State Drops 2-1 Heartbreaker To Second-Ranked And Top-Seeded Cal
Bulldogs Take Early Lead, But Bears Complete Comeback With RBI Single In Sixth
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Chelsea Spencer's RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning brought home pinch runner Jessica Vernaglia with the winning run as the top-seeded and second ranked Cal Bears completed a two-run comeback with a 2-1 victory in NCAA Region 5 winner's bracket play Friday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.
The Bulldogs (39-25) got two hits in the game, one each from the bats of seniors Iyhia McMichael (1-for-3, R) and Meagan O'Nan (1-for-2, SH). The Golden Bears (48-11) got hits from six different players, with catcher Haley Woods (1-for-3) involved in the production of both Berkeley runs.
MSU starter Kelli Miller (11-10) pitched almost flawlessly, but took the tough-luck loss anyway despite surrendering just one earned run and scattering six hits over her 11th complete game of the season. Cal starter Kelly Anderson did not record an out before exiting the first, surrendering a run on a pair of walks and one hit, but got the no decision. Kristin Thorson (25-3) picked up the win for the Golden Bears, striking out five and allowing just one hit and one walk in picking up her second victory in as many days at the NCAA Region 5 Tournament.
Mississippi State got a leadoff single from McMichael in the first, then used a hit batsman and a five-pitch walk to load the bases with its next two at-bats and put the Golden Bears on the defensive from the get-go. Continuing to struggle from the circle, Anderson escaped a two-run knock after Blaire Brown's smash sailed just foul, but surrendered the lead anyway by throwing three-straight balls to walk in a run and chase herself from the ballgame.
Facing the 1-0 deficit with the bases still loaded and no outs showing, Thorson came on in relief of Anderson and qualmed the storm, getting Lindsay Nelson on a pop up to third base and striking out both Tanelda McDonald and Callye Williams.
After two quiet innings, Cal finally got something going against Miller in their half of the third, getting a one-out single from Vicky Galindo, then using a sac hit from Lindsey James to put the runner into position for Haley Woods. On a 1-2 count, Woods delivered a pot shot up the middle to Lindsay Nelson, but the senior second baseman bobbled the exchange allowing Woods to reach and Galindo to cross the plate with the tying run.
Thorson allowed her first baserunner in four innings by delivering a one-out walk in the sixth to Waterman, but shut the door immediately afterward. Brown's liner to short moments later was corralled by Chelsea Spencer who caught pinch runner Melissa Massey napping on the paths to turn an inning-ending double play. Cal got a leadoff single from Woods in their half of the inning and moved the runner to third on a sac hit by cleanup hitter Kaleo Eldredge and a groundout off the bat of Jessica Pamanian.
Mississippi State will now remain on the playing field of Bowlin Stadium on the campus of the University of Nebraska to play third-seeded Florida Atlantic (55-17) in an elimination game. First pitch of that contest has been set for 6 p.m. CDT. The Owls advanced in loser's bracket play with a 5-0 win over Lehigh on Thursday evening.
GAME NOTES
Friday's NCAA Regional contest marked just the second time that Mississippi State and Cal-Berkeley have met in the history of the two programs. The Golden Bears took that meeting by a 6-4 count on Feb. 12, 1999 at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz.
State is now 2-12 all-time against schools from the Pac-10 conference, with wins against then-top ranked Arizona in 2002 (7-1) and then-No. 9 Stanford in 2000 (2-1).
With her leadoff single in the first inning, senior all-American Iyhia McMichael reached base safely for the 40th consecutive game in 2004. McMichael has now reached base safely in 63 of 64 contests for the Maroon and White this season.
Mississippi State scored in the first inning for the 29th time this season and ran its record to 20-9 when accomplishing that task. The Bulldogs have won 10 of their last 12 contests when scoring in the first inning.
Including three at-bats in today's game, Mississippi State is hitting .354 (17-for-48) with the bases loaded in 2004. Opponents are hitting .290 (9-for-31) in the same situation.
Mississippi State is now 12-51 all-time against opponents ranked in the top 10 and 36-97 all-time against top 25 opponents. The Bulldogs have matched a program-high this year with four victories vs. top 10-ranked teams and have set a school record with 10 wins against top 25 opponents.
| CAL-BERKELEY 2, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1 | |||||||
| Mississippi State (39-25) | 100 | 000 | 0 | - | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Cal-Berkeley (48-11) | 001 | 001 | x | - | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Miller and Waterman. Anderson, Thorson (1) and Woods. W * Thorson (25-3). L * Miller (11-10). Save * None.