Mississippi State Takes Series with Walk-Off Win in Final Game

Sunday, March 15

Starkville, Miss.

1:00 PM

Texas A&M

21-7, 3-3

Mississippi State

20-6, 3-3

Texas A&M

Mississippi State

Mar 15, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 19 Texas A&M softball team fell in a late-inning heartbreaker in the final game of the weekend series, 7-5. With the loss, the Aggies (21-7, 3-3 SEC) dropped the three-game series, 2-1.

After two scoreless innings, the Aggie bats got hot on the way to the first Texas A&M lead of the day. Freshman Kristen Cuyos struck first, singling through the left side and advancing to second on a wild pitch. A long double from freshman Ashley Walters trickled all the way to the wall, giving Cuyos time to sprint home for the first run.

A walk from freshman Erica Russell and a bunt by senior Brittany Clopton that stayed just fair loaded the bags for the Aggies. Sophomore Abby Donnell continued her consistent play and reached on a slow rolling fielder's choice to keep the bases loaded but Walters was thrown out at home. Freshman Tori Vidales took her first walk of the game and forced Russell home for the final run of the inning.

MSU responded in kind, scoring one on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to close the gap to a single run.

The Bulldogs continued to chip away at the Aggie lead, scoring the tying run in the bottom of the fifth after a throwing error by senior Rachel Fox allowed one runner to cross home plate.

The Aggies regained the lead in the sixth inning as junior Breanna Dozier led off by going yard for her second homer of the weekend. Junior Cali Lanphear followed with her first hit of the game, a triple to the left field wall and scored on a sacrifice fly from Walters.

Holding a 5-3 lead, Fox and the A&M defense held Mississippi State scoreless in the bottom of the sixth but couldn't capitalize in the top of the seventh, stranding runners on first and second.

Down but not out, the Bulldogs scored four in the bottom of the seventh and the game ended on a two-run walk-off homer over the scoreboard in left field.

Fox pitched the majority of the game, giving up five runs and walking four before being relieved by senior Lauren Ainsley in the seventh.

Coach Evans Post Game Sound
“I thought our kids fought hard and showed a lot of heart today. We just need to keep the ball in the ball park in situations like that. To me, the story is that we had our opportunities several times with the right people up. I felt like there were times where we weren't aggressive enough in those situations when we could have put the game away. I know our kids are going to be disappointed, they played really hard and worked hard for that win but we just couldn't get it done in the end. We have to be really emotionally and mentally mature, understand that will happen at times. We fought, did the best we could and we have to take what comes to us.”

Let's Hear a Hullabaloo…
… for a great weekend. Junior Breanna Dozier came up clutch on Saturday, coming in to pinch hit and giving the Aggies the go-ahead runs for an eventual 10-8 victory. Dozier got the start at first base on Saturday and, after the Bulldogs tied the game at three all, got all of the ball for a lead off homer. Gig 'em, Breanna!

Coach Evans on Dozier:
“She had a fantastic weekend. She looked great and I thought she did a nice job with her opportunities. We came out today and knew we needed to give hera shot after what she did yesterday and she did a great job. Yesterday she hit it a mile and today she hit a line drive to go yard. I'm proud of Breanna and I thought she did a really nice job today."

Up Next
The Aggies head to Huntsville for the second half of a home-and-home series with the Sam Houston State Bearkats, who the Aggies took down 9-1 in five innings last week. The game can be heard on 1150 AM as well as through the RadioAggieland app. For all the hits, pitches and everything in between during the 2015 softball season, follow @AggieSoftball on Twitter and at 12thMan.com.