State Rallies In Seventh To Finish Off Sweep Of Kentucky, 3-2
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Official Game Statistics
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Tanelda McDonald's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning plated Courtney Bures with the game-winning run as the Bulldogs rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the sixth to finish off its series sweep of Kentucky on a 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.
Bures' seventh-inning triple highlighted a 2-for-4 day at the plate for the rookie from Haymarket, Va., while McDonald provided the dramatic at-bat to cap off a 1-for-3 hitting line for the Maroon and White (21-15, 3-6 SEC). No plate appearance was bigger than Sara Hickerson's pinch-hit in the sixth however, as the sophomore came through with her first base knock of the campaign to plate the first run for MState. Kentucky (14-25, 1-11) got a solo homer from Katie Campbell for one of three hits on the day for the visitors.
In her first relief appearance of the season, Kelli Miller (6-4) came on in relief of MSU starter Stephanie Comeaux in the fourth and picked up her second victory in the series, holding UK to a single hit in four innings of work. Likewise, Kentucky reliever Samantha Allen (10-11) saddled the loss for the Wildcats after allowing two runs on two hits in just one-third of an inning of relief.
"We came out flat in those first five innings especially and that was very disappointing," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "We didn't do a very good job at the plate and that got to be a little frustrating. But, obviously, the sixth and seventh innings were huge for us. Sara came in and put the first run on the board for us, then Keri (McFarling) and Courtney got us a couple of hits and Tanelda drove in the gamewinner for us.
"I think that is going to be big for our confidence going into the LSU series (Wednesday and Thursday). We needed the sweep this weekend and we were able to get that."
Kentucky utilized a five-pitch leadoff walk delivered to Marnitz to manufacture their first run in the first, moving the runner over with its short game, before Jessica Nance's single two batters later gave the ?€˜Cats a 1-0 advantage. UK would stretch their lead out to two in its half of the second when Campbell took the first offering from Comeaux over the fence in left field.
Kendall retired the first two Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the sixth, but State utilized a throwing error from the righthander to keep the inning alive. Michelle Kinney followed with a full-count walk and, after a stolen base by Katie Johnson, Hickerson's shot to shallow centerfield cut the lead in half, 2-1.
Keri McFarling reached on error to lead off the bottom of the seventh and Bures tied the score moments later on her third triple of the series.
Mississippi State will return to action on Wednesday and Thursday when the Bulldogs suit up to host SEC Western Division foe LSU in a key midweek series at the MSU Softball Field. The two squads will renew their series for the 33rd time in a 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon doubleheader before closing out the set on Thursday at 5 p.m.
