April 12, 2008
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 24th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs pushed across a run in the top of the fifth to down South Carolina, 1-0, in the first game of a doubleheader at Beckham Field on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs move to 33-15 overall and 7-10 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Gamecocks fall to 20-16 and 7-8 in league play.
Mississippi State put the lone run on the board straight out of the 1 hour, 23 minute rain delay. The Bulldogs loaded the bases on a pair of singles by Sammie Jo Bailey and Hayle Guess and a sacrifice bunt attempt by Jessie Bailey that she reached when Jill Semento’s throw to third did not beat Bailey’s older sister to the bag. Sammie Jo Bailey was forced out at the plate on Lindsay Hunley’s grounder to Gamecock senior pitcher Melissa Hendon. Brittany Bell brought home Guess with a single to right. Hendon got out of the inning without any more damage, striking out Nakita Boyce and getting Chelsea Bramlett to weakly line out to senior first baseman Becky Martinez.
Hendon (8-9) went the distance, allowing seven hits and one earned run while striking out five in the loss. Hendon threw just 72 pitches in the contest. Misty Flesher (14-7) got the victory, scattering five hits and a walk over seven innings. She struck out four.
