Bulldogs Ousted From Postseason By Florida Atlantic, 1-0
Official Game Statistics
State Concludes 2004 Campaign With 39-26 Record
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Jenn Piazza's sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning brought Marlene Lopez home on a close play at the plate to help third-seeded Florida Atlantic move past fourth-seeded Mississippi State, 1-0, and oust the Bulldogs from the NCAA Region 5 Tournament Friday evening in Lincoln, Neb.
Mississippi State (39-26) got a hit from three different players, including senior all-American Iyhia McMichael (1-for-3) whose single in the sixth marked her 40th consecutive game in which she reached base safely. Fellow senior Jennifer Waterman finished the day with a 1-for-1 hitting line that included a sac bunt and a walk, while Starkville native Meagan O'Nan turned in a 1-for-2 day in her last game in Maroon and White. FAU (56-17) got one hit apiece from a trio of players as well, including Jennifer Cavanaugh who singled and walked on a 1-for-1 tally.
Mississippi State starter Kelli Miller (11-11), who made her second consecutive start after a previous loss to top-seeded Cal-Berkeley, pitched another dandy of a game, but took the loss after allowing an unearned run on three hits and a pair of walks in five innings of work. Reliever Melissa Massey did not surrender a hit or a walk in the sixth, but got the no decision. Florida Atlantic staff ace Candice Freel (28-9) picked up her second win of the postseason after striking out five and allowing just three hits in seven innings of scoreless ball.
Although having troubles offensively, State had no initial trouble with the FAU hitters through the first two-plus innings as Miller sliced through the first six hitters in the order like a hot knife through butter before giving up a leadoff single in the third. However, McMichael fielded the ball cleanly off the top of the wall and delivered a perfect relay throw to Lindsay Nelson at second and got Cavanaugh attempting to stretch her knock into a double. Miller would go on to retire seven of the next eight hitters she faced, before a walk and an error helped the Owls put a pair of runners on in the fifth.
Florida Atlantic got a leadoff single from Callie Piper in the sixth to chase Miller from the circle, then used a crucial fielding error from Massey on an attempted sac bunt by Pam Mazzarella to put a pair of runners on with no outs. Following Jessica Braggins' sac hit that moved both runners into scoring position, Piazza delivered the goods on a deep fly ball to McMichael in centerfield.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 1, MISSISSIPPI STATE 0
Mississippi State (39-26) 000 000 0 - 0 3 2 Florida Atlantic (56-17) 000 001 x - 1 3 0
Miller, Massey (6) and Waterman. Freel and Piper. W - Freel (28-9). L - Miller (11-11). Save - None. SF - Piazza.