings of work. Carroll got the no decision despite a pair of appearances in which she allowed three earned runs on five hits and one walk.
"I thought we competed better today, but we didn't do the little things we needed to get the job done," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "We had our chances a couple of times, but we just gave them too many extra at-bats in crucial situations."
Albeit a strikeout with its initial at-bat, Mississippi State climbed all over Carroll early, using consecutive one-out singles from Jaspers and McMichael to set the table for Waterman who laced a single through the right side to plate Jaspers with the 1-0 lead and chase Carroll from the circle. It took just a couple of pitches for MSU to extend its lead out to a pair as Green's third offering to Lindsay Nelson went wild, allowing McMichael to score easily from 60 feet away.
The Red and Black Bulldogs responded with a rally of its own in the bottom of the frame, however, utilizing RBI singles from three different players, as well as a costly defensive miscue by MSU, to plate four runs and take a two-run lead, 4-2, into the second.
State put together a rally in the third, getting a pair of runners into scoring position with two outs for Callye Williams, who nailed a shot left field to plate Jaspers from third but, on the same play, McMichael was gunned out by UGA leftfielder Julie Milner on a 50-50 play at the plate. Unfortunately for State, Georgia would push its lead back to two in their half of the inning on a RBI single from Milner.
The Red and Black would add an insurance run in the fourth, pushing Barber around to third following a leadoff walk, before Kim Wendland delivered the goods on a RBI groundout to Waterman at first base.
Mississippi State will return to action Tuesday afternoon when the Bulldogs wrap up a five-game roadtrip with a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader at Chattanooga. First pitch of the twinbill is set for 3 p.m. EST at the 1,500-seat Jim Frost Stadium. The Maroon and White will return home this weekend to take on nationally ranked Tennessee in a three-game series at the Mississippi State Softball Field.
The Bulldogs and the Lady Vols will play a noon Saturday doubleheader to begin their series and will close out their set on Sunday with a single game set for 12:30 p.m. Admission to all 2004 Mississippi State Softball home games is free.
NO. 6 GEORGIA 6, MISSISSIPPI STATE 3
Mississippi State 201 000 1 - 4 8 1Georgia 401 100 0 - 6 8 0
Miller, Hickerson (4) and Geddings. Carroll (1,4), Green (1,7) and McKeon. W * Green (12-2). L * Miller (4-5). Save * None. 2B UGA, Barber.
