Doucette, Georgia Rout MState To Clinch Series, 8-0
May 25, 2016 | Softball
* Official Statistics (PDF
ATHENS, Ga. - Homestanding and 10th-ranked Georgia plated single runs in each of the first two innings, then blew the game wide open with four unearned runs in the fifth, to propel the Red and Black to their 17th consecutive league series victory, as well as a doubleheader sweep, with an abbreviated 8-0 victory over 25th-ranked Mississippi State Saturday evening at the Georgia Softball Stadium.
Nakita Boyce provided Mississippi State (30-14, 4-8 SEC) with its only hit of the game on a two-out double in the seventh, with Hayle Guess walking twice on an 0-for-1 hitting line for the Bulldogs. Kellie Middleton and Ashley Godfrey both turned in perfect 3-for-3 hitting lines for Georgia (37-9, 17-3) who ran its series win streak out to eight with the result.
MSU starter Ragan Blake (16-7) suffered through the worst outing of her career, but was not aided by any of five errors by the Maroon and White on the day. Blake's final line consisted of six runs allowed on eight hits. She also struck out one to inch herself to within two on State's single season strikeout list. Jessica Doucette (13-4) struck out six and allowed just one hit in registering her fifth shutout of the season for Georgia.
We looked horrible at the plate, really in both games, said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. Obviously, you aren't going to beat many people making five errors and you get one hit. Ragan struggled a little bit and they hit her pretty hard, but we're not giving her very much help defensively or offensively. Overall, it was a very poor effort for us in all three areas and you that's what happens * you get run-ruled.
Georgia used a leadoff double by Middleton, as well as an ensuing MSU fielding error to take a quick 1-0 lead, but stretched the advantage out to a pair on a leadoff homer by Godfrey in the second. With Doucette slicing through the MSU batting order, Georgia went to work again in the sixth, utilizing two hits, as many errors, and a pair of sacrifice flies to score four more runs and put the game out of reach.
Two bunt single attempts, as well as State's fifth error of the game, allowed Georgia's first two batters of the seventh to reach safely, before Middleton bunted both into position moments later. Senior Courtney Knight's two-run single with the next at-bat would put the mercy rule into effect and ice the day for the hosts.
Mississippi State will close out its series with Georgia on Sunday when the two squads meet in the series finale. First pitch has been set for 1 p.m. EDT and admission is free.
