Mississippi State Rallies In Fourth To Nip Lady'Backs In Opener, 5-4
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Official Game Statistics
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State sent 10 batters to the plate in a four-run fourth inning that helped the Bulldogs erase a 3-0 Arkansas lead in the top of the inning en route to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Lady 'Backs Saturday afternoon in the series opener at the MSU Softball Field.
The win snapped a four-game SEC losing streak for the Bulldogs (27-22, 7-13 SEC) and kept the Maroon and White in the thick of the hunt for one of the final three berths into the season-ending SEC Tournament. Arkansas (15-32, 1-17) suffered their third consecutive SEC loss with the setback.
The Bulldogs got multi hits from three different players, including Lindsay Hunley who drove in a pair of runs on a 2-for-3 hitting line. Katie Johnson scored twice on a 2-for-3 plate tally, while Courtney Bures recorded two base knocks in three trips to the plate. Ashley Carter hit a solo home run to highlight a 2-for-3 day at the plate that led Arkansas.
MSU starter Stephanie Comeaux exited the game down 3-0 in the fourth before freshman Ragan Blake shut down the Lady 'Backs to keep MSU within striking distance. Blake (2-2) scattered three hits and struck out a trio of Arkansas batters to pick up her first win since February 26. Arkansas starter Valanna Lyons saddled the loss for the Lady 'Backs, surrendering four unearned runs on five hits and as many walks in three and two-thirds innings from the circle.
Via a one-out single by Rachel LeMaster, as well as a two-out walk delivered by Comeaux, Arkansas put a pair of runners on with two outs in the third to set the table for Easley who doubled to the gap in left field to give the Lady 'Backs a quick 2-0 lead. The Lady 'Backs would pad their lead in the third, using a pair of singles and a sac hit to get runners to second and third and chase Comeaux from the circle. With Blake on in relief, the visitors used a deep fly ball to centerfield from Sarah Topham to push the lead out to 3-0.
State got some help from a clutch fielding error by Arkansas with the leadoff at-bat in the bottom of the frame. The 'Dogs would capitalize, highlighting the next six at-bats with a two-run double by Hunley and a sac fly from Kinney, to tie the score at three apiece. MState would load the bases with its eighth at-bat of the frame * an intentional free pass delivered to Bures * before tacking another run on the board when McDonald walked on a full-count walk moments later.
The Bulldogs got another sac fly from Kinney in the fifth to bring Katie Johnson racing home from third, but Arkansas cut the lead back to one on Carter's solo homer in the seventh.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 5, ARKANSAS 4
Arkansas (15-32) 002 100 1 - 4 8 1Mississippi State (27-22) 000 410 x - 5 9 0Lyons, Ninemire (4), Henry (4) and Easley. Comeaux, Blake (4) and Geddings. W * Blake (2-2). L * Lyons (7-15). Save * None. HR * Carter (UA).
