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March 28, 2009

Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - In the opener of a three-game league series on Saturday afternoon at the Lee Softball Stadium, No. 9 Tennessee (25-7, 3-4 SEC) dropped a hard-fought, 5-4 decision to Mississippi State.

UT sophomore first baseman Jen Lapicki led the Lady Vol offense by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and her fourth home run of the year. Freshman center fielder Kelly Grieve, rookie pinch hitter Shelby Burchell (1-for-1) and freshman third baseman Jessica Spigner each knocked in a run during the match-up.

After permitting four earned runs on nine hits, while walking four and striking out seven in a complete game effort from the circle, freshman hurler Cat Hosfield fell to 18-6 on the season.

Despite facing a couple of full counts, UT's hurler roared through the Mississippi State line-up in the top of the first, getting a groundout from Bulldog All-American catcher Chelsea Bramlett, a fly out to left from Brittany Bell and a strikeout of left fielder Ka'ili Smith.

Tennessee senior left fielder Lillian Hammond wasted no time becoming UT's initial base runner of the contest in the first by hustling down the line to beat out a lead-off infield single. Junior catcher Tiffany Huff grounded out to short, advancing the speedy base runner into scoring position with one down. Unfortunately a pair of strikeouts left Hammond standing on second as the opening frame came to a quiet close.

With Hosfield dealing from the circle having retired six straight batters through the opening two frames, Lapicki got the bottom of the second going by blooping a single to left center. MSU's Brittany Gates raced over into the gap to corral the ball as it dropped in for a hit, but accidentally kicked the ball away from her, allowing the runner to advance to second via error. Junior right fielder Nicole Kajitani battled Nurnberg for a walk, placing two aboard with still none retired. After the duo advanced up 60 feet by steal, sophomore designated player Ashton Ward walked to load the bags with one retired. Grieve ripped a shot back to the circle as Nurnberg grabbed the sphere as it was going by and tossed on to first, scoring Lapicki for a 1-0 lead.

Mississippi State designated player Courtney Moore became the Bulldogs' initial base occupant of the day with one out in the first on a single to center. After Gates K'ed, Bramlett blooped a hit into short left field, placing a pair aboard with two retired in the inning. Right fielder Brittany Bell worked the count to 3-2 before singling to right center, plating Moore to deadlock the contest at 1-1. Smith fell behind 0-2 before delivering a RBI single into left as Bramlett scored easily from third with MSU's second tally. First baseman Sammie Jo Bailey bounced a ball up the middle forcing freshman shortstop Ashley Andrews to race to her left. The Tumwater, Wash., native dove to make an outstanding "web gem" grab, tossing to second for an inning-ending force to save a run from scoring.

MSU second baseman Ali Bainbridge christened the top of the fourth with a bouncing hit up the middle. A sacrifice bunt with two strikes by Sammie Jo Bailey advanced the runner into scoring position. Shortstop Jessie Spain recorded the second out of the inning by fouling out to UT's catcher Tiffany Huff. Unfortunately for the Big Orange, Moore ripped a double into the right center field gap and to the wall as Bailey crossed with MSU's third run of the game. Gates singled to shortstop and advanced to second as Andrews attempted unsuccessfully to catch Moore straying too far around third. With first base still open Hosfield was called upon to intentionally walk the dangerous Bramlett, loading the bases for Bell. The decision didn't pay off as Bell also drew a free pass, forcing in a run as MSU nabbed a 4-1 advantage. Smith struck out swinging to end the inning, but not before Mississippi State had added a pair of two-out scores.

With Tennessee in need of some offense, Lapicki answered the call by blasting the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning deep over the right center field wall for her fourth homer of the season. Kajitani followed by driving a liner the other way but directly at Bell. The Bulldog right fielder dropped the ball for an error as UT's diminutive runner rolled into second. Andrews drew a free pass, forcing MSU head coach Jay Miller to summon in left-hander Lindsey Dunlap in relief of Nurnberg. She immediately walked Ward as the bases were loaded for Burchell. The Columbia, Tenn., product ripped a single through the right side of the infield as Kajitani scored from third, cutting the Tennessee deficit to 4-3. Unfortunately, a strong throw from Bell in right easily gunned down Andrews at the plate for the initial retirement. Hammond popped up as MSU got close to escaping the jam with no more damage. Huff was walked intentionally to set up the force at every base as Spigner stepped into the box. The Santa Clarita, Calif., native battled to a 3-2 count before coercing a RBI walk, tying the score at 4-4. A fly out to right off the bat of junior second baseman Erinn Webb ended the frame, but not before Tennessee had deadlocked the match-up.

Leading off the top of the fifth, an UT infield miscue on a Sammie Jo Bailey bouncer granted the Bulldogs another base runner. Bainbridge sacrificed the runner into scoring position with a perfect bunt out in front of the plate, and Bailey advanced up 60 feet to third on a wild pitch. Hosfield responded to the threat by striking out Jessie Bailey, recording her fifth "K" of the match-up for out number two. Spain stepped into the box and blooped a run-scoring double to center that dropped just in front of a diving Kajitani as Mississippi State re-took the lead, 5-4.

Mississippi State threatened again in the top of the sixth after a lead-off single from Gates, a walk to Bramlett and a sacrifice bunt from Bell placed runners at second and third with just one down. Smith battled the 5-9 right hander over nine pitches before walking, loading the bags for MSU clean-up hitter Sammie Jo Bailey. She got ahead of Hosfield 3-1 in the count before blasting a hard liner to left. Hammond raced in from her defensive position to make the catch and got the ball back into the infield quickly, preventing Gates from scoring via sacrifice fly. Despite battling to a full count, Hosfield struck out Bainbridge as the Bulldogs left three runners stranded.

Down to the last chance to rally in the home half of the seventh, Spigner got the UT offense off to a good start by drawing a lead-off walk. On a 2-0 pitch, Webb blasted a shot deep down the line to right that drifted foul for a long strike. The Hemet, Calif., product eventually lifted a fly ball into short right center that was caught on the run for the first out. Lapicki stepped in with the chance to be the heroine, but K'ed on an outside pitch. With Kajitani at the dish, freshman pinch runner Holly Baker swiped second to reach scoring position. Kajitani lifted a ball to mid-range right but right to Bell as MSU hung on for a 5-4 win.

No. 9 Tennessee will continue its Saturday doubleheader versus Mississippi State at approximately 4 p.m. ET. The Sports Animal (AM 990, 99.1 & 99.3 FM) will broadcast the match-up with Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone. Live stats will be available through utladyvols.com via Gametracker.