Brown's Homer Helps State Salvage Series At No. 22 Auburn, 3-2
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Official Game Statistics
Bulldogs Take Game Three After Heartbreaks In Games One, Two
AUBURN, Ala. -- Blaire Brown's three-run homer in the top of the third gave visiting Mississippi State its first lead in the series as the Bulldogs rallied behind another standout pitching performance from staff ace Melissa Massey to salvage its series at nationally ranked Auburn on a 3-2 triumph in the series finale Saturday afternoon at Jane B. Moore Field.
Brown's homer highlighted a 1-for-4 day at the plate for the senior, but also culminated a breakout series for the Yucaipa, Calif., native who hit better than .400 against the Tigers in three starts at designated player. Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael walked twice and scored once on a perfect 2-for-2 tally at the plate, with Kate Jaspers scoring once on an equally impressive 2-for-4 hitting line. Lauren Walton tallied the only multi-hit game for the Tigers as the leftfielder handed in a 2-for-2 day at the plate.
Massey (10-8) kept the Auburn hitters off balance the entire contest, limiting the hosts to just six hits and a pair of earned runs, both of which came in the first two innings of play. Massey would also finish her outing with three strikeouts. The Maroons frustrated Auburn starter Kristen Keyes (14-7) over her entire outing and the Tiger ace saddled the loss after giving up a trio of earned runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, despite striking out seven Bulldogs.
"That was a big hit from Blaire Brown, obviously, but I thought we got great pitching all weekend from Melissa," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "We had a little breakdown, defensively, in that second game (7-3 loss), and you can't do that if you expect to win games. We came back good in the third game and gave ourselves some opportunities and finally had someone step up and drive in some runs."
Massey looked to have Auburn handcuffed in the bottom of the first after getting two quick and easy outs, but Sara Dean felt differently as she took the third offering from Massey over the high fence in leftfield for the 1-0 Auburn lead. The Tigers would add to their advantage in the second, getting consecutive singles to lead off the frame, before Lalani Alvarez's sac bunt moved the pair into scoring position. Pinch hitter Paige Jones' sac fly to deep centerfield with the next at-bat moved the lead out to 2-0.
However, State got consecutive singles from both McMichael and Jaspers to lead off the third and, following Jennifer Waterman's line out to centerfield, Brown delivered the goods with a monster shot to the scoreboard in left centerfield that put State up for good.
Massey faced four or less batters in three of the next four Auburn frames, until the seventh, when Auburn loaded the bases on a single and a pair of walks to make the game dramatic for cleanup hitter Holly Currie. Currie, however, took Massey's third offering and flew out to foul territory down the leftfield line.
Mississippi State will return to action on Tuesday evening when the Bulldogs travel to Madison for the second annual M&F Bank Fastpitch Classic against Southern Miss. First pitch of the contest is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Freedom Ridge Park.
AUBURN 7, MISSISSIPPI STATE 3
Mississippi State 003 000 0 - 3 7 0 Auburn 110 000 0 - 2 6 1
Massey and Waterman. Keyes and Dean. W * Massey (10-8). L * Keyes (14-7). Save * None. HR * MSU, Brown. AU, Dean. 2B * AU, Ghezzi.
