It's Over!!! 'Dogs Snap 20-Game Skid With Comeback Win Over Kentucky
May 25, 2016 | Softball
* Official Statistics
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LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sammie Jo Bailey's monstrous two-run home run with one out in the top of the seventh inning completed a six-run comeback effort for visiting Mississippi State as the Bulldogs snapped a school record 20-game losing streak and rang in May with a 6-4 win over the Wildcats Saturday afternoon at the UK Softball Complex.
Bailey walked, drove in a pair of runs and scored twice on a perfect 2-for-2 hitting line, with sophomore Katie Cooley plating a run on a 1-for-2 showing and a pair of walks. Nakita Boyce (0-for-3), Courtney Bures (1-for-3, SF) and Callye Williams (1-for-3) also provided lone RBI for the Maroon and White (31-28, 5-22 SEC) who won its first game since March 30 and its first SEC outing since defeating South Carolina on March 25.
Kentucky (21-34, 4-24) got base hits from seven different players with rightfielder Lori Melchi driving in a pair of runs and scoring once on a 2-for-3 hitting line for the Wildcats who fell for the fifth consecutive time in the series.
MSU starter Ragan Blake allowed four runs on seven hits in just two innings of work but did not factor in the decision as State got a huge effort from its bullpen. Junior Sara Hickerson allowed just one walk and one hit in three innings of work, with righthander Kelli Miller (1-0) picking up her first victory in nearly a calendar year by retiring the final six Wildcats in order.
Kentucky reliever Amy Kendall (8-12) took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing a pair of earned runs on four hits in two and one-thirds innings from the circle. Starter Jessica Trueblood pitched admirably in four and two-thirds innings of work, but did not get a decision despite allowing just one earned run and four hits.
"We got some great pitching from our relievers," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "Sara came in and shut them down and gave us an opportunity there and that's what you need in that situation. She also got a big hit for us. After we got Sara got through the lineup once, Kelli came in and finished them off.
"I was really impressed with the way that the kids battled. After getting down 4-0, and especially with the last month that we had, they could have given up and quit, but they didn't do that. We showed a lot of fight and a lot of battle and came out with the win."
Despite the outcome, it was Kentucky that showed all the fight after lighting up the rightfield scoreboard for four runs in the second inning. The Wildcats would send eight batters to the plate in the frame, using a wild pitch, a two-run single from Melchi and an ensuing RBI knock by Megan Miller to take what looked to be a very comfortable lead into the third.
After leaving the bases juiced in a prime scoring chance in the top of the second, State finally went to work in the fifth, sending its entire order to the plate and utilizing a trio of unearned runs to tie the game. The frame would be highlighted by a sac fly from Bures as well as RBI singles from Cooley and Williams.
Miller came on and took down Kentucky with three consecutive groundouts in the sixth before State continued its rally in the seventh, getting Bures aboard on a one-out single before Bailey crushed Kendall's 1-and-0 offering over the fence in left centerfield for its first lead of the game. Miller finished off her first win since offseason shoulder surgery by taking down the Cats in order in the bottom of the seventh, two of which came by virtue of groundouts.
