It’s not often that a Mississippi State opponent gets more production out of its leadoff batter than the Bulldogs, as junior All-American catcher Chelsea Bramlett holds that post for MSU (3-2). That was the case Wednesday, however, as Southern Miss sophomore second baseman Courtney Hill picked apart Bulldog starting pitcher sophomore Elizabeth Woolven en route to a 7-3 Golden Eagle win, MSU’s second loss of the young season.
Bramlett didn’t have a bad day, going 1-for-4 with a run scored, but Hill’s heroics were responsible for her team’s first four runs.
Hill’s first at bat set the stage for a big day at the plate, ripping a triple and eventually scoring.
Bramlett tied the game in the bottom of the first when sophomore Ali Bainbridge drove her in on a fielder’s choice, but Hill broke open the race and the game in the top of the second inning.
With two runners on, Hill belted yet another triple, scoring both runners and giving her team the lead for good.
With two outs in the inning, Hill scored on a double by her sister, junior right fielder Megan Hill, marking the end of the day for Woolven, who picked up her second loss of the year.
Freshman hurler Lindsey Dunlap came in to relieve Woolven, striking out USM designated player Ashley Razey on three pitches.
Megan Hill finished with a stellar day of her own, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs including a home run to right field.
The homer was the back end of back-to-back round-trippers, the first by senior catcher Kristin Pilgrim.
Those two were the only runs allowed by Dunlap, who pitched the game’s final five and one-third innings. Dunlap was very effective against Courtney Hill, not allowing her a hit in two tries despite her early success.
“I really don’t pay attention to what people do to other pitchers. I’m my own pitcher; I do my own things and I throw my own pitches,” Dunlap said. “They might hit someone before me, but I have the mentality that they’re not going to hit me.”
MSU head coach Jay Miller said he thought Dunlap pitched a good game other than the two runs she surrendered.
“A couple big hits and all of a sudden it’s a lot more of a mountain to climb back on,” he said. “If she keeps it 5-1 rather than 7-1, that’s a big difference.”
When State made its final rally, the runs Dunlap gave up changed the outlook of the game. State plated single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, giving the Dawgs a shot at a comeback.
Then, with two outs in the seventh and final frame, MSU made a final push and was ultimately a swing away from tying the game.
Sophomore shortstop Jessie Spain drew a two-out walk to start things off, followed by back-to-back singles by second baseman Bainbridge and designated player Courtney Moore. That brought up senior first baseman Sammie Jo Bailey, who was already 1-for-2 with a walk, a single and a run scored, but the rally fell short when Bailey’s fly ball was caught in center field.
MSU right fielder Brittany Bell said the team lacked focus, perhaps due to underestimating the Eagles.
“We were out there just thinking we were going to go ahead and take this game since we run-ruled them last year a couple of times,” she said.
Bell said the team learned it must focus on every opponent, she said, particularly this weekend at Florida State.
Miller said tough teams like Purdue and FSU, two of MSU’s four opponents this weekend, are teams his team must beat if they want to make the NCAA tournament.