Bulldogs' Four-Game Winning Streak Snapped With Two-Run Sixth By Arkansas
May 25, 2016 | Softball
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Arkansas used two crucial Mississippi State errors in the bottom of the sixth inning to plate a pair of unearned runs as the Lady ?€˜Backs salvaged its series with the visiting Bulldogs and snapped MSU's four-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Sunday afternoon at Lady ?€˜Back Yard in Fayetteville, Ark.
Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael stretched her hitting streak out to eight games with a pair of hits on three trips to the plate, while also scoring and driving in a run for Mississippi State (28-22, 9-15 SEC). Lindsay Nelson tallied State's only other multi-hit showing, cashing in on a 2-for-3 hitting line. Kallie Foglesong highlighted a 1-for-3 day at the plate with a two-run homer in the fourth to pace the Lady ?€˜Backs (16-33, 4-23).
MSU starter Stephanie Comeaux (9-6) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out two, but was saddled with the loss with Melissa Massey's inherited runner that scored on the errors in the sixth. Massey surrendered just one hit and struck out a batter in the sixth, but got the no decision. Arkansas ace Heather Schlichtman (13-21) struck out four and allowed seven hits, but got the win for the hosts.
"We didn't execute very well offensively with the chances that we had," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "(Heather) Schlichtman pitched a good ballgame. We just didn't make the plays defensively when they counted most."
Neither team adjusted early to the other's hurler early, as both squads got their first knocks of the game on two-out singles in the second inning, but the Bulldogs were able to draw first blood in the top of the third. O'Nan connected on an infield single with one out, then moved into scoring position on an errant throw by catcher Shana Easley. An RBI single by McMichael moments later brought the runner racing home from second with the 1-0 lead and, after a stolen base and a groundout moved McMichael to third, Waterman's RBI knock extended the Maroons lead out to two.
Arkansas got something going in their half of the third, however, getting successive singles, interrupted by a wild pitch, to put runners at the corners for the top half of the batting order. The Lady ?€˜Backs would attempt a double steal after a strike was issued to the next hitter, but the Bulldogs were not fooled and got Candice Swan between the first and second base bags, then nearly picked off Rachel LeMaster diving back to third. Mindy O'Malley's short hopper moments later was corralled by second baseman Lindsay Nelson to nix the scoring chance for the hosts.
Arkansas tied the score with successive hits in the bottom of the fourth, however, using a one-out single from Schlichtman and Foglesong's fourth homer of the campaign to tie the score at two apiece. The runs were the Lady ?€˜Backs' first of the series. Arkansas got a leadoff double from O'Malley in the sixth to chase Comeaux from the circle, then moved the runner 60 feet away on Shana Easley's sac bunt that took a flat spin just inside the first base line. Arkansas got the lead with its next at-bat when Schlichtman hit a sharp grounder to shortstop Callye Williams who fielded it cleanly, then overthrew Jaspers at first base.
A base hit would move Schlichtman to third with the next at-bat, before Melissa Johnson's hard hit minutes later found its way through the legs of Nelson at second and brought the runner from from third.
Mississippi State will be back in action on Tuesday and Wednesday when the Bulldogs begin a six-game homestand by hosting cross-state nemesis Mississippi in a pivotal three-game set for both teams at the Mississippi State Softball Field. The squads will open their series with a 5 p.m. Tuesday doubleheader and close with the series finale on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Admission to all 2004 Mississippi State Softball home games is free.
ARKANSAS 4, MISSISSIPPI STATE 2
Mississippi State (28-22) 002 000 0 - 2 7 2Arkansas (16-33) 000 202 x - 4 7 1
Comeaux, Massey (6) and Waterman. Schlichtman and Easley. W ?€" Schlichtman (13-21). L ?€" Comeaux (9-6). Save ?€" None. HR ?€" UA, Foglesong. 2B ?€" UA, O'Malley.
