University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
31-14-1, 6-7
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Mississippi State
22-16, 5-6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Mississippi State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | X | 8 | 10 | 0 |
MISSISSIPPI STATE EVENS SERIES WITH 8-1 WIN OVER TENNESSEE
March 30, 2002 | Softball
March 30, 2002
STARKVILLE, Miss.
Host Mississippi State forged a split of Friday's twinbill by dealing the Lady Vols an 8-1 defeat at the MSU Softball Field. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the third frame on a triple by sophomore Iyhia McMichael, tacked on a single run on All-American Kellie Wilkerson's solo homer in the fifth and then broke things wide open with four runs in the sixth, highlighted by junior Amy Mosley's three-run double. Senior Kasey Whitehead (12-8) kept Tennessee off-balance throughout the contest, allowing just four hits over five full innings. Wilkerson worked two scoreless frames to pick up her nation-leading eighth save. The Lady Vols (31-14-1/6-7 SEC) and State (22-16/5-6 SEC) will play the rubber match of the series tomorrow at noon CT.
Tennessee broke the ice in the top of the first, aided by a Bulldog defensive lapse. Following a ground out by freshman Amber Rhinehart, junior Carissa Roustan struck out against senior Kasey Whitehead. However, MSU's catcher was charged with a passed ball, allowing Roustan to reach base. A grounder from senior Adrianna Wilson pushed Roustan to second and a single up the middle by junior Blaine Teasley brought her teammate across with the initial run of the second game.
The Lady Vols threatened in the second, as senior Hannah Low began the frame with a leadoff walk. A fielder's choice by senior Nicole Murray erased Low but senior Nicole Borg arched a single into shallow center field to give UT a pair of runners aboard with only one down. Sophomore Ellisha Humphrey would tap a grounder to advance her teammates to second and third, however, Whitehead retired Rhinehart to hold the margin at 1-0.
In the third, Borg struck out Whitehead but then issued consecutive walks to junior Brooke Best and sophomore Jennifer Jessup. The Weeklys decided to bring Roustan over from third base to take over the pitching duties and make her first appearance as a Division I hurler. Forced to a reduced load in the circle because she has ligament problems in her elbow, Borg did not allow a hit in her 2.1 innings of work. The UT reliever managed to retire Wilkerson on a fly out but junior Jennifer Nelson laced an infield single to fill the bases with two down. McMichael cleared the sacks with a triple to the right field fence to provide Mississippi State with a 3-1 cushion. Roustan had sophomore Blaire Brown ground out to leave McMichael stranded on third.
Wilkerson led off the fifth by belting her seventh homer of the campaign, a towering shot that came on a 2-1 offering from Roustan. MSU sophomore Kate Jaspers started the sixth by legging out an infield single and then freshman pinch hitter Tanelda McDonald stroked a base-hit into left, signaling the end of Roustan's night in the circle. The Weeklys brought in Ellisha Humphrey, who was greeted by a single from freshman pinch hitter Tyeah Patterson to fill the bases with none out. Mosley picked an opportune time for her first hit of the season, as the pinch hitter launched a three-run double to left field to increase State's lead to 7-1. McMichael later singled with two out in the frame to drive in Mosley with the final run of the contest.
McMichael was 3-for-4 with four RBI to pace Mississippi State's 10-hit outburst, while Nelson went 2-for-4. Roustan had half of Tennessee's hits with a pair of singles. The junior lasted 2.2 innings and surrendered seven runs on four hits. Ellisha Humphrey gave up three hits and two runs in her one frame.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kasey Whitehead (12-8)
L: Carissa Roustan (0-1)
S: Kellie Wilkerson (8)
Batting:
RBI: Blaine Teasley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carissa Roustan 1
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Batting:
2B: Amy Mosley 1
3B: Iyhia McMichael 1
HR: Kellie Wilkerson 1
RBI: Kellie Wilkerson 1 ; Iyhia McMichael 4 ; Amy Mosley 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Kellie Wilkerson 1 ; Jennifer Nelson 1 ; Kate Jaspers 1 ; Tanelda McDonald 1 ; Brooke Best 1 ; Tyeah Patterson 1 ; Jennifer Jessup 1 ; Amy Mosley 1
CS: Jennifer Nelson 1
