University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Mississippi State Tops Southern Miss In Fastpitch Classic
4/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Mississippi State Tops Southern Miss In Fastpitch Classic
RIDGELAND, Miss. -- The Mississippi State Bulldogs reeled off six runs over the first two innings, gaining the eventual 6-3 victory over Southern Miss in the Second Annual M&F Bank Fastpitch Classic, Tuesday, before an announced crowd of 1,072 here at Freedom Ridge Park.
Mississippi State (24-20) finished with the six runs on nine hits and made one error in the victory, while Southern Miss (21-19) managed just three runs on five hits and also had an error. The decision gave the Bulldogs the split in the season series, after the Lady Eagles won the first season meeting, 6-0, two weeks ago in Hattiesburg.
Melissa Massey (11-8) picked up the victory after giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits in 5.1 innings of work with three walks and four strikeouts. Stephanie Comeaux pitched 1.2 innings in relief, giving up an unearned run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Sophomore pitcher Danielle Wymer (5-6) took the loss for the Lady Eagles, finishing with the six runs on nine hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
State opened up with three quick runs in the first frame, when Iyhia McMichael, Kate Jaspers and Blaire Brown all scored, two of the runs on respective RBIs from Brown and Lindsay Nelson.
The Bulldogs tacked on to the lead with another three-spot in the second inning, pelting five of their hits -- including RBIs from McMichael and Jaspers and a sacrifice fly from Jennifer Waterman.
It wasn't until the fourth inning when Southern Miss broke into the scoring column, using Diane Hammes' two-run shot to left field to cut the deficit to four runs.
The final run came in the bottom of the seventh frame after Charity Butler scored on Jessica Huerta's fielder's choice, ending the scoring for the game.
Senior Auriel Jenkins picked up two of the Lady Eagles' five hits in the game, while Hammes led all players with two RBIs.
Nelson had three hits for the Bulldogs, and Waterman added two.
Southern Miss now takes an eight-day break from competition before returning to host Nicholls State in a makeup doubleheader, Wednesday, April 14, in Hattiesburg.
