In their final two non-conference games of the season before opening Southeastern Conference play, the Mississippi State softball team improved to 15-8 this week, downing two out-of-state opponents.”It was really important that we did well in these two games before we go into the SEC, because it gives us some momentum,” said MSU starting pitcher Kelli Miller, who earned a win Wednesday. “If things didn’t go well, it might have been a bad sign, but these wins just make us feel a little better going into SEC play.”
Tuesday, MSU welcomed the Indiana State Sycamores and earned a 2-1 victory.
Led by the arm of starter Stephanie Comeaux (3-1), the Bulldogs took an early lead in the second inning but were tied in the third.
A sacrifice hit by Nakita Boyce in the fifth allowed Chelsea Bramlett to cross home plate in the fifth inning to give the Bulldogs the 2-1 lead, which would go on to be the final score.
Comeaux went five innings for the Dawgs, striking out two and allowing only four hits and one earned run.
Sophomore Kelsey Nurnberg pitched the final two innings of the game, earning her second save of the season.
“I thought it was a real good sign the way Stephanie came out and threw today,” MSU head coach Jay Miller said. “I thought she really came out and took control. Kelsey did a great job coming in relief and shutting the door and not giving them an opportunity. We generated a few runs at the top of the order, playing a short game, and I thought that was a good sign.”
Wednesday, Mississippi State earned a more decisive 7-0 victory over the Samford Bulldogs.
The win was an offensive one, as MSU earned 15 hits in the contest. The Dawgs were led offensively by juniors Nakita Boyce and Hayle Guess, who each went 3-for-4 on the contest.
Boyce crossed the plate once and Guess twice. Each of the two earned one RBI.
“The first couple innings, we left runners on base, but then we broke it open,” Miller said. “We got some kids some at bats that needed it. It’s nice to see the bottom of the order come through, too. Blair [Hewett] had a couple of really nice hits. Through the order, I thought we hit pretty good. Kelli [Miller] threw real well. I thought it was a good game overall and a good warm-up to start the conference season.”
Mississippi State senior starting pitcher Kelli Miller (6-3) went six innings on the outing and earned the victory, allowing only three hits and striking out four. Miller didn’t allow a Samford hit until the fifth inning, but says she was trying not to think about the possibility of a no-hitter.
“Sometimes, I don’t even know I have a no-hitter going,” Miller said. “I’ll look up at the scoreboard to check how many outs there are, and I’ll look and be like, ‘Oh, crap.’ Personally, I’d rather not know I have one going and just find out after the game.”
Following the two solid mid-week victories against the medley of out-of-staters, MSU will begin its conference schedule Saturday against the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (21-0).
The Bulldogs went 0-2 to the Crimson Tide last season, losing by scores of 5-4 and 3-6. The final game of the series was rained out.