'Dogs Knock Off Florida International In Extra Frames, 3-2
Jaspers Proves To Be Hero With Game-Winning RBI In Eighth PLANT CITY, Fla. -- Kate Jaspers' RBI single through the right side plated Jennifer Waterman with the gamewinner as No. 23 Mississippi State (17-9) moved on in single elimination bracket play at the Speedline Invitational with a 3-2, eight-inning victory over Florida International (19-16) Saturday evening in Plant City, Fla. Jaspers sparked the Bulldogs on a 2-for-3 day at the plate, while also adding a walk. Four other players also recorded hits for the Bulldogs. Nicole Dubovik paced the Golden Panthers with an RBI on a 1-for-2 showing at the plate. Starter Melissa Massey scattered three hits and struck out two in five innings of work, but got the no decision after a blown save by closer Kellie Wilkerson in the sixth. Wilkerson (3-0) worked the final three innings of the ballgame, striking out three and allowing two hits, to grab the victory for the Bulldogs. Leah Barnes surrendered one hit and one unearned run to saddle the loss for the Golden Panthers. Mississippi State got runners aboard in each of the first four innings, but did not plate a run until the fifth, using an RBI single by Blaire Brown to plate Jennifer Jessup from second base. Florida International answered in the bottom of the inning, however, leading off the frame with a walk and a base hit, before plating a run two batters later on an RBI groundout by Crystal Boyer. The Bulldogs retook the lead in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Jessup to deep centerfield, but the Golden Panthers knotted the score back up again in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Nicole Dubovik. With the victory, the Bulldogs will now move on to face third-ranked Stanford (24-2) in the second round of single elimination play at the Speedline Invitational. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. at the ISF Complex.
#23 Mississippi State 3, Florida International 2(8 Innings)Mississippi State 000 011 01 - 3 6 0 Florida International 000 011 00 - 2 5 2 Massey, Wilkerson (6) and Brown, Waterman (6);Laminack, Barnes (7) and Perry. W - Wilkerson (3-0).L - Barnes (N/A). Save - None. 2B: MSU - L. Nelson (4).