State Finishes Off Series Sweep Of Blazers, 7-0
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Official Game Statistics
Bulldogs Match School Record Home Win Total
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Homestanding Mississippi State sent 11 batters to the plate in a five-run third inning to rally behind a combined two-hit shutout from a trio of pitchers and complete a home-and-home series sweep of UAB with a 7-0 blanking of the Blazers Wednesday evening at the Mississippi State Softball Field.
Jennifer Waterman highlighted a 1-for-3 night at the plate with a two-run home run, with Iyhia McMichael (2-for-3) and Kate Jaspers (0-for-1) both driving in a pair of runs for the Bulldogs (35-22) as well. Callye Williams tripled and scored on a 1-for-2 hitting line, with rookie Hayle Guess scoring once on a 1-for-2 night as well. Two different players recorded hits for the Blazers (16-34).
MSU starter Kelli Miller (9-8) inched her record above the .500 mark with her fourth consecutive victory, striking out four and giving up just one hit in four innings of work. Bulldog relievers Stephanie Comeaux and Sara Hickerson struck out five over the last three innings of scoreless ball, but both got no decisions. UAB staff ace Tara Higashino (8-20) took her second loss in as many days against Mississippi State, allowing four runs on five hits in 2-1/3 innings of work.
The win helped Mississippi State match its season-long winning streak at seven games, while giving the Maroons their school-record tying 21st home victory. State's victory was also its 13th triumph in its last 15 outings and helped the 'Dogs surpass last season's win total in seven less games.
"We put some runs on the board, but it would have been nice to hit the ball a little bit better," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "After we got those runs in the third inning, we just sort of sat on the lead and got a little complacent. We had been finishing people off, but we didn't do that today.
"We got some really great pitching performances from all three - Kelli, Steph and Sara. It was good to get them all some innings and we got everybody in the game tonight."
Waterman homered with the second at-bat in the third inning to trigger an eruption by the Bulldogs' arsenal that was fueled by three UAB errors that kept the inning alive. Following Waterman's dinger, State put its next two batters of the inning on via a single and a fielder's choice, then got a sac fly from Callye Williams to stretch the advantage out to 3-0. Blazer reliever Brittany Hodge beaned Hayle Guess with the next at-bat to load the bases, then gave two gifts to the Bulldogs by walking the next two batters to bring two more runs across.
The Bulldogs got a leadoff triple from Williams in the fifth to spark another rally, adding a pair of insurance runs on a RBI single from McMichael and a sac fly from Jaspers.
Mississippi State will now get a one-week hiatus from competition in preparation for final exams next week. The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday, May 8, when the Maroon and White suit up to host No. 23 Georgia Tech (39-13) in a Senior Day doubleheader at the Mississippi State Softball Field.
Mississippi State's seven-member senior class - Blaire Brown, Kate Jaspers, Iyhia McMichael, Lindsay Nelson, Meagan O'Nan, Jennifer Waterman and Brandi Watkins - will be honored in a ceremony prior to the first pitch which has been slated for 3 p.m. Admission to all 2004 Mississippi State Softball home games is free.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, UAB 0
UAB (16-34) 000 000 0 - 0 2 4 Mississippi State (35-22) 005 020 0 - 7 7 0
Higashino, Hodge (3) and Ellis. Miller, Comeaux (5), Hickerson (7) and Waterman, Geddings (6). W - Miller (9-8). L - Higashino (8-20). Save - None. HR - MSU, Waterman. 3B - MSU, Williams. 2B - UAB, Ellis. SF - MSU, Jaspers, Williams.
