SEC Tournament Game 1 Recap: Mississippi State 8, Tennessee 2
5/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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TUSCALOOSA, ALA -- Mississippi State upset No. 10 ranked Tennessee 8-2 in game one of the Southeastern Conference Softball Championships being held here at the Alabama Softball Complex this week.
The No. 7 seeded Bulldogs led 1-0 through the first five innings before scoring five runs in the sixth and two more in the top of the seventh to finish the game off. The No. 2 seeded Lady Vols scored both of its runs in the sixth inning. Tennessee had 11 hits on the day, but couldn't seem to push runs across the plate.
"This is the start of a new season for us," Mississippi State Outfielder Iyhia McMichael said of the upset. "We kept it simple: see the ball, hit the ball."
In a battle of rookies Mississippi State frosh Kelli Miller scored the win, bettering her record to 11-8 on the season while freshman Monica Abbott took the loss for the Lady Vols, dropping to 42-7.
It was Mississippi State's 10th straight win, the third longest streak in school history, and its 16th victory in the last 18 outings. It was the most runs ever allowed by Abbott. Tennessee fell to 0-9 all-time at the Alabama Softball Complex.
State will play the winner Tennessee will play the loser of the tourney's second game No. 3 seeded Georgia vs. No. 6 Florida on Friday.
Mississippi State Notes
--Mississippi State wins 10th straight game (third longest in school history) and has won 16 of last 18 games
--Iyhia McMichael reaches base safely for 36th straight time with walk in third inning but had 17-game hitting streak snapped (0-1, BB, 2 HBP)
--Kelli Miller won her sixth straight game
--MSU snapped three-game losing streak at SEC Tournament and three-game skid to Lady Vols
--MSU scores most runs in an SEC Tournament game since a 9-3 win over Auburn on May 12, 2000
--Bulldogs move to 10-14 against Top 25 teams this season. That's the most wins against a Top 25 in school history
Tennessee Notes
--Monica Abbott allowed most runs ever
--Tennessee runs SEC Tournament record to 5-9.
--Lady Vols now 0-9 all-time at UA Softball Complex
MISSISSIPPI STATE QUOTES:
Mississippi State Head Coach Jay Miller
"I thought we came out and did a good job swinging the bats right away. Kelli Miller did a great job early in the game getting (Tennessee) out."
"One thing we have talked about all year from the first tournament on is 'when we get ahead, let's put them away.'"
Mississippi State Outfielder Iyhia McMichael
On scoring every time she reached base:
"As a leadoff hitter, it's my job to try to find anyway I can to reach base so that my teammates can drive me in."
"This is the start of a new season for us. We kept it simple: see the ball, hit the ball."
Mississippi State Second Baseman Lindsay Nelson
On her diving catch:
"My job on the field is to back up my pitcher and do whatever it takes to make the play and to get the job done."
"This year we have improved a lot on coming together as a team. We are one complete unit right now."
TENNESSEE QUOTES:
Head Coach Ralph Weekly:
"My hats off to Mississippi State. They played a fantastic ball game and they deserve all the credit. (Pitcher) Monica (Abbott) has been our leader all year, and today she didn't have her best game. What you saw out there today you haven't seen all year. It was a game of timely hits, that's all there was to it. They got them; we didn't.
"They run the bases really well. (MSU Head Coach Jay Miller) is a really good speed game coach. He does an outstanding job. Those kids are going for it. They just attacked the ball all day today. It was a day that (Abbott) had to be perfect."
"(We've) had a great season and it wasn't everything in the world at stake like it was last year. It's a dichotomy because if you say we played poorly then you take away from them. We didn't answer the bell."
"When (Iyhia) McMichael gets on (base) you know she's going to steal second. She's done it all year. I think McMichael is one of the best USA players I've ever seen."
Pitcher Monica Abbott:
"I think our whole team came out a little bit tense, and that kind of carried over and we were never able to shake our tension."
"I come out every game and try and give my best. Sometimes certain things might be off. Maybe the other team will get really hot. But I'm going to come out every game and try to do my best."
