MSU In It Until End, But #6 Tennessee Finishes Off Sweep, 3-1
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Bulldogs Begin 10-Game Homestand Tuesday Night Against UAB
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- For the second time in the series, sixth-ranked Tennessee made a first inning lead stand up, but was forced to hold back a late charge by Mississippi State to finish off its weekend sweep of the visiting Bulldogs on a 3-1 triumph Sunday afternoon at Tyson Park in Knoxville, Tenn.
Having already seen the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year twice in the series, Mississippi State (18-15, 0-6 SEC) finally adjusted to the strong arm of Monica Abbott to put extreme pressure on the sophomore lefthander late in the game. The Bulldogs finished with four hits, but put seven runners on the paths courtesy of an error and a pair of hit batsmen. MSU freshman Courtney Bures doubled twice and was beaned once on a 2-for-2 hitting line, while Tanelda McDonald turned in State's lone RBI on a sac fly in the fourth.
Tennessee (34-4, 7-1) got one hit apiece from the top three batters in its order and used a clutch two-run single in the first by Tonya Callahan to key the victory. Brittany Bessho doubled in a sixth-inning run on a pinch hit at-bat for the Lady Vols.
Continuing on a phenomenal outing in the series opener, MSU sophomore Stephanie Comeaux (6-5) kept the SEC's top offense in check for most of the day, scattering eight hits and striking out a trio of Lady Vols in falling for the third straight time. Abbott (24-1) won her 13th-straight decision, offsetting a run and four hits with 11 strikeouts in UT's 18th victory in its last 19 outings.
We put some hits together and had a couple of good opportunities, we just didn't take advantage of them, said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. We swung the bats better and got more hits off of Abbott and I thought that was a good sign and it gives us something to build on heading into our homestand.
We competed much better. Still, sooner or later, you have to get some wins. You can compete all you want, and we competed better, but now we have to take the next step and put some wins on the board.
Despite allowing the first two Lady Vol batters to reach in the bottom of the first, Comeaux looked to have avoided the scoring threat by retiring each of the next two batters on infield fly outs. However, Callahan hammered Comeaux's first offering in the next at-bat down the left field line to clear the paths and give UT a two-run advantage heading into the second.
After two relatively quiet innings, Blair Geddings singled to lead off the MSU fourth and was followed by the first of two Bures doubles that put a pair of runners in position for the Bulldogs. McDonald's hard hit to centerfield was enough to bring home Geddings from third, but the Lady Vols got out of the inning by doubling off Bures who was scampering to third on the play.
The Maroon and White used a fielding error and a pair of hit batsmen in the sixth to load the bases with one out, but, after a pair of infield meetings, Abbott settled down and retired the next two MState batters. The Lady Vols would punch an insurance run on the board in the bottom of the frame on Bessho's double down the left field line.
Mississippi State will begin a 10-game homestand on Tuesday evening when the Bulldogs welcome UAB (14-19) to the MSU Softball Field for the second half of a home-and-home doubleheader at 6 p.m. State used an eight-run third inning to come away with an 8-3 triumph on March 8 in Birmingham.
Following Tuesday's rare midweek tilt, the Bulldogs will suit up to host Kentucky (12-22, 1-8) on Friday and Saturday in Starkville. Friday's contest against the ?€˜Cats has been tabbed with a 6 p.m. first pitch and the squads will conclude the Easter Weekend series with a 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon doubleheader.
