Sloppy Play Moves Arkansas Past No. 22 Dogs In Series Finale, 4-2
May 25, 2016 | Softball
* Official Statistics (PDF)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas plated a trio of unearned runs on three costly fielding errors in the bottom of the third inning and then rode effective pitching the rest of the way out to salvage its weekend set with Mississippi State on a 4-2 upset win over the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs Sunday afternoon at Lady ?€˜Back Yard.
Sophomore all-American Courtney Bures homered for the third time this season to highlight a 1-for-4 day at the plate and lead seven Mississippi State (23-7, 2-1 SEC) with base hits in the outing. Arkansas (13-13, 2-4) got a pair of hits from three different played in snapping their five-game losing streak to the Maroon and White.
MSU starter Stephanie Comeaux (12-2), who rattled off her second no-hitter of the season against UA on Saturday, found less success in the series bookend, saddling the loss for the visitors after surrendering four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk. Blaire Perry (5-5) picked up the gift victory for Arkansas despite allowing two earned runs on six MSU hits in just four innings from the circle.
We had great chances in the first three innings to break things wide open, said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. We just didn't get it done. The problem is, when you let a team like Arkansas hang around, you're going to get beat. We could have taken them out of the game early, but we lost that opportunity. We just gave them the game on a platter with those three errors. It was frustrating, but it was also nice to win our first conference series
Despite having Hayle Guess retired on a grounder back to the pitcher to begin the game, State still managed to put something together in the opening frame. The Bulldogs put a baserunner aboard on an ensuing single by Nakita Boyce before Bures smacked a 1-and-1 offering from Perry deep over the leftfield wall to give the visitors an early lead.
Arkansas answered in its half of the third however, utilizing a walk and a clutch fielding error by MSU first baseman Sammie Jo Bailey to set the table for a two-out, two-run dropped fly ball by the leftfielder Boyce that allowed UA to tie the game a handful of minutes later. With the floodgates already open, Arkansas would, again, cash in on a fielding error by the Bulldog outfield when pinchrunner Brandy Baze came across the plate on a crucial miscue by the centerfielder Guess.
State would have its chances early to put the game away, loading the bases with one out in the second and two outs in the third but, both times, succumbed to big defensive plays by the Lady ?€˜Backs, Guess laced a fly ball to rightfield in the second but, on the tag-up attempt, Callye Williams was gunned down at the plate on a perfect throw from UA rightfielder Rachel LeMaster. In the third, Perry would retire Katie Johnson on a swinging strikeout to keep the Lady ?€˜Backs in the game.
Arkansas got a double from Sandra Smith to lead off the sixth, then got a one-out single from Perry to plate an insurance run and provide the final. MSU attempted to rally in the seventh by putting a pair of runners on with two outs, but reliever Tara Henry induced Bailey into a game-ending groundout to ice the victory.
Mississippi State will return to action on Tuesday afternoon when the Bulldogs open up a seven-game homestand by hosting Mississippi Valley State (1-18) in a twilight doubleheader. First pitch has been set for 5 p.m. and admission to all 2006 MSU Softball home games is free.
