Three-Run Fourth Helps #6 Tennessee Clinch Series With Visiting Bulldogs, 8-4
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Official Game Statistics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Shannon Doepking's three-run double with one-out in the bottom of the fourth inning helped plate the go-ahead runs for homestanding Tennessee as the sixth-ranked Lady Vols held back upset-minded Mississippi State in an 8-4 shootout Saturday afternoon at Tyson Park in Knoxville, Tenn.
The Maroon and White (18-14, 0-5 SEC) got a pair of hits from Jennifer Jessup and two RBI from Callye Williams (1-for-3) to terrorize a pair of Tennessee pitchers in the first three innings of play, but the Lady Vols (33-4, 6-1) slammed the door the rest of the way out behind the relief efforts of staff ace Monica Abbott. MState's Katie Cooley homered for the second time in three games to key a 1-for-3 plate tally.
After a soft groundout in her first at-bat, Doepking rebounded with consecutive doubles, including the key run-scoring knock in the fourth, to highlight a 2-for-4 hitting line. Three other Lady Vols tallied two hits apiece.
After picking up the win in the series opener, Abbott (23-1) was awarded the decision in her second outing of the day as well, limiting the Maroon and White to one hit in four innings of relief. Melissa Massey (7-5) suffered her second consecutive loss after allowing four runs on five hits and a trio of walks in four and one-thirds innings of relief for MState.
The Bulldogs stung UT starter Megan Rhodes for three runs on four hits in just two and two-thirds innings of action from the circle, then got to reliever Stacey Jennings early and often in one-thirds of an inning of work, scoring one run on two hits in one out of work. MSU starter Kelli Miller allowed four Lady Vol runs on six hits and a pair of walks in her first action since March 6.
"Kelli had not thrown in a while so she wasn't really sharp and we didn't get a whole lot out of Melissa when we brought her in. That was the difference," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "We need to get a little stronger on the mound, depth-wise, I think. But, we put some runs on the board and did some good things offensively.
"We competed much better today. That is a good sign heading into tomorrow, as well as the rest of the season."
It didn't take long for Mississippi State to score the game's first run, getting leadoff batter Keri McFarling aboard via a defensive miscue, then taking the 1-0 lead on Jessup's one-out double down the left field line two batters later. Tennessee tied the game on Katherine Card's RBI knock in the bottom of the frame, but MSU took the lead back in their half of the second on Cooley's solo shot off the light pole in left field.
Tennessee finally got to Miller in the third, chasing the sophomore with three runs on four hits in the frame to take a 4-2 lead into the third, but MSU responded again, this time utilizing a two-run double by Williams to knot the game back up.
The Orange loaded the bases with three consecutive one-out at-bats in the fourth to set the table for Doepking's two-bagger off the top of the fence in right field, then plated an insurance run on Jennings' solo homer in the fifth.
The Bulldogs will look to salvage a game in its road series with Tennessee on Sunday when the two lock horns in the series finale at Tyson Park. Game time has been slated for a noon ET first pitch.
