Blue Raiders Swept by Bulldogs

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Middle Tennessee softball (8-24-1) was swept by No. 22 Mississippi State (29-8) 9-3, 13-1 Tuesday at MSU Softball Field.

The Blue Raiders jumped out to an early lead on the Bulldogs in the second game of the doubleheader. Katie Mielke led off the first inning with a double and then scored when Melissa Weiland hit a single to right field and the right fielder booted the ball to allow Mielke to score.

After tossing two scoreless innings, an error doomed sophomore hurler Ashley Katinas. She then gave up a single to Rachel Hurley which set up Katinas being replaced by Trish White with two runners on and one out. White allowed back-to-back singles which scored three Bulldog runs. Katie Cooley followed with a two run homerun for runs number four and five of the inning. Katinas came back into the game and gave up to singles before she forced Michelle Kinney to fly out to centerfield.

Mississippi State added eight runs in the fourth inning including giving up three triples in the inning. In that same inning Katinas was replaced by Samantha Floyd. The eight runs in the fourth assured the Bulldogs would force the mercy rule and end the game after five innings.

Katinas takes the loss in the game and falls to 1-4 on the season.

Middle Tennessee started off its first game with Mississippi State on a positive note as sophomore Mielke beat out a single to start the first inning. An error by the Bulldogs allowed Floyd to reach first and advance to second, while Mielke moved all the way to third. With one out, Muriel Ledbetter hit a two RBI single to give the Blue Raiders the early lead.

The Blue Raider lead wouldn't last long as Mississippi State exploded for six runs in its half of the first. With two outs Courtney Bures started a two out rally with double. Middle Tennessee hurler Trish White extended the inning when she gave up a walk to Cooley. White came back to force Callye Williams to hit an infield ground but it went through the legs of first baseman Floyd to start the six run tally.

Bures struck again in the second inning for the Bulldogs as she hit her second double of the day with one out. With two outs, Williams hit a double of her own to score Bures.

In the third, Floyd replaced White in the pitching circle. She opened the inning by recording a strikeout looking on the Bulldogs' Sara Hickerson and didn't allow a MSU run in the inning.

Justine Cerda hit a one out single in the fifth inning and then moved to second off a single by Mielke. Cerda scored the Blue Raider's third run of the game when Weiland hit an RBI single.

Shelby Stiner hit her second triple of the season to lead off the sixth inning. A missed bunt by pinch hitter Jennifer Dorais caught Stiner between home and third and she was called out as she dived back to third base. It ended the Blue Raiders possible scoring attempt as the Bulldogs posted three consecutive outs.

Mississippi State added two additional runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

White takes the loss and falls to 2-8 on the season. She tossed two complete innings allowing five hits and was credited with just one earned run.

Stiner led the Blue Raiders going 2-for-3 with a triple. Ledbetter had two RBI in the game.

Middle Tennessee returns home on Wednesday to host Tennessee State in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Star Plex.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.