Bulldogs Upset No. 17 Florida In Series Opener, 7-4
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Official Game Statistics
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State pounded out its 17th double-digit hitting performance of the season and got multi-run frames in each of the second and fourth innings to cruise past No. 17 Florida, 7-4, in the series opener Saturday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.
The Bulldogs (32-22, 13-15 SEC) got multi-hit outings from three different players including perfect hitting lines from both Kate Jaspers (3-for-3, 3 RBI) and Meagan O'Nan (2-for-2, 2 R) to fuel its fire, with Madison's Tanelda McDonald providing her second consecutive multi-hit game on a 2-for-3 plate tally. Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael stretched her season-high hitting streak out to 12 games with a 1-for-2 day with a pair of runs scored. Kristen Butler hit two solo homers to lead the Gator (39-13, 15-10) attack.
MSU starter Melissa Massey (15-8) won her sixth consecutive decision after striking out three and allowing three earned runs on six hits in five innings of work. Bulldog reliever Stephanie Comeaux picked up her first save of the campaign, surrendering just one hit and two walks in the sixth and seventh. Florida staff ace Stacy Stevens (13-6) took the loss for the Gators after being exploited with seven earned runs on eight hits and a pair of walks.
A second-inning leadoff single by McDonald, coupled with free passes issued to both O'Nan (HBP) and McMichael (five-pitch walk) loaded the bases for the Bulldogs and set the table for Jaspers who delivered a base-clearing double to give State an early 3-0 lead.
Florida answered in their half of the fourth, however, using a solo homer by Butler and a pass ball later in the inning, to score a pair of runs and cut their deficit to just one, 3-2. State would add to their advantage in the next frame, though, getting a two-run double off the bat of Waterman and a two-run homer from Brown to attain a 7-2 lead heading into the fifth.
Florida would rally in the sixth on consecutive homers from Butler and Melissa Zick to chase Massey from the circle, but Comeaux would handle things the rest of the way out. The Pascagoula native got three consecutive outs to close out the fifth, then gave up a meaningless single in a scoreless seventh.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, NO. 17 FLORIDA 4
Florida (39-12) 000 202 0 - 4 7 0Mississippi State (32-22) 030 400 x - 7 11 0Stevens, Knowles (5) and Diaz. Massey, Comeaux (6) and Waterman. W ? Massey (14-8). L ? Stevens (13-6). Save ? Comeaux (1). HR ? UF, Butler 2, Zick. MSU, Brown. 2B ? MSU, Jaspers 2, Waterman, McDonald.
