No. 3 Stanford Ousts No. 23 'Dogs From Speedline, 7-0
Despite Loss, State Turns School Record Three Double Plays PLANT CITY, Fla. -- Third-ranked Stanford (25-2) rallied its bats for two multi-run innings, then climbed on the back of a three-hit gem from staff ace Tori Nyberg to oust 23rd-ranked Mississippi State (17-10) from the Speedline Invitational Saturday evening in Plant City, Fla. Kellie Wilkerson and Krystal Tillman both belted doubles on 1-for-3 hitting performances, with Jennifer Waterman providing the only other hit for the Bulldogs on a two-out single in the seventh. First baseman Sarah Beeson paced the Cardinal on a 3-for-3 tally at the plate. Starter Melissa Massey (3-4) surrendered a pair of earned runs and struck out one batter to saddle the loss for the Bulldogs, with Kasey Whitehead getting the no decision despite surrendering five runs in three and one-thirds innings of work. Nyberg (15-1) worked a complete game for the Cardinal, striking out eight while allowing just three hits, to grab the victory. Despite the loss, four players combined to turn a school-record three double plays, including Wilkerson's solo duet in the third that nearly transpired into the first triple play in school history. A bad pickoff throw to second base prevented the trifecta. Stanford loaded the bases with its first three at-bats in the second, then got a two-run double from the bat of Elizabeth Bendig to take a wo-run lead before Whitehead got out of the inning with two-straight outs. The Cardinal got consecutive singles from its first two batters in the third, but Whitehead got Maureen LeCocq to line out to Wilkerson, who stepped on the first base bag to record the double play. Wilkerson nearly turned the triple play, but her throw sailed into left centerfield, allowing Beeson to cross the plate with an unearned run. Stanford loaded the bases again with its first three batters in the fifth, then plated four runs on successive RBI singles, an RBI double and a sac fly to push its lead to 7-0. The Cardinal led off the sixth with a single and a double, then loaded the bases on a one-out intentional walk issued to Beeson, but MSU centerfielder Iyhia McMichael nixed the Cardinal's sac fly attempt, gunning out Bendig at the plate. Mississippi State will return to action this weekend when the Bulldogs open up its conference schedule in a three-game series with No. 25 South Carolina at the Mississippi State Softball Field. The teams will open their series in a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and close out with a 12:30 p.m. single game on Sunday.
#3 Stanford 7, #23 Mississippi State 0Mississippi State 000 000 0 - 0 3 1 Stanford 020 040 x - 7 14 1Massey (1,7), Whitehead (2) and Waterman; Nybergand Allister. W - Nyberg (15-1). L - Massey (3-4).Save - None. 2B: MSU - Wilkerson, Tillman;STAN - Walker, Brangham, Bendig.