'Dogs Salvage Series, Upset No. 11 LSU, 6-2
Nelson Limits Tigers To Four Hits; State Notches Nine
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Host Mississippi State (24-14, 4-8 SEC) jumped on the scoreboard early, then rode the shoulders of a standout performance in the circle by Jennifer Nelson, to salvage its series with No. 11 LSU (25-10, 6-5) on a 6-2 thumping of the Tigers in game three Thursday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.
Kate Jaspers turned in State's only multi-hit showing of the game, doubling and scoring a run on a 2-for-3 tally. Jennifer Nelson (1-for-3), Chelle McDonald (1-for-3, R), Lindsay Nelson (1-for-3, R) and Krystal Tillman (1-for-3) each added a RBI for the Bulldogs. All-American Iyhia McMichael (1-for-3) stretched her career-long hitting streak out to 18 games on a full-count single in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Christy Connor drove in a run on a 2-for-3 tally to pace the Bayou Bengals.
After collecting 19 combined hits in the doubleheader on Wednesday, the Tigers were limited to just four on a pitching gem by Jennifer Nelson (5-4), who struck out five and scattered four hits to earn the win for the Maroon and White. LSU ace Kristin Schmidt (14-9) saddled the loss for the Purple and Gold, offsetting seven strikeouts by surrendering six runs on nine hits and a trio of walks.
"After two tough losses last night, you don't know how the kids are going to react in the third game," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "But I thought we came out and played very hard. We got a very good game from Jennifer Nelson, some timely hits and great defensive performances from a number of players."
LSU catcher Jennie Reeves drew a bases loaded walk to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but Mississippi State responded in its half of the inning, taking advantage of two hits and a pair of defensive errors by LSU to take a 2-1 advantage into the third.
Another defensive error by the Bayou Bengals, coupled with a sac fly by McDonald and a RBI bunt single by Lindsay Nelson allowed State to cross the plate three more times in the third and take an insurmountable 5-1 lead., before adding an insurance run in the fifth on a run-scoring bunt single from Tillman. Connor's RBI single in the sixth provided the final score.
Mississippi State will continue a 10-game homestand this weekend when the Bulldogs lace up to host SEC Eastern Division foe Kentucky (9-21, 1-11) in a three-game set at the Mississippi State Softball Field. The two will commence the series with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and close out the set on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Admission to all 2003 Mississippi State Softball home games is free of charge.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 6, NO. 11/12 LSU 2
LSU 010 001 0 -- 2 4 5Mississippi State 023 010 0 -- 6 9 0
Schmidt and Reeves; J. Nelson and Waterman. W - J. Nelson (5-4). L - Schmidt (14-9). Save - None. 2B MSU, Best, Jaspers. SF - McDonald.