GULFPORT, Miss.— McNeese softball wasn't able to get the timely hitting it needed and left eight base runners stranded in a 3-0 loss to No. 23 Mississippi State Sunday at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic. The loss drops McNeese to 10-3 on the year that doesn't play at home until March 9.
"Some days the ball just doesn't bounce your way," said head coach
Joanna Hardin. "We had opportunities to put runs on the board, we just didn't get the timely hitting.
McNeese managed four hits with
Hailey Drew picking up two of the four.
Marisa Taunton and
Taylor Goree had one each. Sophomore
Jolie Trahan took the loss to fall to 1-1on the year. Trahan gave up two earned runs on eight hits and walked two.
Emily Vincent struck out five, gave up two hits and one earned run in 2 ½ relief innings.
After going down in order for the first two innings, McNeese left two base runners stranded in four of the last five innings and eight for the game. McNeese also left the tying run at the plate in the seventh.
"You gotta tip your cap to Regan Green and coach Stuederman for throwing and calling a good game as well," Hardin said. "Green executed pitches when she needed to."
Miss. State caught the Cowgirls off guard in the third inning when McNeese's infield huddled after a pitch in the dirt. The Cowgirls didn't get the ball back in the circle quick enough and Kayla Winfield stole second and Katie Anne Bailey stole home for a 1-0 lead. A RBI single by Sarai Niu gave the Bulldogs their second run of the game.
McNeese threatened to at least tie the game in the third when Drew reached base on the first Cowgirl hit of the game. Drew stole second and Taunton drew a two-out walk. Both players moved up one base off a wild pitch. The Cowgirl threat ended when
Erika Piancastelli lined out to the pitcher.
The Cowgirls left two more runners stranded in the fourth when
Taylor Goree singled up the middle and Vincent reached on a fielder's choice.
Tori Yanitor nearly tied the game when her fly ball to the fence was caught by the left fielder.
Mississippi State threatened to score in the fifth. With runners on second and third and one out, Vincent replaced starter Trahan in the circle and struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
McNeese left the tying runs stranded for the third straight inning in the fifth. McNeese got Back-to-back singles by Drew and Taunton with one out. Piancastelli popped out to first and
Morgan Catron flew out to left center to end the inning.
Mississippi State added an insurance run in the seventh to take a 3-0 lead on a single up the middle.
McNeese left the game-tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh. The Cowgirls had an ideal situation with two outs.
Justyce McClain reached on a fielding error and went to second on a ground out by pinch hitter
Rachel Smith. Following a Drew walk both players moved up a base on a ground out by Taunton. With two outs, the Cowgirls had Piancastelli at the plate, representing the tying run. Piancastelli, like most of the Cowgirls, struggled at the plate today and flew out to left field to end the game.
"We hit a few balls hard and didn't have much to show for it. It's a tough finish to the weekend but the game is funny like that sometimes," said Hardin.
McNeese will get back on the diamond Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game at North Texas. The Cowgirls will also take part in the Texas Tech Invitational beginning Thursday.
"We have a short turnaround this week. We plan to take away the positives and evaluate what we can do better to be prepared for a good North Texas ball club."
