Bulldogs Knock Off Corpus-Christi In NCAA Austin Regional Opener, 1-0
May 25, 2016
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AUSTIN, Texas - Jennifer Jessup's RBI single with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning brought Nakita Boyce home with the game's only run as second-seeded Mississippi State rallied behind a dominant three-hit shutout from Kelli Miller to knock off third-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 1-0 in the opening game of the NCAA Region 4 tournament in Austin, Texas.
The win improved the Maroon and White's (34-29) record in postseason openers out to 4-1, while the Islanders (41-10) were held without a run for the fifth time in as many postseason games - a span of 37 consecutive innings.
Tanelda McDonald tripled and singled in three trips to the plate to pace the hit column for the Bulldogs, but it was a big hit by pinch hitter Nakita Boyce (1-for-1, Run), as well as Jessup's (1-for-3) difference maker, that told the story. Centerfielder Erica Armenta singled twice in as many plate appearances for the Islanders, who also got a base hit from Shannon Stein.
Miller (14-11), who brought a 0.64 postseason ERA into State's school record fourth-straight NCAA Regional bid, never really broke a sweat in the Texas heat, striking out four and scattering three hits over her eighth complete game of the season to pick up the win. Corpus Christi starter Satah Pauly (36-6), who entered the game with the nation's third-lowest ERA, saddled the loss for the Islanders, offsetting six strikeouts by surrendering five MSU hits.
We got a great pitching performance out of Kelli, said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. We knew we were in for a tough offensive day because Sarah Pauly is a great pitcher and we knew it would be tough to score runs. Our players did a nice job of hanging in there and making the plays defensively. It was one of those games were you hang out defensively and hope that you can scratch across a run first.
Corpus Christi got the first hit for either team on a one-out single by Stein in the top half of the second, but State threatened to score the game's first run in the bottom of the inning. Alas, McDonald's leadoff triple off the right field wall went all for naught as Pauly got Callye Williams on a groundout to the left side before a lineout by Katie Johnson moments later caught McDonald sleeping and the Islanders doubled her off going back to third to escape the inning.
Boyce punched a slap single through the hands of Corpus Christi third baseman Lauren Peters to begin the sixth and stole second base a short time later to set the table for Jessup's dramatics. The Bulldogs looked to add an insurance run in the inning as well, sacrificing Jessup into position on Lindsay Hunley's bunt, but Pauly struck out Courtney Bures, then induced McDonald into an inning-ending groundout to slam the door on the rally.
Corpus Christi got a one-out single from Armenta, but Miller would exhibit complete dominance the rest of the game, retiring 14 of the Islanders' last 15 batters en route to her team-leading fifth shutout of the season.
In a game like this, the first run is so crucial, Miller said. Neither pitcher was giving up a lot and we got a little spark from Nakita getting on base and then stealing a base and giving us the opportunity to score.
State will now advance to winner's bracket play on Saturday where they will face host and top-seeded Texas (43-14) who knocked off UMass by a 1-0 count in the nightcap behind a no-hitter (14 strikeouts) from Olympic gold medalist and junior southpaw Cat Osterman.
Saturday's high noon contest with the Longhorns will be broadcast liveby WMSV 91.1 FM with Anthony Craven calling all the balls and strikes.The game can also be followed via a live stats link at the officialInternet home of the Mississippi State athletic department,www.MStateAthletics.com.
