March 9, 2011
MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. – A pair of sixth-inning runs help Mississippi State (9-10, 1-0 SEC) capture a 2-1 win over South Carolina (13-6, 0-1 SEC) in the SEC opener for both teams on Wednesday afternoon at the MSU Softball Field.
The Gamecocks had three hits, including a double from junior centerfielder Lauren Lackey in the contest. Mississippi State got a triple from Brittany Gates among the Bulldogs’ four hits.
Gates’ triple led off the sixth and chased Gamecock starting pitcher Audrey Broyles after a solid five innings of work. Gates scored on the illegal pitch by the Carolina reliever, Kierstyn White, a delayed call after White thought she had the first out of the inning on a fly ball. Ali Bainbridge followed with a single to keep the rally going. She moved to second on a grounder and scored on Ka’ili Smith’s single through the middle.
The Gamecocks got on the board in the fourth. A walk to junior leftfielder Kaitlin Westfall started the frame, and she moved to second on freshman Dana Hathorn’s sacrifice bunt. After an infield pop, junior third baseman Evan Childs pushed a single to center to drive home Westfall.
White (2-2) took the loss, giving up one earned run on two hits and two walks in one-third of an inning. Kylie Vry (4-7) got the win for the Bulldogs, allowing the three hits and one earned run while walking two in the complete game. She struck out three.
