Three-Run Third Helps Tide Finish Off Twinbill Sweep Of MSU
May 25, 2016 | Softball
* Official Statistics
* Official Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Fourth-ranked Alabama rallied for three runs with two outs in the third inning to erase an early deficit, then held off a late rally by homestanding Mississippi State to finish off a day one sweep of the Bulldogs on a 6-3 victory in the nightcap of a series-opening doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.
Junior catcher Blair Geddings drove in a run on a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate for the Bulldogs (30-28, 4-22 SEC), with Callye Williams (1-for-3) and Katie Cooley (0-for-2) both showing RBI knocks as well. Alabama (44-8, 22-4) got all eight hits from its first four batters, with Staci Ramsey homering twice on a 2-for-4 tally and four RBI.
Stephanie Comeaux (14-10) allowed four earned runs on five hits in three innings of work from the circle to pick up the loss for the Maroon and White, with reliever Ragan Blake surrendering a pair of earned runs on three hits in four innings of relief. Chrissy Owens (17-4) picked up her second win of the day for the Crimson Tide despite allowing three runs and six hits over her 12th complete game of the season.
"We have to keep the ball in the ball park, especially with the wind blowing out like it was. Three home runs was the difference in the ballgame," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "When you make a mistake, the good teams will make you pay for it. I thought Alabama did a good job of that today. When we made mistakes, they jumped on them.
"I thought we showed a little more fight today than we have been lately. We came out and battled and never quit. When you keep knocking on the door, sooner or later you're going to break through."
Ramsey's solo homer with two outs in the top of the first gave Alabama an early lead, but the Bulldogs struck for two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single from Geddings and a sacrifice fly from Cooley. Brittany Rogers singled to lead off the third, the crossed the plate moments later on a double to leftfield by Jordan Praytor. Ramsey's second home run of the game in the ensuing at-bat would pad the 'Bama lead to 4-2 heading into the fourth.
The Crimson Tide cushioned its lead out to three on Ramsey's fielder's choice RBI in the fifth, but MSU kept itself within striking distance on Williams' run-scoring single to rightfield in the sixth. Praytor's solo blast in the seventh, however, would inevitably provide the final.
Mississippi State and Alabama will finish off their weekend series on Sunday when the squads meet in a 1 p.m. single game at the MSU Softball Field. State's lone senior - starting second baseman Callye Williams * will be honored in a ceremony prior to first pitch as part of Senior Day festivities.
