No. 4 Alabama Uses Clutch Error To Squeak By Bulldogs In Extra Frames
May 25, 2016 | Softball
* Official Statistics
* Official Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Homestanding Mississippi State jumped on fourth-ranked Alabama with a pair of runs early, but the Crimson Tide utilized a clutch fielding error to plate four unearned runs in the fourth that keyed a 5-4 extra-inning comeback win over the upset-minded Bulldogs in the series opener Saturday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.
Sophomores Courtney Bures and Lindsay Hunley both turned in 2-for-4 days at the plate to key a seven-hit attack for the Bulldogs (30-27, 4-21 SEC), while classmate Nakita Boyce drove in a trio of runs on a 1-for-3 hitting line. Staci Ramsey turned in the only multi-hit line for the Crimson Tide (43-8, 21-4), with teammate Jordan Praytor having her career-best 25-game hitting streak stopped on a 0-for-4 count.
In her first start since offseason shoulder surgery, MSU righthander Kelli Miller scattered five hits and struck out three over five innings of work, but did not get a decision. Ragan Blake (16-15) allowed just one hit and walked a pair in three innings of relief action, but took the loss anyway after allowing a lone earned run in the eighth.
State tattooed UA starter Stephanie VanBrakle for four runs on seven hits before chasing the senior with one out in the seventh. Chrissy Owens (16-4) picked up the win for the visitors after going perfect over the game's final five outs.
"(The four unearned runs) were big, but we did a good job of fighting back," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "We were down 4-2 and scored some runs and had a great chance to win it there in the seventh. We have had trouble coming back this year so I was really pleased with that. It was just an example of the frustration we have been having in this streak. We can't get somebody to step up and make the plays that will break us out of it."
The Bulldogs used a single and a walk, coupled with a throwing error by Alabama catcher Ashley Holcombe, to get a pair of runners into scoring position with just one out in the first, then scratched the scoreboard on a successful suicide squeeze bunt by Bailey. MState would add to its 1-0 lead in the next frame, getting a sac fly from Boyce to plate Williams who had earlier reached on a wild pitch by VanBrakle.
After recording double plays in two of the first three innings, MSU nearly matched a school record with another one in the fourth, but Bures bobbled a hard roller allowing ?€˜Bama to eventually load the bases with three of its first four at-bats. Dominique Accetturo's fielder's choice groundout got Miller that much closer to getting out of the inning unscathed, but a bean ball moments later brought the first Crimson Tide runner across and a Mandy Burford two-run single gave the guests a 3-2 lead. A successful double steal attempt moments later gave Alabama a 4-2 lead heading into the fifth.
MSU had two of its first three batters retired in the sixth but a Katie Johnson pinch-hit single, a throwing error by the Tide and a two-out, two-run single by Boyce allowed MSU to knot the score back up. The Bulldogs got their first two batters aboard in the seventh and moved both into position on a sac bunt by Geddings, but the Crimson Tide turned a huge double play moments later when Burford snared a liner to rightfield by Hunley then doubled off Bures at the plate.
Dani Woods walked to leadoff the visitor half of the first extra inning, then moved to second on a sacrifice hit by VanBrakle. Kelley Montalvo's seeing-eye single with the next at-bat would provide the gamewinner.
