STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State softball team can thank the power left arm of Stephanie Becker for helping it win a doubleheader Saturday.
Becker, a junior from Aurora, Ill., won both games against Southern Miss, recording 11 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings in a start and a relief appearance.
Becker demonstrated the pitching strategy coach Vann Stuedeman will institute in a rotation that will include five pitchers in the spring season.
“Despite what’s been done in the past, we are using a pitching staff and not rely on just one every time,” Stuedeman said.
Becker, who was 7-11 in 22 starts this past season, struck out 10 and allowed three hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 4-0 victory.
“It’s a whole new philosophy and mind-set around this program, and I think it’s shown in the fall that we feel like we can be very competitive in the spring,” Becker said. “I’ve already told her I’ll throw in whatever role she wants if it means we can start winning.”
MSU wasted no time taking the lead as sophomore Sam Lenahan singled to right field to score sophomore leadoff hitter Heidi Shape.
Lenahan doubled off the left-field wall before senior Brittany Gates pinch ran for her and scored on Ka’ili Smith’s first-pitch single up the middle. Smith was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a walk.
With the Bulldogs leading 2-0, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases but Becker struck out three straight to escape the fifth without any damage.
“She proven to have a very good mental game,” Stuedeman said. “She can
handle adversity in any way, and she’s got the mind-set I’m looking for in a pitcher.”
With MSU leading 2-0 in the second game, Southern Mississippi tied the game in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fifth, Smith put some bark in her bat with a one-out base hit up the middle. Swayze Hollenhead reached on a throwing error by the pitcher.
Hollenhead, who hit .460 with two home runs and 33 RBIs at East Webster High School last season, said the fall season has allowed her to adapt to the speed of college pitching while getting consistent playing time at third base.
“I’ve got to get on base more than I had been this fall, but I’m still learning how to deal with this pitching because that ball is coming at you quicker than I’ve ever seen,” Hollenhead said. “The key for me is now I have players I can look up to and ask questions to. I never had that before in high school.”
With two on and one down, Offutt and Hollenhead stole second and third. Bell grounded to shortstop as Offutt, the pinch runner for Smith, dove in safe under the tag to give MSU a 3-2 victory in five innings.
“I like our team’s heart, grit, and determination,” Stuedeman said. “We just never go away and present a relentless attitude. You can’t count us out in any situation.”
Stuedeman handed the softball to Becker to get the final three outs of
the fifth before MSU won in walk-off fashion. Becker allowed one extra-base hit in her two outings.
The victories gave MSU a 6-0 record in the fall season. The wins set the stage for now MSU’s 2012 debut Feb. 9 at South Alabama.
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