The Mississippi State softball team surrendered a pair of early runs, but countered with 11 of its own as the Bulldogs completed a perfect run through the 2002 MSU Fall Fest with an 11-2 victory over Jones Junior College in Sunday’s final game. Iyhia McMichael turned in a perfect day at the plate, hitting 4-for-4 with four RBI and a trifecta of runs scored to pace the Maroon and White, while Jennifer Jessup tallied a 2-for-3 clip with four runs scored. Jones’ Demetrice Jones scored a run on a 2-for-3 clip to lead the arsenal for the visitors.
Maroon and White starter Jennifer Nelson struck out five and allowed two unearned runs in four innings of work to nab the win for the Bulldogs before giving way to Stephanie Owens in the fifth. Owens shut the Jones JC offense down for the remainder of the game, allowing no hits while striking out one, to get the save for State. Ashley Hernandez went the distance for Jones, allowing 11 earned runs on 11 hits and five walks, to take the loss.
After allowing Jones to score in the top half of the first inning, State put together a run in the bottom of the frame, scoring five runs on five hits and two errors to forge a four-run lead heading into the second. MSU took advantage of two more errors by Jones in the second to plate two more runs, before they added another run in the fourth to cut the lead down to 9-2.
However, not to be outdone, MSU added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, then added two more in the fifth to provide the final.
In State’s day two opener, the Maroon and White got single runs in the second and third innings, then put the game away with a two-run fifth, to clinch the championship of the 2002 MSU Softball Fall Fest with a 4-0 victory over feisty Delta State.
Jennifer Waterman turned in a pair of RBI on a 1-for-3 performance to pace a steadfast Bulldog offense and was joined by four other Dawgs with single-hit performances. Delta State catcher Joy Long turned in a perfect day at the plate for the Lady Statesmen, hitting 2-for-2 after drawing a third inning walk.
MSU starter Melissa Massey struck out three and allowed just two hits in six innings of work, before giving way to Summer Delaneuville in the seventh. Delaneuville struck out the first two batters she faced, but gave up two hits before retiring the side on a popup. Delta State starter Jenna Smart went the distance, allowing just two earned runs on five Mississippi State hits, but took the loss.
State took a second inning lead on a suicide squeeze bunt by Jennifer Jessup, then stretched the lead out to 2-0 in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Waterman. Consecutive RBI singles by Iyhia McMichael and Waterman in the fifth provided the final.
The Bulldogs will now begin individual work in preparation for the 2003 campaign. Individual work will stretch through the fall semester, before team work begins again once the academic year resumes in early January.
State will open its 2003 season on Feb. 3, taking on Southern Miss in a single game at the Mississippi State Softball Field.