STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University softball coach Vann Stuedeman has approached her first job as a head coach as part coach, part promoter.
On Saturday, both parts worked out pretty well.
A season-best 889 jammed into the MSU Softball Field to watch Stuedeman’s club defeat the University of Kentucky 2-1 in the middle game of a Super Bulldog Weekend Southeastern Conference series.
“The crowd was awesome,” Stuedeman said. “I want to thank everybody that came out in their maroon. The entire stands were filled. The whole outfield wall was covered with people. I just want to personally thank everyone for coming out here.”
An ability to draw crowds and grow fan awareness for softball will help the program raise funds for a new grandstand structure, which is expected to be place by the time MSU plays host to the 2014 Southeastern Conference tournament.
The victory gained even more exposure thanks to ESPNU’s national telecast.
“I think the whole team was excited about the chance to play on national TV,” MSU third baseman Sam Lenahan said. “It was a chance for us to grow a little more and show people not familiar with our program what we are all about.”
Checking the standings
MSU moved within one game of clinching a berth in this year’s SEC tournament. After missing the event in 2009 and 2010, the Bulldogs qualified as the No. 8 seed last season.
Entering today’s action, play, MSU is third in the Western Division — 1 1/2 games ahead of Auburn University. MSU and Auburn will meet at Auburn, Ala., in the final weekend of the regular season.
MSU can clinch a berth n the SEC tournament with a win against Kentucky or with a victory by Auburn against the University of Arkansas.
To qualify for a regional berth, the Bulldogs will have to finish with a winning record. Based on a 54-game schedule, MSU would need one more win to get to 28 wins to clinch that winning season. In its last regional berth season of 2009, MSU qualified with a 28-26 record.
MSU finished with 24 wins last season. It topped that mark Friday night with a 4-3 win in the series opener.
Back to Friday
Erin Nesbit hit a game-winning two-run double in the home half of the fifth inning of MSU’s 4-3 victory.
MSU battled back from a 2-0 deficit with two runs in the third inning and two runs in the fifth. In the third, Brittany Bell hit a leadoff double and both Jessica Cooley and Ka’ili Smith followed with walks. Lenahan drew a bases-loaded walk for one run, while a groundball out scored another.
Smith and Lenahan started things in the fifth as well with a single and walk, respectively. Nesbit followed with a two-out to left field.
“We wanted to come out and set the tone,” Smith said. “This is really a big weekend for our team. It makes things easier when you are able to win the first game.”
Stephanie Becker went the distance, allowing six hits and three runs (all earned), with no walks and nine strikeouts. Becker has both wins in the series.
Series streaks
Saturday’s win helped MSU clinch its first series win against Kentucky since 2008. Kentucky had won eight of the past nine series meetings before dropping these two contests this weekend.
Before this recent breakthrough by Kentucky, MSU had won 11 straight and 16 of 17 in the series.
The Bulldogs have now five straight conference games for the first time since 2005.
MSU has won three straight conference series for the first time since 2007. The Bulldogs have now won four conference series overall.
Schedule addition
MSU has an agreement to make up last week’s rainout at Southern Mississippi.
The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles will play at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Hattiesburg. The squads were also rained out in Ridgeland; however, that contest won’t be played.
MSU now has 54 games. The maximum allowed is 56. Stuedeman hopes to add a couple of games, but would have to work around other team’s schedules, as well as her team’s exam schedule.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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