Bulldogs Score Early, Often In 10-3 Rout Of Utah
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Official Game Statistics
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- Mississippi State scored two or more runs in each of the first three innings, including a five-run third inning, and capitalized on nine hits and seven Utah miscues to rebound from an early morning loss with a 10-3 rout of the Utes Saturday afternoon at the Palm Springs Classic.
Rookie Courtney Bures scored three times and drove in a season high four runs on a perfect 4-for-4 tally at the plate, while Jennifer Jessup tallied three RBI of her own on a 2-for-3 hitting line to pace a potent Mississippi State (11-5) offense. Four Bulldogs crossed the plate two or more times in the contest, including Melissa Massey who collected a 1-for-1 plate tally with a trio of sacrifice hits. Diana Phillips highlighted the Utah (6-8) offense, driving in a pair on a 2-for-4 night at the plate.
Freshman Ragan Blake (1-0) picked up her first collegiate victory in a relief role, scattering four hits and striking out six in five innings of work. MSU starter Kelli Miller gave up three runs on a walk and five hits in a two-inning appearance, but got the no decision. Utah reliever Lindsey Nielsen (3-4) saddled the loss for the Utes, conceding eight runs on seven hits and a trio of walks in five and two-thirds innings of action from the circle.
The win marked the second triumph for Mississippi State in its six-game old series with the Utes and the first since the Maroon and White mercy-ruled Utah, 11-3, at the 2000 NCAA Region 1 Tournament in Seattle, Wash.
"I thought we bounced back really well from this morning," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller, referring to MSU's earlier one-run loss to No. 22 Pacific. "We came out and put some runs on the board and I thought Ragan came in and did a nice job picking up the win and shutting them down after Kelli struggled those first couple of innings.
"It was good to get some runs on the board. Granted, they made some errors and helped us out, but we've been helping out a lot of people lately as well. It was nice to have the shoe on the other foot for a change."
State initially used its short game to put runs on the board, getting a RBI single from Bures in the bottom of the first to plate Keri McFarling from second, then utilizing a stolen base by Bures and a RBI single from Jessup to stretch its lead out to two. Utah struck for three of their own in the next frame, pairing together four base hits, including a two-run double by Phillips, to knot the game back up. The Utes would grab their first lead of the contest moments later on a misplayed grounder by the Mississippi State outfield.
The Bulldogs would retake the lead with three more runs in their half of the second inning, then sent 10 batters to the plate in a five-run miscue-rampant third inning that put the game out of reach.
Mississippi State will close out its portion of Palm Springs Classic play on Sunday morning when the Bulldogs suit up to face 18th-ranked Oregon State at 10 a.m. PST. The Bulldogs will return home on Wednesday afternoon when they welcome cross-state rival Southern Miss to the MSU Softball Field for a 4 p.m. contest.
