When the MSU Lady Bulldog softball team isn’t battling the weather, they’re battling to stay out from under it. And this time, they couldn’t emerge from the trials unscathed.
The Lady Bulldogs (18-3) lost their first three games of the season last weekend at the Compass Bank Invitational in Waco, Texas.
The Dawgs finished the tournament with a 3-3 record, sweeping the Falcons of Bowling Green (7-5) and taking one of two games against the No. 13 Washington Huskies (15-6) Friday night.
Washington entered the tournament with only three losses. MSU lost both of its games against host-team Baylor (16-6) on the weekend, including the championship game.
MSU went 1-1 every day of the tournament, opening up Friday afternoon with an impressive 3-0 blanking of No. 13 Washington.
Starter Stephanie Comeaux allowed only four hits and struck out six Huskies en route to her eighth straight victory. Later that night, Baylor handed MSU its first loss of the season with a 1-0 win by homerun in the sixth inning.
Ragan Blake took the circle for the Bulldogs in the tussle with the Bears and allowed only five hits in the outing.
Tough news was brought to the team Saturday morning when Blake and Blair Geddings were taken to the hospital with flu-like symptoms.
They wouldn’t go on to play in any of the rest of the tournament.
Saturday’s action saw MSU top Bowling Green in extra innings due to some clutch performances by Sammie Jo Bailey and Callye Williams. Bailey was able to hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to score the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the inning, however, with a runner on first, the Falcons threatened to score again when a line drive was hit right at first baseman Lindsay Hunley.
Hunley’s glove tipped the ball into the air, while Williams left her feet to make a diving catch. Quickly, Williams then pitched the ball back to Hunley, who was on first, to complete the double play and wrap the game in Maroon and White.
State lost to the Huskies 8-1 Saturday day night. Due to Blake’s sickness, Sara Hickerson got the nod to take on the nationally-ranked team. It was Hickerson’s first start of the season as she allowed the eight runs on 10 UW hits.
Sunday saw even more Bulldogs become ill and unable to play. Right fielder Katie Cooley, third baseman Katie “KJ” Johnson and Stacy Mabry joined Blake and Geddings on the Bulldog infirm list.
The Dawgs pressed on in the tournament, however, and starter Comeaux led State to a victory over the Bowling Green Falcons once again, this time crushing them 6-1.
MSU scored all of its six runs in the third inning alone, with key hits from Williams and Michelle Kinney, who both went two for three. Comeaux struck out four and allowed only five hits, earning her 10th straight victory on the year, tying a school record.
Baylor went on to win the tournament later Sunday, defeating the Bulldogs 3-1 and handing second-game starter Hickerson her second loss of the season. Hickerson offered an admirable performance, allowing the Bears three runs on seven hits.
“I thought Sara went out and pitched a very good game and gave us a chance to win,” MSU head coach Jay Miller said following the championship game of the Waco Invitational. “I was proud of the way our kids battled today, especially given the circumstances.”