Bama Softball Drops Rubber Match to Mississippi State
4/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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STARKVILLE, MS — The 10th ranked University of Alabama softball team (32-11, 13-8) scored four quick runs in the first inning but it was not enough as the Mississippi State Bulldogs (26-21, 7-14) scored 10 unanswered runs en route to a 10-5 win and the series victory.
Alabama wasted no time taking an early lead. Ashley Courtney led off the game and singled back up the middle. Angela Johnson sacrificed her to second followed by an intentional walk to the hot-hitting Jackie McClain. Capper Reed made the Bulldogs pay though, taking a 2-1 pitch and driving it down the left field line off the top of the fair pole for a three-run home run and a 3-0 Alabama lead. Dominique Accetturo added to the lead two batters later, hitting her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field fence for a 4-0 Alabama lead.
Mississippi State answered in the bottom half of the first starting with a lead-off double from All-America Iyhia McMichael. McMichael took third on a passed ball and scored on an infield single by Kate Jaspers. Two batters later and the bases were full of Bulldogs with no outs. Tanelda McDonald then laced a single into left field that scored a run, but the ball was bobbled by Johnson allowing a second run to score and putting runners on second and third. Blaire Brown popped a ball that Leah White made an over-the-shoulder-catch on but her throw home to get the tagging runner was late. Ashley Courtney then threw down to second in attempt to get McDonald but the throw sailed into centerfield allowing McDonald to come all the way around to score for a 5-4 Mississippi State lead. The Dawgs weren't finished though as Hayle Guess delivered a two-out solo home run to left field for a 6-4 MSU lead.
The Bulldogs added another run in the bottom of the second on a Lindsay Nelson RBI bloop single to right field to push their lead to 7-4.
Mississippi State added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run double from Jennifer Waterman extending its lead to 9-4.
Bama tried to mount a rally in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. Reed delivered a single up the middle scoring a run but it was all the Tide could muster.
Erin Wright (12-4) took the loss allowing six runs on four hits in one inning of work before giving way to Stephanie VanBrakle who threw the final five innings, allowing four runs on six hits while recording only two strikeouts.
McClain also saw her hitting streak come to an end at 17 games, the longest in her career and the second longest in Alabama history. She came to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh inning having already drawn two walks and grounded out earlier in the game, but she drew her third walk of the game ending the streak.
The Tide will return to action on Tuesday when the team travels to Atlanta, Georgia for an afternoon doubleheader with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
