Trojans Fall to Mississippi State in Nightcap

Friday, February 8

Starkville, Miss.

8:45 p.m.

Troy University

Mississippi State

Photo by: Sun Belt Conference

Trojans Fall to Mississippi State in Nightcap

2/9/2013 12:22:00 AM | Softball

By: Tyler Pigg

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Troy softball team rallied from three runs down, but could not hold off Mississippi State, as the Trojans fell 5-2 to the Bulldogs on Friday night at the MSU Softball Stadium.

After scratching just one hit through five innings, the Troy bats came alive in the top of the sixth, as third baseman Chandler Griffin reached on error and first baseman Caitlin Ortiz doubled to left field with just one out.

Freshman right fielder Amanda Winters came through for the Trojans by blasting a double to the left center field wall that plated Griffin and Ortiz, which cut the Bulldogs lead down to 3-2.

Winters advanced to third on a wild pitch by Mississippi State reliever Kylie Vry, but Troy could not get the tying run across as a Kacie McAllister ground out could not advance Winters home. The Bulldogs used Alison Owen in the circle to pick up the final out of the inning by striking out Smartt.

Mississippi State got on the board early and picked up two runs in the bottom of the second to grab the early 2-0 lead. Ashley Phillips came around to score after hitting a single and stealing both second and third with one out. Bulldog third baseman Julia Echols drove in Phillips with an RBI groundout.

TheTrojans (1-1) had the opportunity to end the inning with two outs, but a Troy error allowed Mississippi State designated player Chrissie Rovtar to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 2-0. The Trojans finished with four errors in the game.

Mississippi State's Stephanie Becker (1-0) picked up her first win of the year for the Bulldogs, pitching 5.1 innings, striking out seven, while allowing just two hits and one earned run.

Troy second baseman Taylor Smartt broke up Becker's no-hit bid in the top of the fifth, sending a line drive single up the middle to start the frame.

The Bulldogs added a run in the bottom of the sixth, as what appeared to be a diving stop by Troy left fielder Keelie Housley end up being called a triple by MSU center fielder Jessica Offutt. Offutt crossed the plate on the play on a Troy throwing error. The
Bulldogs added their final run as Heidi Shape scored on a wild pitch to extend its lead to 5-2.

Owen's pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Bulldogs, striking out three to pick up her first save of the season.

Sophomore Ashley Rainey (0-1) picked up the loss for Troy, as the Tuscaloosa, Ala. native pitched 3.2 innings allowing just three hits and one earned run in the decision. Winters led Troy at the plate by 1-for-2 with a double, while Ortiz finished 1-for-1 with a double and a run scored.

Troy wraps up play at the Bulldog Kickoff Classic on Saturday by facing SIU-Edwardsville at 11 a.m. and Tennessee State at 1 p.m.For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or on Facebook at Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.