Wednesday in Athens,
the Mississippi State softball
team went 1-1 in a doubleheader
against the University of
Georgia. State recovered from
a 10-0 loss and defeated the
opposing Bulldogs 3-1 in the
second game.
Head coach Jay Miller said he
was very happy with the team’s
performance, despite its rough
start in game one.
“We did not play very well in
the first game, but we bounced
back in the second,” Miller said.
“I was extremely proud of the
way we played in game two.”
Freshman pitcher Lindsey
Dunlap led the Bulldog’s defense
in the second game of the doubleheader.
She gave up only one
run and six hits through the
game.
In addition to the strong
pitching staff, Dunlap said the
closeness of her team gave them
an advantage over Georgia.
“We worked really well
together,” Dunlap said. “We
stayed together, which led to
some timely hits.”
Senior Sammie Jo Bailey
returned to her home state
one final time to take on the
Georgia Bulldogs. She said playing
at home was not the least bit
intimidating.
“I had a lot of friends and
family come watch me play,”
Bailey said. “They all came to
support me, and it was a great
opportunity to have a big crowd
watching me.”
As Super Bulldog Weekend
approaches, focus has switched
from Georgia to South Carolina.
MSU will take on the Gamecocks
in a three-game series Saturday
and Sunday. The South Carolina
Gamecocks sport a record of
18-17 overall and 4-14 in the
SEC.
The Gamecock’s leading hitter,
Ashton Payne, has a batting
average of .304, earning 24 hits
and 4 RBIs in the season thus
far. More of a threat than Payne
is Laura Mendes, who holds a
.287 batting average and has
delivered the Gamecocks with
27 hits, 11 RBIs and one home
run.
Hopefully State’s strong pitching
staff will lead the Bulldogs
to victory this weekend. Lindsey
Dunlap has struck out 118 batters
in 30 appearances and Senior
Kelsey Nurnberg has struck out
64 in 25 appearances.
The Bulldogs feel confident
about their defensive ability.
Miller said the key to defeating
South Carolina lies in the
Bulldogs’ defense.
“All we have to do is play well
defensively,” Miller said. “Our
pitchers are doing great. They
just need to continue playing as
well as they have been.”
Dunlap said she believes the
Gamecocks will not stand a
chance against the MSU softball
team.
“I feel very confident in our
team,” Dunlap said. “I think the
way we played in Athens proved
we can play with anyone.”
MSU leads the Gamecocks in
offense as well as defense. Senior
Chelsea Bramlett holds a .484
batting average. She has the
highest number of hits, runs,
bases stolen and plate appearances
on the bulldog softball
team.
Bailey feels the Gamecocks
will provide an excellent opportunity
to earn another SEC
win.
“I feel very good about our
chances against South Carolina,”
she said. “If we play like I know
we can, we can be successful
against anyone.”
MSU will take on the
Gamecocks in a three-game
series this weekend for Super
Bulldog Weekend. The games
will take place at 11 a.m. and
1 p.m. tomorrow and 1 p.m.
Sunday.