No. 23 State Blanked On Opening Day Of Speedline
Official Game 2 Statistics
Late-Inning Rallies Stuffed In Pair Of Losses PLANT CITY, Fla. -- Central Michigan (9-7) plated a run in the first and third innings, then rode the shoulders of a three-hit shutout by starter Amber Puchalski, to slip by 23rd-ranked Mississippi State (13-9), 2-0, Thursday afternoon at the Speedline Invitational in Plant City, Fla. Three different players recorded hits for the Bulldogs, with Kasey Whitehead paving the way on a 1-for-1 showing at the plate with a walk. Blaire Brown (1-for-3) and Lindsay Nelson (1-for-2) also recorded hits for the Bulldogs. Leftfielder Jennifer Skuta sparked the Chippewas on a 2-for-2 tally at the plate with a walk and an RBI. Whitehead (7-6) surrendered two runs on six hits in three innings of work to notch her second loss of the day, despite a pair of strikeouts. Relievers Melissa Massey and Kellie Wilkerson struck out two batters and allowed just a pair of hits over the final three innings, but both got no decisions. Puchalski (4-2) scattered three hits and struck out 12 Bulldogs to grab the victory. Whitehead struck out the first batter of the game, then got centerfielder Sarah Hamilton to pop up to second base to start off strong. However, the Chippewas rallied for three consecutive hits, the last being an RBI single by Karlyl McCormack, to take a 1-0 lead into the second. Central Michigan used a one-out single and a fielding error by Mississippi State second baseman Lindsay Nelson to plate an unearned insurance run in the third. Mississippi State used a leadoff walk by Wilkerson and a single by Brown to put together a rally in the sixth, but Puchalski settled down to retire the next two batters -- getting Tillman to fly out one step from the leftfield fence and Lindsay Nelson on a groundout to shortstop. In the morning game for the Bulldogs, Florida Atlantic (20-3) sent seven batters to the plate in a three-run first inning and rallied behind a strong pitching performance from all-American Nicole Myers to move past Mississippi State, 6-0, in the tournament opener for both squads. Jennifer Nelson (2-for-4) and Tillman (2-for-3) combined for four of Mississippi State's seven hits in the contest, with three other players recording base hits for the Bulldogs. Florida Atlantic leadoff hitter Ninya Ybarra scored a pair of runs on a 3-for-4 hitting performance to pace the Owls. Whitehead allowed five hits and four runs in one inning of work to take the loss for the Bulldogs, while Massey struck out six and allowed three hits over the final six innings of play to get the no decision. Myers (12-2) scattered seven hits and struck out 13 batters over a complete game to nab the victory for FAU. Florida Atlantic belted out hits in first four at-bats of the game to plate a pair of runs quickly, then used an illegal pitch (balk) by Whitehead to plate its third run of the contest and take a 3-0 lead into the second. Ginny Matthews led off the second inning with a solo homer to leftfield to chase Whitehead from the circle. The Owls used a leadoff double from Ybarra, coupled with a pair of walks and a fielding error by shortstop Jennifer Jessup, to plate a pair of insurance runs in the fifth for a 6-0 lead. The Bulldogs put together a rally in the seventh frame, loading the bases with just one out showing, but Myers got Wilkerson (fielder's choice) and Jennifer Nelson on groundouts to third base to close the door. Mississippi State will resume round-robin pool play at the Speedline Invitational on Friday, locking horns with North Carolina at 9 a.m. CT, before closing out day two in an 11 a.m. contest against Nicholls State. Both games will be played at the ISF Softball Complex.
Game 1: #13 Florida Atlantic 6, #23 Mississippi State 0Florida Atlantic 310 020 0 - 6 8 0Mississippi State 000 000 0 - 0 7 2Myers and Piper; Whitehead, Massey (2) and Brown.W - Myers (12-2). L - Whitehead (7-5). Save - None.HR: FAU - Matthews. 2B: FAU - Ybarra, Myers.Game 2: Central Michigan 2, #23 Mississippi State 0Missisippi State 000 000 0 - 0 3 1Central Michigan 101 000 x - 2 8 0Whitehead, Massey (4), Wilkerson (7) and Waterman;Puchalski and Horvath. W - Puchalski (4-2).L - Whitehead (7-6). Save - None. 2B: MSU - L. Nelson.