24th-Ranked State Slips Past No. 8 Arizona State, 2-1
'Dogs Complete Sweep Of Arizona Schools; Move To 2-0 Against PAC-10 COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Iyhia McMichael's RBI double down the rightfield line plated Kate Jaspers with the gamewinning run as Mississippi State (9-2) completed its sweep of the state of Arizona with a 2-1 victory over #8 Arizona State (9-3) Friday afternoon at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. Kellie Wilkerson turned in a 3-for-4 performance and crossed the plate once, while McMichael turned in a 2-for-4 showing and added an RBI. Two other players recorded hits for the Bulldogs. Shortstop Kara Brun paced the Sun Devils on a 2-for-3 day at the plate. Wilkerson (1-0) worked a hitless seventh inning to record the victory following a strong setup from Bulldog ace Kasey Whitehead over the first six innings of play. Whitehead scattered seven hits in six innings of work and struck out one Arizona State batter but got the no decision. Arizona State all-American Erica Beach (6-1) took her first loss of the season, striking out four State batters and surrendering a pair of runs on seven hits. The victory, coupled with a 7- decision over preseason #1 Arizona two weeks ago in Phoenix, gave the Bulldogs a clean sweep of the two major Arizona schools. The win also moved Mississippi State to a 2-0 record against the perennial national power PAC-10 Conference -- a record which currently paces the Southeastern Conference. State wasted no time in lighting up the rightfield scoreboard, utilizing a leadoff walk and a stolen base by Wilkerson to move a runner into scoring position with no outs showing. Jaspers' slow roller to third base with the next at-bat was mishandled by third baseman Phelan Wright and Jaspers reached safely. However, Wilkerson took advantage of the errant catch and crossed the plate with the 1-0 lead after first baseman Nichole Thompson's pickoff throw sailed over the head of Adriana Garcia. Arizona State got a runner aboard in the top of the third on a leadoff single by Missy Hixon, then used a sacrifice bunt and a Kara Brun single to move the runner to third. Wright's sacrifice fly to deep leftfield with the next at-bat brought Hixon home to knot the score back up at one apiece. State threatened again in the fifth, utilizing a hit and a pair of Arizona State errors to juice the bases with two outs, but Beach got Krystal Tillman to ground out to third and end the threat. The Sun Devils threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh, moving a runner to third base with one out, but Hixon's fly to right was easily collected by Nelson, who nixed the threat by gunning out Jennifer Forner at the plate. In all, the teams combined to strand 14 runners (MSU 8, ASU 6) on the basepaths. Mississippi State will return action Friday evening when the Bulldogs return to the South Commons Softball Complex to face 10th-ranked Michigan (4-1). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
#24 Mississippi State 2, #8 Arizona State 1#8 Arizona State 001 000 0 - 1 7 4 #24 Miss. State 100 000 1 - 2 7 0Beach and Garcia; Whitehead, Wilkerson (7) and Waterman.W - Wilkerson (2-0). L - Beach (6-1). Save - None.2B -McMichael.