State Upset By USM In Inaugural M&F Bank Fastpitch Classic, 8-5
Pitching Suspect As Bulldogs Squander Seventh-Inning Lead
MADISON, Miss. -- In front of the largest crowd ever to watch a softball game in the state of Mississippi, Southern Miss (17-20) rallied for five runs on three hits and a myriad of free passes in the top of the seventh to erase a game-long deficit to Mississippi State (27-15) and defeat the Bulldogs, 8-5, in the inaugural M&F Bank Fastpith Classic Thursday evening at Liberty Park in Madison.
Krystal Tillman scored twice on a 2-for-3 tally that paced the Bulldogs, while Iyhia McMichael stretched her career-long hitting streak out to 22 games on a two-run homer in the third. Three other players recorded base hits for the Maroon and White. Ashley Davis and Ashley Brenan paced the Lady Eagles on a pair of 2-for-4 tallies, with Heather Bell scoring twice on a 1-for-3 showing.
MSU starter Melissa Massey (17-7) allowed six runs on four USM hits and five walks to saddle the loss for the Bulldogs, but got no help from her relievers. Courtney Frank did not record an out in the seventh, but allowed a pair of runs on one walk. Stephanie Owens allowed a pair of hits, but recorded three outs to get the 'Dogs out of the inning. USM's Jessica Holaway (9-10) worked a complete game, striking out six and allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk, to earn the victory for the Golden Eagles.
The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles played in front of the largest crowd ever to watch a softball game in the state of Mississippi with the announced attendance being 1,712. It is also the largest crowd ever to watch a Bulldog softball contest, home or away.
State wasted little time in scratching the rightfield scoreboard, getting a one-out double from Kate Jaspers and a RBI single from Jennifer Waterman to take a 1-0 lead into the second. The Eagles knotted the score at one in the third on a RBI double from Charity Butler in the third, but State retook the lead on the bottom of the frame with a three-run rally, including McMichael's estimated 305-foot blast with one out.
Southern Miss rallied for two runs on a pair of MSU miscues in the fifth, before the Bulldog pitching broke down in the final inning. State got a run in the last half of the seventh on Brenan's second error of the contest, but could get no closer.
Mississippi State will return to action this weekend as the Bulldogs close out a 10-game homestand by hosting SEC Western Division foe Auburn in a three-game series at the Mississippi State Softball Field. The two will open the set in a 5 p.m. twinbill on Saturday and close out the series on Sunday in a regionally-televised game at 1 p.m. Sunday's finale has been tabbed "Pack the Park" day with the first 50 fans receiving a free Mississippi State ball point bat pen.
SOUTHERN MISS 8, MISSISSIPPI STATE 5
Southern Miss 001 020 5 -- 8 6 4Mississippi State 103 000 1 -- 5 7 4
Holaway and Huerta; Massey, Frank (7), Owens (7) and Waterman. W -- Holaway (9-10. L -- Massey (17-7). Save -- None. 2B -- USM, Butler, Davis. MSU, Jaspers. HR -- McMichael. Time -- 2:21. Att. -- 1,712.