State Bats Quieted As Rebels Finish Off Season Sweep
May 25, 2016 | Softball
* Official Statistics
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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mandy Ott's double with two outs in the top of the fourth inning plated Lisa Conchos with the game's only run as Ole Miss finished off its first season sweep of cross-state rival Mississippi State with a 1-0 victory over the Bulldogs Wednesday evening at the MSU Softball Field.
Michelle Kinney and Nakita Boyce both turned in 1-for-2 nights at the plate, with Lindsay Hunley turning in a 1-for-3 outing for the Bulldogs (30-26, 4-20 SEC) who dropped their 18th consecutive game with the setback. The Rebels (18-33, 5-19) were led at the plate offensively by Conchos who highlighted a 2-for-3 hitting line with the game-winning run.
MSU starter Stephanie Comeaux (14-9) pitched effectively, scattering three hits and striking out a trio of Rebels in five innings of work, but picked up the tough luck loss after surrendering the lone earned run. Ole Miss lefthander Mary Jane Callahan (8-16) won her second consecutive decision over the Maroon and White, striking out one and walking one, to tally her third shutout of the campaign.
"We couldn't get anything going. We didn't even hit the ball hard all night," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "That was the frustrating thing. Give Callahan credit. She came in and threw a nice ball game and kept us off balance by moving the ball in and out. We didn't adjust.
"We've still got six ball games left. If we want to get into the tournament, we probably have to win four of those at least. That's our challenge and we have the opportunity to do that. We just need to go out, not give up and play like I know we can."
After stranding a trio of runners through the first three innings of play, Conchos doubled to lead off the fourth, but Comeaux appeared to get her feet back underneath her and retired the next two in order on relatively simple pop outs. However, Ott turned in her first extra-base hit of the season in the ensuing at-bat, smacking an 0-and-1 offering from the MSU righthander into the gap in leftfield to plate the runner easily from second.
State's best chance to score came in the bottom of the fifth when Kinney and Boyce both reached safely with two outs showing, but Callahan slammed the door on the threat by getting leadoff hitter Hayle Guess on a groundout to shortstop.
Mississippi State will close out its 2006 home schedule this weekend when it welcomes fourth-ranked Alabama (42-8, 20-4) to the MSU Softball Field. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide will open up their weekend set with a 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon doubleheader before closing out the weekend on Sunday with a 1 p.m. single game. MSU will honor its lone senior, second baseman Callye Williams, in a ceremony prior to Sunday's first pitch.
