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05/31/04
Track and Field
BATON ROUGE, La. Mississippi State University's Jamel Ashley (400m), LaChristopher Lewis (long jump) and Tiffany McWilliams (800m and 1500m) and the men's 4x400m relay team of Ashley, Arthur Davis, Keston Nelson and Lewis automatically qualified for the NCAA National Championships at the 2004 MidEast Regional Championships in Baton Rouge, La., on Saturday. Trey Hardee will also compete in the decathlon at the Championships, qualifying earlier in the season for the event.
The Bulldogs finished eighth overall with a total of 26 points, and the Lady Bulldogs scored 13 points, leaving them tied for 17th place.
"Tiffany had hurt her foot at Ole Miss and it has been bothering her," said head coach Al Schmidt. "So, we really did not turn her loose in the race. The Michigan runner that won the 1500m ran a good race and got a huge kick. We just used a different strategy to try and save Tiffany's foot. She was already automatically in the National Championships in the 1500m. All she had to do was run the race. She did have to run the finals of the 800m to get into the Championships though, but she could have been dead last and gotten in in both races. I take full blame for her losing the races. She had not been beaten all year, and I held her back and would not let her go. She hates to lose."
McWilliams finished second in the 1500m in 4:12.04 and fourth in the 800m in a time of 2:03.91, advancing to the National Championships in both events. Jennifer McPherson ran the 1500m in 4:32.25 for a ninth place showing.
"The men's 4x400m was also already in the National Championships because they are top three in the country," said Schmidt. "We just ran safely."
The men's 4x400m relay team of Ashley, Davis, Nelson and Lewis advanced to the NCAA Championships with their third place showing in the race with a time of 3:05.66.
"We had three guys in the 400m, and we, as a staff, have to now make a decision of who is going to be declared in what event at the Championships," said Schmidt. "Jennifer still has a shot to get in in the 1500m with the 4:20 she ran. We just have to make a decision of how were are going to work our sprint guys. And then whether to run Tiffany in both races or not."
Ashley, Lewis and Davis finished the 400m final in the same spots as the prelims, scoring 12 points for the Bulldogs. Ashley paced the squad in the finals of the 400m with a time of 45.62, taking second and qualifying for the NCAA National Championships. Lewis recorded a 46.10 for sixth, and Davis took eighth in 46.94.
JD Erickson took eighth in the discus with his mark of 172-10, a season high. Travis McKay ran a 10:18.44 in the 3000m steeplechase.
Next, MSU travels to Austin, Texas, for the NCAA National Championships on June 9-12.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/28/04
Softball - Signee update:
MSU pitching signee Ragan Blake of Elkins HS, threw a no-hitter and struck out three in the regional semifinals against Brazoswood HS (No. 1 in the country 3 years ago), then struck out 12 against No. 5th ranked La Porte last week. She had a no-hitter against La Porte going into the 6th inning.
With the win over La Porte, Elkins HS advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament. They next play June 4th against a yet to be determined opponent.
Currently 27-0 with an 0.04 ERA, Ragan has given up 2 runs (one earned) on 46 hits and 7 walks in 162.2 innings of work. Season highlights include 3 perfect games, 1 no-hitter and 6 one-hitters. She also has 7 double-digit strikeout games this season, including a pair of one-hit games in which she struck out 14.
The Lady Bulldogs have four athletes competing in three events. MSU's Tiffany McWilliams will be running the 800m with teammate Zita Magloire. Jennifer McPherson and McWilliams will compete in the 1500m run. McWilliams will be defending her 2003 title in the 1500m and runner-up status last season in the 800m. State's record holder in the discus, Crystal Averitt will display her talents in the event on Friday.
On the men's side, 12 athletes will compete in nine events and two relays. Arthur Davis will run the 200m and 400m, and Jamel Ashley will run the 400m. LaChristopher Lewis is slated for the 400m, finishing fourth in 2003, and long jump. Freshman Travis McKay will run the 3000m steeplechase for the squad.
In the jumping events, Matt Denton will compete in the high jump, Kendall Pyant II in the long jump and Trey Hardee in the pole vault. Hardee has previously qualified for the NCAA Championships in the decathlon. JD Erickson will throw the shot put and discus. Matt Whalen will also compete in the shot put, and Matt Holcomb will throw the hammer.
MSU's 4x100m squad of Eliott Morant, Ashley, Davis and Lewis will race on Friday and the 4x400m team of Ashley, Davis, Keston Nelson and Lewis will race on Saturday evening.
Complete results and updates will be available at www.lsusports.net.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/27/04
Men's Tennis
TULSA, Okla. - Mississippi State's Romain Ambert dropped his opening-round match in the 2004 NCAA Singles Championship here Wednesday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on the University of Tulsa campus, falling to Mat Cloer of Florida State.
After gaining a 4-1 lead in the first set, Ambert, ranked 37th nationally, ultimately dropped that first frame to the 27th-ranked Cloer 7-5. In the second set, the two players traded several service breaks that resulted in a 3-3 tie. But Cloer, the Atlantic Coast Conference's Player of the Year, would claim the final three games of the match to post a 7-5, 6-3 victory over the MSU senior.
The loss marked the end of one of the best careers in MSU tennis history. Ambert was a a two-time, all-American and four-time, all-Southeastern Conference selection. He was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in singles during his career, and was in the top 10 a good portion of his time as a Bulldog. He finished up his four seasons in Starkville 98-49 overall in singles while facing the nation's top competition in many of those contests. He stands sixth all-time at MSU when combining singles and doubles victories, notching 167 total wins.
A native of Toulouse, France, Ambert earned his fourth career appointment to the NCAA singles field this year, making him only the second Bulldog netter ever to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship four times. The other was all-American Matthieu Ballay, who accomplished the feat from 1996-99. He was named the ITA National Player to Watch in 2002 and earned two ITA regional sportsmanship awards in 2003. He is also an ITA Scholar Athlete.
Source: MSU Media Relations
McMichael, the only two-time SEC Softball Athlete of the Year in the history of the league, joined Georgia first baseman Kim Wendland and Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott on the first team, with six other SEC players being named a part of the second or third team. It marked the third consecutive career all-American laurel for the outgoing senior after capturing Easton all-American accolades as a sophomore.
One of just two players to play and start all 65 games for the Maroon and White in 2004, McMichael turned in an SEC record .475 (87-for-183) batting average while matching the league record for walks (51). Having turned in 36 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs, McMichael also collected school record marks in slugging percentage (.836), on-base percentage (.595), stolen bases (41) and runs scored (83). She concluded the campaign possessing the nation's second-best batting clip while leading the nation in runs per game (1.28).
Having made the trip to Oklahoma City, Okla., this week as one of three finalists for the ASA/USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, McMichael boarded a plane Thursday morning to head to Akron, Ohio, where she will undergo physicals, as well as a short preseason practice session. The Akron Racers will begin their season on June 1 in Houston when they begin a three-game set with the Texas Thunder.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/26/04
Volleyball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University's 2003-2004 volleyball recruiting class has been ranked among the nation's top 50 by PrepVolleyball.com, an internet site spotlighting junior volleyball.
The web site led its top 30 recruiting class listing with Nebraska, while MSU's six-player recruiting class rated among 20 teams included in the "best of the rest" category for 2004.
That Mississippi State recruiting class features Christa Fulenwider, a 6-3 middle blocker from Raleigh, N.C., setter Madison Hill from Houston, Texas, right side hitter Jamie Joyner and libero Megan Lukasek from St. Louis, Mo., outside hitter Taylor Noland from Atlanta, Ga., and middle blocker/right side hitter Erin Seago from Rockford, Ill.
Florida was ranked second while Arkansas and Kentucky joined MSU in the "best of the rest" listing.
Mississippi State opens its 2004 season and launches the Tina Seals coaching era at MSU Sept. 3-4 when the Bulldogs compete in the Louisiana-Lafayette Tournament in Lafayette, La.
Source: MSU Media Relations
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State University's Tiffany McWilliams has been nominated for The Collegiate Women Sports Award in Track and Field, announced on Tuesday by The Collegiate Women Sports Awards committee. The winner will be decided by nationwide voting among NCAA member schools. The winner will receive the Honda Award for track and field and also become a nominee for The Honda-Broderick Cup awarded annually to the nation's outstanding collegiate woman athlete of the year.
American Honda will donate $1,000 to the women's athletic fund of each nominee's university and the winner's program will receive $5,000.
McWilliams is among four nominees for the award. Hyleas Fountain of the University of Georgia, Kim Smith of Providence College and Lauryn Williams of the University of Miami are also up for the award.
The results will be announced on Friday, May 28.
Source: MSU Media Relations
STARKVILLE, Miss. Senior all-American outfielder Iyhia McMichael was one of four collegiate softball players named to the final ballot for the Honda Award given annually to the best collegiate female athletes in the nation, the award's organization announced Tuesday.
McMichael is joined on the final ballot by Arizona pitcher Alicia Hollowell, Washington catcher Kristen Rivera and Florida State pitcher/outfielder Jessica van der Linden. McMichael, Hollowell and van der Linden are the three finalists for ASA/USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year award which is expected to announce a winner Wednesday evening at the opening ceremonies of the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Honda is proud to sponsor The Collegiate Women Sports Awards for the 18th consecutive year. Winners are chosen in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports, and three athletes are recognized as the Inspiration Award winner and Division II and III Athletes of the Year. All of these women are selected not only for their superior athletic skills, but also for their leadership abilities, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.
Votes will be tabulated from over 900 NCAA-member schools, and the one athlete who is chosen as the outstanding "Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year" will take home the coveted Honda-Broderick Cup. The winner will be announced at The 2003-2004 Collegiate Women Sports Awards Press Conference at Columbia University in New York City the week of June 21st.
The ballot for softball's Honda award is expected to be mailed later this week, with the winner announced following the completion of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. next week. The national championship game is set for Monday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/22/04
Softball
(Game 1) LINCOLN, Neb. -- Chelsea Spencer's RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning brought home pinch runner Jessica Vernaglia with the winning run as the top-seeded and second ranked Cal Bears completed a two-run comeback with a 2-1 victory in NCAA Region 5 winner's bracket play Friday afternoon in Lincoln, Neb.
The Bulldogs (39-25) got two hits in the game, one each from the bats of seniors Iyhia McMichael (1-for-3, R) and Meagan O'Nan (1-for-2, SH). The Golden Bears (48-11) got hits from six different players, with catcher Haley Woods (1-for-3) involved in the production of both Berkeley runs.
MSU starter Kelli Miller (11-10) pitched almost flawlessly, but took the tough-luck loss anyway despite surrendering just one earned run and scattering six hits over her 11th complete game of the season. Cal starter Kelly Anderson did not record an out before exiting the first, surrendering a run on a pair of walks and one hit. Kristin Thorson (25-3) picked up the win for the Golden Bears, striking out five and allowing just one hit and one walk in picking up her second victory in as many days at the NCAA Region 5 Tournament.
(Game 2) LINCOLN, Neb. -- Jenn Piazza's sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning brought Marlene Lopez home on a close play at the plate to help third-seeded Florida Atlantic move past fourth-seeded Mississippi State, 1-0, and oust the Bulldogs from the NCAA Region 5 Tournament Friday evening in Lincoln, Neb.
Mississippi State (39-26) got a hit from three different players, including senior all-American Iyhia McMichael (1-for-3) whose single in the sixth marked her 40th consecutive game in which she reached base safely. Fellow senior Jennifer Waterman finished the day with a 1-for-1 hitting line that included a sac bunt and a walk, while Starkville native Meagan O'Nan turned in a 1-for-2 day in her last game in Maroon and White. FAU (56-17) got one hit apiece from a trio of players as well, including Jennifer Cavanaugh who singled and walked on a 1-for-1 tally.
Mississippi State starter Kelli Miller (11-11), who made her second consecutive start after a previous loss to top-seeded Cal-Berkeley, pitched another dandy of a game, but took the loss after allowing an unearned run on three hits and a pair of walks in five innings of work. Reliever Melissa Massey did not surrender a hit or a walk in the sixth. Florida Atlantic staff ace Candice Freel (28-9) picked up her second win of the postseason after striking out five and allowing just three hits in seven innings of scoreless ball.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 1, MISSISSIPPI STATE 0
Mississippi State (39-26) 000 000 0 - 0 3 2
Florida Atlantic (56-17) 000 001 x - 1 3 0
Miller, Massey (6) and Waterman. Freel and Piper. W - Freel (28-9). L - Miller (11-11). Save - None. SF - Piazza.
Source: MSU Media Relations
"I believe Austin will be an outstanding young pole vaulter and contributor to our program," said Schmidt. "We are real excited he is going to be a part of the Bulldog family."
A four year letterwinner, Golding broke the Mississippi 1A State Record at the 2004 State Championships with his title winning height of 13-6 in the pole vault. The old record was set in 1990 at a height of 12-8. For his performance, he was named most valuable field event member by his high school. Golding also won the regional meet and south state meet in the pole vault as a senior.
"I chose MSU to continue my track career because I wanted to be on a team that had a lot of world-class athletes and one that has a legitimate chance to win a national championship," said Golding. "When you look at the recruiting class MSU has coming in the fall of 2004, along with the tremendous group of athletes they have returning, I think MSU clearly is a national championship caliber track team. It also just felt right to come to MSU."
In his junior season, he won the pole vault at the district meet, regional meet and south state and finished runner-up at the State Championships, where he was voted St. Aloysius' most valuable field event member. In 2002, he swept the last four meets of the season, winning the pole vault at the State Championship, South State, Regionals and District. As a freshman, he finished runner-up at the State Championships.
In addition to track, Golding was a four year letterwinner on St. Aloysius' football team. He was voted all-Region and team captain and received the Joe Evans Scholarship award.
Golding was honored with the Service Award all four years of his high school career for his academics. His senior year he also received the Bronze Medalist Award and the Most Outstanding Male Drama Award.
Highly involved in his high school, he is the founder and president of the bowling society and a member of the Key Club, St. Aloysius' A Club and the Fellowship Christian Athletes. He also served as a Retreat Team Member and Freshman Class President.
Extremely active in his community, Golding is a YMCA camp counselor at Warner Tully and a camp counselor at The McCallie School. He volunteered at the Heritage House with senior citizens and served as an Acolyte at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and Holy Cross Traditional Episcopal Church.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/19/04
Track and Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State University's women's track and field team is ranked 12th in this week's poll released by the Trackwire 25 Tuesday. The Trackwire 25 is considered the most widely respected and reported ranking of Division I collegiate track and field teams and is compiled by respected track and field statistician Gary Verigin.
Junior Tiffany McWilliams is ranked first in both the 800m run and 1500m run by the Trackwire 25 Dandy Dozen list, a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA event.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/18/04
Track and Field Signee
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State University assistant track and field coach Keith Powell announced Monday the signing of McGill-Toolen High School's Natalie Neely to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Lady Bulldogs beginning in 2004.
"Natalie is going to do the heptathlon for us next year," said Powell. "She will also give us depth in the vault and javelin and is a good all-around athlete."
Neely boasts personal best marks of 11-3 in the pole vault, 15.54 in the 100m hurdles, 48.67 in the 300m low hurdles, 36-11 in the triple jump, 17-10 in the long jump, 5-0 in the high jump, 122-4 in the javelin and 3,687 points in the heptathlon throughout her high school career.
"I feel very thankful and blessed to have the opportunity to continue the sport that I love through college," said Neely. "I'm very excited about the upcoming season, and can't wait to officially become a Bulldog."
So far in her senior season, Neely has had 10 individual meet wins and been a member of two championship teams Southeastern Relays Team Champion and 6A Sectional Team Champion. She set meet records in the javelin at the Southeastern Relays and the Lyon Newell Annual Charity Throws Meet. At the 6A Sectional Championships, she won the 100m high hurdles, long jump and javelin.
In 2003, she won four championships in the javelin and set a new school record and 6A state record in the event. She was the 2003 Alabama Outdoor State Champion, the Mobile County Champion and the Southeastern Relays Champion. She also set a meet record winning the javelin at the Lyon Newell Annual Charity Throws Meet. In addition, she won the pole vault at the Southeastern Relays and the USATF Club Regionals. Her Yellow Jackets team won the Southeastern Relays Team Championships, Mobile County Team Championships and 6A Sectional Team Championships and finished runner-up at the Alabama Indoor State Championships. She qualified for the Adidas Outdoor Nationals in the pole vault, javelin and triple jump.
A three-time varsity letterwinner, Neely is a three-time member of the all-County Outdoor Track Team and a two-time member of the all-County Indoor Track Team and all-State Track Team. She was also a member of the 2003 all-Metro Track Team. In addition, she was honored with the Most Outstanding Athlete Award for McGill-Toolen for her senior, junior and sophomore years and named the Optimist Club Athlete of the Week twice. She received the 2004 Azalea City Kiwanis Female Athlete of the Year Award and the 2003 Richmond Brown Outstanding Performance Award for Southeastern Relays.
She was named to the honor roll her senior, junior and sophomore years. Off the track, she was a member of the Servants of the Poor, the Friends of Exceptional Children, the HBO Club (Hiking, Biking, and Other), the Pro-Life Club, the School Pride Club and the Spanish Club.
She plans to pursue a degree in sports medicine and Spanish at Mississippi State.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/17/04
Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State was among a record eight SEC teams to be awarded a bid to NCAA Regionals Sunday evening as the Bulldogs were announced as the No. 4 seed in the Region No. 5 Tournament in Lincoln, Neb.
The Bulldogs (38-24) will face fifth-seeded Iowa (36-22) in the opening round on Thursday at 3 p.m. at Bowlin Stadium on the campus of the University of Nebraska. State will be joined in Lincoln by the fifth overall seed and second-ranked Cal Bears (46-11), second-seeded and tournament host Nebraska Huskers (40-15), third-seeded Florida Atlantic Owls (54-16). The No. 6 seed Creighton Jays (39-15-1), the No. 7 seed Lehigh Mountain Hawks (40-15-2) and the eighth-seeded Maine Black Bears (27-21) will also make their NCAA postseason appearances in Lincoln.
The Bulldogs will make their third consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason and their fourth NCAA Regional appearance in five years. State will head to Nebraska's Bowlin Stadium for the second consecutive season after posting a 1-2 clip there in its 2003 NCAA Regional appearance.
State was one of a record eight SEC squads to be selected to the field of 64, as every team from the SEC Tournament field will make an appearance in the postseason. Including SEC squads, 13 of Mississippi State's 2004 opponents will make an NCAA postseason appearance of which the Bulldogs posted a 16-18 record against. The SEC had the most number of selections in the field of 64, followed by the PAC-10 with seven and the Big 12 with five.
NCAA REGION 5 TOURNAMENT (Lincoln, Neb.)
Thursday, May 20
Friday, May 21
Saturday, May 22
Sunday, May 23
* If Necessary
Source: MSU Media Relations
The men's team finished seventh overall with 42 points, and the Lady Bulldogs took 11th with 22 points.
LaChristopher Lewis finished fifth in the 400m with a personal best time of 45.73, also a regional qualifying time. Just over an hour later, he took fourth in the 200m dash in a regional qualifying time of 20.88. Setting a personal best time, Jamel Ashley took fifth in the 100m dash in a regional qualifying time of 10.49.
Ashley, Arthur Davis, Keston Nelson and Lewis finished second in the 4x400m relay in a season best time of 3:03.42, the second fastest time in MSU history. The women's 4x400m relay team of Kia James, Nicole Dunn, Zita Magloire and Jennifer McPherson finished ninth in the event with a season best time of 3:47.65.
Matt Denton leapt 6-8 3/4 in the high jump for a fourth place showing, scoring five points for the Bulldogs. JD Erickson scored a point for the Bulldogs in the discus with a regional qualifying distance of 169-3. Jerald Wilson recorded a mark of 44-8 3/4 in the triple jump for a ninth place showing.
Lady Bulldogs Michelle Kinney and Jennifer Johnstone both hit personal best marks in the javelin, finishing seventh and ninth. Kinney scored points for the squad with a 122-4, and Johnstone recorded a 120-4.
Gedamu Ege set a career best mark in the 5000m run with a time of 14:59.73.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/16/04
Track and Field
(PART 1) OXFORD, Miss. -- Mississippi State University's Tiffany McWilliams broke the Southeastern Conference record with her 2:01.00 performance in the prelims of the 800m on Friday at the 2004 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oxford, Miss. She broke the SEC record set in 1984 by Tennessee's Joetta Clark. She also set a new school record, a new Ole Miss Track and Field Complex record, a new personal best time and a regional qualifying mark. She will run in the finals of the event Sunday evening.
Due to inclement weather, the men's decathlon was not completed. The postponement came during the decathlon pole vault. The conclusion of the event will begin at 10 a.m., and will be followed by the javelin and 1500m. When the pole vault was postponed, Trey Hardee had yet to make an attempt at a height. He did compete in the 110m hurdles and the discus, finishing second in both events. He recorded a time of 14.78 for 876 points in the 110m hurdles and a distance of 137-7 in the discus for 704 points.
LaChristopher Lewis finished tied for seventh in the 200m dash with his time of 21.28, advancing him to the finals on Sunday. Freshman Ryan Irwin set a career best time in the 800m with a 1:51.01. Matt Holcomb threw the hammer 168-2 for a 13th place showing.
On the women's side, Zita Magloire qualified for regionals in the 800m with her personal best time of 2:10.24. Christina Hernandez also set a career best mark throwing a 142-2 in the hammer.
The men's and women's 400-meter hurdles were also postponed and will be run Saturday afternoon with the women's race taking place at 2 p.m., followed by the men's at 2:15 p.m.
Results will be available online as the meet progresses at www.olemisssports.com and cfpitiming.com.
(PART 2) OXFORD, Miss. Mississippi State University's Trey Hardee wins the decathlon with 7,480 points on Saturday at the 2004 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oxford, Miss. He completed the final three events of the decathlon Saturday morning after inclement weather pushed back the competition. He leapt 13-7 1/4 in the pole vault for 659 points and third place. Recording 607 points, he threw the javelin 168-2 for a fourth place showing and ran the 1500m in 4:46.50 for 640 points.
LaChristopher Lewis advances to the finals of the long jump with his personal best and regional qualifying distance of 25-8, finishing in fourth place. He also qualified for finals in the 400m dash with a 46.69 and a sixth place showing. Arthur Davis set a regional qualifying time in the 400m with a 47.15, finishing in tenth, one place shy of finals.
Jamel Ashley's personal best and regional qualifying performance of 10.50 in the 100m dash advances him to the finals of the event. Damond Berry and Kevin Sewell set career best marks in the 100m with times of 10.69 and 11.18, respectively.
Lady Bulldogs Tiffany McWilliams and Jennifer McPherson advance to the finals of the 1500m run on Sunday with their regional qualifying times. McWilliams set a new Ole Miss Track and Field Complex record with her time of 4:13.55, the top time going into the finals. McPherson recorded a 4:23.26 for an eighth place showing in the prelims.
Jasmine Walls tied her career best height of 5-6 for a tied for ninth place showing in the high jump.
Freshman Phillip Moore set a personal best time in the 1500m run with a 4:04.81. Courtney Davis also set a personal best time with his time of 14.69 in the 110m hurdles. Senior Kia James recorded a new career best in the 400m with a 57.53.
Source: MSU Media Relations
Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Paige Jones' RBI single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning plated Sara Dean with the winning run as fourth-seeded Auburn erased an early one-run deficit with single runs in each of the last two innings to defeat Mississippi State, 4-3, and oust the Bulldogs from the SEC Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Alabama Softball Complex.
Two-time SEC Player of the Year Iyhia McMichael drove in a pair of runs on a 2-for-4 hitting line that marked the Maroon and White's only multi-hit showing, while Meagan O'Nan (1-for-2) and Kate Jaspers (1-for-3) both singled and scored once. Rookie Hayle Guess reached on an error and scored in the second for the Bulldogs. Jones (3-for-4) doubled and hit a key home run in the sixth inning to pace the Tiger offense.
MSU starter Kelli Miller (11-9) was chased from the circle after the first inning, but returned with a tie score in the sixth and finished out the ballgame. Miller surrendered three runs on five hits and a walk to take the loss for the Bulldogs, with Melissa Massey allowing one run on five hits in four innings of relief ball.
AUBURN 4, MISSISSIPPI STATE 3
Mississippi State (38-24) 120 000 0 - 3 4 2
Auburn (41-15) 200 001 1 - 4 10 2
Miller (1,6), Massey (2) and Waterman. Currie, Keyes (7) and Dean. W - Keyes (26-10). L - Miller (11-9). Save - None. HR - AU, Jones. 3B - MSU, McMichael. 2B - AU, Jones.
Note: 1 out, 3 runners LOB when the game ended.
Source: MSU Media Relations
Men's Tennis
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - In second-round action of the 2004 NCAA Tennis Championship Saturday, Mississippi State's 29th-ranked men's tennis team gave 10th-ranked Virginia (the nation's No. 6 seed overall) everything it wanted, but the Bulldogs ultimately dropped a 4-2 decision to the Cavaliers on their home courts in a hard-fought contest.
State, which made its 14th consecutive NCAA appearance this season, ended the year 9-14 overall. Virginia (24-3) moves into next week's NCAA round of 16 in Tulsa, Okla. Saturday's meeting was the first ever between the schools in men's tennis.
"I am very proud of the way our guys came together at the end of the year and achieved some very positive things," Guichard continued. "I am already excited about starting next season."
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/15/04
Tennis
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - After dropping the opening doubles point, Mississippi State's 29th-ranked men's tennis team rallied to win four contests in singles play and down 42nd-ranked Wake Forest in first-round action of the NCAA Championship Friday afternoon at Virginia's Snyder Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs, who improved to 9-13 overall, will meet 10th-ranked host Virginia (the nation's No. 6 seed overall) Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET on the UVA campus. The Cavaliers (23-3) advanced to the second round with a 4-0 blanking of American University Friday morning. MSU and UVA have never met in men's tennis competition. Saturday's match will be for a spot in the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen", which begins next Saturday, May 22, in Tulsa, Okla.
MSU is now 15-13 overall in the NCAA Championship, 2-2 under Guichard's guidance. The Bulldog netters have now won their opening match in 11 of their 14 consecutive NCAA appearances. Two of the three times MSU did not win its opener, the NCAAs were a 16-team event.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/14/04
Track and Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University's sophomore Trey Hardee sits in second place in the decathlon at the 2004 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oxford, Miss. After five events, he recorded a total of 3,994 points, two points behind the leader Maurice Smith of Auburn. The Championships are being held at the Ole Miss Track and Field Complex.
Hardee finished first in the 100m in 10.68 for 933 points. In his second event, he recorded a mark of 22-7 in the long jump for 785 points, finishing in second. He threw the shot put 40-6 1/4 for 628 points and a sixth place showing.
Recording personal best marks in his final two events, he leapt 6-5 in the high jump and ran the 400m dash in 48.59. In the high jump, he earned 767 points, tying for third, and 881 points in the 400m dash for first place.
Track and Field Signee
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University head track and field coach Al Schmidt announced Wednesday the signing of Judson Senior High School's Lauren Vasquez to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Lady Bulldogs beginning in 2004.
"Lauren is going to fill a need we have for a long sprinter," said Schmidt. "We are really excited about her joining the team."
A four letterwinner in both track and cross country, Lauren Vasquez notes personal best marks of 25.4 in the 200m, 56.5 in the 400m, 2:20 in the 800m, 1:38 in the 4x200m and 3:50 as a member of JHS's 4x400m relay team and 3:47 as a member of the AAU team.
"Signing with MSU was an easy decision for me," said Vasquez. "The team was very welcoming, and I felt right at home with them. I really appreciate the interest Coach Cunningham showed in me, and I hope to prove to him that he made the right decision. Hopefully, I can make an impact on the team these next few years."
In her senior season, she was named outstanding senior cross country runner and earned a regional qualifying time in cross country. She was also a member of JHSıs district champion track team and the regional runner-up track team.
She qualified for the 2003 Texas State Championships in the 4x200m relay and the 4x400m relay. The 4x200m team took fourth, and the 4x400m team finished sixth. The Rockets track team won the 2003 District and Regional Championships.
In her first two seasons, she qualified for regionals in cross country and helped her track team win the district championships and the regional championships. Her 4x400m relay team qualified for the state championships in 2002 and 2001, and the 4x200m team qualified in 2002.
Off the track, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Socidad Honoria Hispanica, and was a three-year academic letterman. She is a Judson Scholar and ranked in the top 4 percent of her class.
She also serves her school as a three-year member of the student council, two of which she was a class representative. She was the safety and health committee chair her senior year and was a teacher with an Adult ESL tutoring class for two years.
Vasquez plans to pursue a degree in sociology at MSU.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/13/04
Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Mississippi State sent a pair of players to first team all-SEC accolades, and rookie Hayle Guess became the first Bulldog to be named to the SEC all-freshman squad, as the Southeastern Conference awards were announced at opening ceremonies of the 2004 SEC Softball Tournament Wednesday evening at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael earned her third consecutive bid to the first team, while fellow senior Kate Jaspers earned her first all-conference award as a member of the first team as well. In their first year as official conference awards, Guess was named to the 12-member all-freshman team and Jaspers collected co-Scholar Athlete of the Year laurels. Starkville native Meagan O'Nan rounded out the Mississippi State awards as she was named to the 11-member SEC Softball Good Works Team.
With the honors, McMichael and Jaspers became the first Bulldog duo to be named first team all-SEC since McMichael and former MSU all-American Kellie Wilkerson were decorated with the same laurels in 2001. McMichael became the first repeat winner of the SEC Player of the Year award after becoming the first junior to garner the award last year.
Having finished the season with a .481 batting clip against SEC foes, McMichael reached base safely (hit or walk) in 28 of 29 SEC outings this season. She led the SEC in seven offensive categories and ranked second or third in two others. Her Player of the Year award and first team all-SEC nod comes just more than 24 hours after being named as a top three finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year honors.
Jaspers finished the season hitting .356 against conference foes with 22 RBI and 19 runs scored. She ranked in the top 10 of five offensive categories, and led the league in sacrifice bunts with 11. In the classroom, Jaspers was equally as impressive, finishing out her academic career at MSU with a cumulative 4.0 GPA one of just five Bulldog athletes in school history to accomplish that feat.
Guess, a Moss Point native, played and started all 29 conference games for the Bulldogs this season and closed out the campaign with 14 hits inside the conference, three RBI and five runs scored. Her solo home run in Stateıs series finale with then-No. 10 Alabama capped off a six-run first inning that helped the Bulldogs clinch its series with the Crimson Tide for the first time in school history.
A regular volunteer in the Starkville community, O'Nan is a member of Mississippi State's community service organization, the M-Club. As a member of the leadership team of MSU's Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Meagan has helped organize the Project Angel Tree service for FCA over the past two years.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/12/04
Track and Field Signees
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State University assistant track and field coach Keith Powell announced Tuesday the signing of Booker T. Washington High School's Errol Blackmon and Tim Williams to national letter-of-intents to compete for the Bulldogs this fall.
"It is always a positive to add a state champion to your team," said Powell. "Errol is a good athlete that could score in the SEC right now and be a regional qualifier."
Blackmon duplicated his personal best height of 6-10 in the high jump to win the 2004 3A Florida State Championships. Also with a mark of 6-10, Blackmon finished second at the 2003 3A Florida State Championships and sixth in 2002 with a 6-6. For his stellar junior season, he was honored as the 2003 Track and Field all-Area Athlete of the Year. In addition to track, he was a member of the basketball team.
"Tim is a good athlete with good work habits," said Powell. "He will give us depth in the high jump and could also score points in the SEC now."
Williams notes a top height of 6-10 in the high jump. He finished runner-up at the 2004 3A Florida State Championships with a 6-8, fourth at the 2003 championships with a 6-8 and took sixth in 2001 with the same mark. He was named second team all-Area in track and honorable mention all-Area in basketball.
Source: MSU Media Relations
Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. In the process of currently maintaining the NCAA's top batting average, Mississippi State senior all-American Iyhia McMichael (Nacogdoches, Texas/Nacogdoches HS) was named Tuesday afternoon as one of three finalists for USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year award, the Amateur Softball Association announced.
McMichael became the first softball player from the Southeastern Conference to be named a top 3 finalist for the award and was joined by Arizona pitcher Alicia Hollowell and Florida State pitcher/outfielder Jessica van der Linden on the list.
The winner of the 2004 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced May 26 at the opening ceremonies of the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. The winner will be recognized and presented with the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year trophy during the ASA National Council Meeting in Mobile, Alabama, in November.
A replica of the award will be placed in a permanent display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner. An additional replica of the award will be presented to the player's academic institution.
In the midst of a 17-game hitting streak, McMichael currently possesses the nation's top batting average, hitting .482 (81-for-168) through Saturday's regular season finale against No. 22 Georgia Tech. She has collected 35 extra-base hits (10 HR) on the campaign to go along with 40 RBI and 78 runs scored. She has also been walked 48 times and is 39-of-45 on stolen base attempts.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/11/04
Track and Field Signees
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State University associate head track and field coach Steve Dudley announced Monday the signing of Newburgh Free Academy's Elzie Coleman to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Bulldogs this fall.
"Signing Elzie Coleman caps off an unbelievable recruiting class for this year's Mississippi State men's track and field team," said Dudley. "Elzie is the US record holder in the indoor 400m, making him the top long sprinter in the country. But the biggest thing that we get from Elzie is his leadership, attitude and his willingness to be the best."
Coleman is the current National High School Indoor Record holder in the 400m dash with a time of 45.92 in the event. He ran the time at the 2004 Simplot Games in February in Pocatello, Idaho, breaking his own senior record, the meet record and the U.S. record that he set earlier in the season. Not only is he ranked first in the nation in the 400m, Coleman is also the top athlete in the 300m (33.28) and 600m (1:20.03) and ranked 22nd in the 200m (22.11). In outdoors, he is ranked second in the 400m with a 46.52 and 17th in the 200m with a time of 21.49.
"My goals at Mississippi State are to break the NCAA 400m dash record and to go 2:59 as a team in the 4x400m relay," said Coleman. "I just really want to go after some national records. I decided to come to MSU because of my visit and because the program is building. I knew that I needed to pick a college with some young guys, so that we could be together for the next four years. And the big reason was Coach Dudley. He is a great guy, and I'm coming to MSU because of him."
Coleman has finished first in all races during his senior campaign except for the outdoor 400m at the Mobile Meet of Champions in early April to the individual that is ranked first in the nation. Undefeated in his final indoor season, he recorded his 300m time of 33.28 in his only race of the season, moving him to third on the national all-time list. All three races he ran in the indoor 400m dash were faster that the National Record prior to the start of the season and his 600m time of 1:20.03 moved him to eighth on the national all-time list.
The three-year letterwinner was honored as the 2004 High School Indoor Track Athlete of the Year by Track and Field News. In addition to track, Coleman was a running back and wide receiver on the football team.
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State University head track and field coach Al Schmidt announced Monday the signing of Coldwater High School's Angelica Phillips to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Lady Bulldogs beginning in 2004. Phillips is the sister of MSU's all-American LaChristopher Lewis.
"We are real happy that Angelica is joining us," said Schmidt. "Her brother has been an all-American here and a great performer. She will be a wonderful addition to our jumps crew and will add versatility to our relay teams."
At the 2004 Mississippi High School 2A State Championships, Phillips ran the anchor leg of the 4x400m relay team that won its fifth straight state championship since Phillips has been on the team. She began competing on the high school team as a seventh grader. She also finished fifth in the 300m hurdles and was a member of the 4x200m relay team that took fourth.
"I am glad to be teamed up again with my brother once more before he graduates," said Phillips. "I have wanted to attend State since my brother began competing there. Above all, I want to be a successful student."
As a junior, Phillips took second at the State Championships in the 300m hurdles and the triple jump. In 2002, the CHS's girl's track team won the state title. Phillips contributed with runner-up finishes in the 300m hurdles and the triple jump. Her 4x100m team won the state title and the 4x200m team finished in second.
Phillips took home three state championships in 2001, sweeping the girl's relays with wins in the 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m. As an eighth grader on the high school team, she won her first team state championship and relay championships with wins in the 4x200m and 4x400m relays. She took second in the 4x100m relay at the meet.
She has received all-State track honors five years of her high school career. She was named Coldwater's 2003 Best All Around Runner and was honored with the Heart of a Champion Award. She also earned the 2002 All-Purpose Award and the 1999 Most Improved Runner Award.
In addition to track, she was a member of the Lady Cougar basketball team that finished runner-up at the state championships in 2003 and 2004. Phillips served as captain her senior season and was named all-State twice during her career. She also received all-District honors in softball.
Currently ranked fourth among her classmates, Phillips was a member of the Beta Club, the honor roll and the 2003 National Society of High School Scholars. She was recognized in Who's Who Among High School Scholars and received the U.S. Achievement Academy Award and the U.S. Army Reserve Award.
Phillips will pursue a career in pre-med at Mississippi State.
Source: MSU Media Relations
Miller, who recorded her fifth consecutive victory with a one-hit shutout of the Yellow Jackets, is one of just five MSU pitchers to garner SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. The accomplishment also marked just the second time in school history that the Maroon and White have had a trio of SEC weekly award winners (2000) and the fourth consecutive season that the Bulldogs have had at least one conference player and pitcher of the week accolade.
Miller is 10-8 on the season with a team-low 1.99 ERA and has held opponents to a .255 batting average in 112.1 innings of work. She possesses a strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 3-to-1 and has allowed the fewest walks per seven innings (1.17) on State's four-armed staff.
Miller has tallied four complete games during her current five-game winning streak and has allowed just four earned runs in 31 innings of work for an ERA of 0.90. In that same time span, she has allowed opponents to hit a miniscule .131 against her and has tallied two solo shutouts and one combined shutout.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/09/04
Softball
GAME 1 STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State pounded out its 20th double-digit hitting performance of the season and scored four runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings to stretch its winning streak out to a season-long eight games with a 10-2 rout of visiting Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.
Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael drove in a run and scored three times on a 2-for-3 showing that paced a quartet of Bulldogs (36-22) with multi-hit days and extended her hitting streak out to 16 games. McMichael's two stolen bases in the game broke her own school record, giving her 37 on the season. Kate Jaspers scored twice and drove in a run on a 2-for-2 outing, Blaire Brown added an RBI and scored once on a 2-for-4 day and Meagan O'Nan scored twice on a 2-for-3 outing. Tasha Waugh highlighted a 1-for-3 day at the plate with a two-run homer to pace the Yellow Jackets (41-14).
Albeit Waugh's homer, Melissa Massey (17-8) virtually shut down the Georgia Tech batting order, striking out one and limiting the visitors to just four hits in recording her eighth consecutive victory. Yellow Jacket starter Jessica Sallinger (26-7) came in possessing the nation's third-lowest ERA, but was victimized for 10 runs on 10 hits and four walks. She struck out just one MSU batter, despite having the nation's sixth-best strikeouts per game total as well.
The win gave Mississippi State its longest winning streak of the season, surpassing a seven-game streak that was snapped with a loss to San Diego State on February 13. The win also marked State's 14th win in its last 16 outings.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 10, GEORGIA TECH 2 (6 Innings)
Georgia Tech (41-14) 000 002 - 2 4 6
Mississippi State (36-22) 011 404 - 10 10 1
Sallinger and Waugh. Massey and Waterman. W Massey (17-8). L Sallinger (26-7). Save None. HR GT, Waugh. 2B GT, Wood. SF Guess.
GAME 2 STARKVILLE, Miss. - Rookie righthander Kelli Miller took a perfect game into the seventh inning and State got a sac fly from the bat of Kate Jaspers in the sixth for the game's only run as homestanding Mississippi State closed out its regular season by finishing off a twinbill sweep of nationally ranked Georgia Tech with a 1-0 blanking of the Jackets Saturday afternoon at the Mississippi State Softball Field.
Lindsay Nelson singled twice on three trips to the plate to give State (37-22) its only multi-hit outing, with Jaspers providing the lone run of the game on dramatics in the sixth. Senior all-American Iyhia McMichael stretched her hitting streak out to 17 games, scoring once on a 1-for-3 tally. Jennifer Waterman, Tanelda McDonald and Hayle Guess also collected hits for the Bulldogs. Soraya Reddick broke up Miller's perfect game bid to lead off the seventh, but tallied the Yellow Jackets' (41-15) only knock.
Miller (10-8), who has been near dominant over her last three outings, was unhittable through six and surrendered just one fly ball to the outfield. Miller finished the outing with one strikeout en route to recording her fifth straight victory. Georgia Tech starter Erin Voeltz (15-8) took the loss for the Jackets, striking out two and allowing one earned run on six hits.
The win gave Mississippi State its SEC-leading ninth-straight victory and gave the Bulldogs their 15th victory in their last 17 outings. State's 37th win also marked its most victories since the 2000 MSU squad collected 44 wins in 71 total games.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 1, GEORGIA TECH 0
Georgia Tech (41-15) 000 000 0 - 0 0 0
Mississippi State (37-22) 000 000 0 - 0 0 0
Voeltz and Waugh. Miller and Waterman. W Miller (10-8). L Voeltz (15-8). Save None. SF MSU, Jaspers.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/07/04
Track and Field
Gene's Page interviewed Beau Burroughs of Jesuit HS in Tampa, Florida a couple of nights ago. I'll add the interview to my front page in a day or two. Beau, who is one of the top high school throwers in the nation, has his list down to Mississippi State, Florida, Arizona and Auburn. He said he expects to make his decision in about 2 weeks.
05/06/04
Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State's men's tennis team learned Wednesday afternoon that it will compete in the first round of the 64-team 2004 NCAA Championship Friday, May 14, in Charlottesville, Va. State's first-round NCAA site, which will be one of 16 nationally, will be hosted by the University of Virginia. Wednesday's selection marks the Bulldogs' 14th-consecutive appointment to the NCAA Team Championship field, one of only seven schools (Florida, Georgia, MSU, Southern Cal, Stanford, TCU and
UCLA) in the nation that have earned that distinction.
MSU (8-13), currently ranked 29th nationally, will meet 42nd-ranked Wake Forest (11-10), next Friday at the Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center on the UVA campus at 10 a.m. ET. If State wins that contest, the Bulldogs would advance to play the winner between 10th-ranked host Virginia (who is the country's No. 6 seed overall) and American University on Saturday, May 15, at 1 p.m. ET in the second round. The Saturday contest would be for a spot in the NCAA Team Championship's round of 16, which will be held May 22-25 in Tulsa, Okla.
The Bulldogs and Demon Deacons have met in men's tennis on only four previously recorded occasions, with State leading 3-1, and have not clashed since the 1991 season. That year, MSU took a 6-2 decision over WFU in the first round of the Miami Quad in Miami, Fla. The teams also split decisions in Starkville in 1972 and 1973, and MSU claimed a 5-1 victory in a neutral site affair in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1990.
The Southeastern Conference's power was once again very evident in the NCAA field this season, with all 12 of the league's teams earning bids to the 64-team field for the third time in the last four years.
The selections for the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, to be played May 26-31 in Tulsa, will be released Thursday. Senior Bulldog Romain Ambert, currently ranked 37th nationally, is expected to earn his fourth and final bid to the 64-player singles field. The Toulouse, France, native, injured for much of this spring, is a two-time, all-American and four-time, all-SEC choice.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/05/04
Track and Field Signee
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State University associate head track and field coach Steve Dudley announced Tuesday the signing of Jackson (NJ) Memorial High School's Paul Bahamondes to a national letter-of-intent to compete for the Bulldogs beginning in 2004.
"It is a great pleasure to sign a kid with the drive and dedication that Paul has," said Dudley. "His work ethic on the track, along with the fact he has never missed a day of school, solidifies this statement."
Bahamondes is a member of the 4x800m relay team that holds the Jackson Memorial High School record with a time of 7:54.2. The team also holds the relay record at the Ocean County meet.
"This is a great opportunity for me to come down to MSU," said Bahamondes. "This is a very exciting time in my life, and I am very happy with my decision."
During his high school career, he was honored a two-time MVP of the Jaguars cross country team, received the sportsmanship award and was named Ocean County Runner of the Year. Bahamondes also served his squad as a three-time captain and earned all-County and all-Shore honors numerous times.
He boasts personal bests of 51.5 in the 400m, 1:56 in the 800m, 4:30 in the mile, 9:32 in the two-mile run, 15:32 in the 5K and a 21:03 in the four-mile run.
Bahamondes competed in four sports while in high school, earning 10 varsity letters in outdoor track, indoor track, cross country and soccer.
Off the track, he received the Scholar athlete award twice and was named to the high honor roll and honor roll. He was also involved in the Ocean County Running Club and the JMHS history club.
He plans to major in computer engineering while at MSU.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/03/04
Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. Seventh-seeded Mississippi State will face No. 2 seed and SEC Eastern Division champion Tennessee in the opening round of the 2004 SEC Tournament which begins Thursday, May 13, at the Alabama Softball Complex in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Bulldogs (35-22, 14-15 SEC) and Lady Vols (49-12, 20-8) will play the second game of the tournament at 1:30 p.m., preceded by third-seeded Georgia and No. 6 seed Florida in the tournament opener at 11 a.m. The first round will be concluded by a 5 p.m. Thursday matchup between top-seeded LSU and eighth-seeded South Carolina, followed by fourth-seeded Auburn taking on No. 5 seed and tournament host Alabama in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.
Mississippi, Arkansas and Kentucky failed to qualify for the eight team double elimination tournament. Vanderbilt does not sponsor softball in its varsity sports program.
Behind the left arm of rookie phenom Monica Abbott, who upped her record to 41-6 with a doubleheader blanking of Mississippi on Saturday, Tennessee took all three games of its series with Mississippi State earlier this season in Starkville. The series finale was nip and tuck, however, before the Orange prevailed with a pair of runs in the eighth inning.
Historically, Mississippi State is 9-12 in the SEC Tournament, posting a program-best 4-2 clip en route to a championship game appearance in the 1998 postseason gala. The Bulldogs are 6-6 against teams from the Eastern Division and are 1-0 against the Lady Vols in SEC Tournament play.
South Carolina ousted the Maroon and White from the 2003 SEC Tournament in Plant City, Fla., on the shoulders of a 2-1 decision.
The 2004 SEC Tournament, which will make its first appearance at a campus site this season, runs from May 13-16 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tournament passes can be purchased for 40 dollars for adults and 30 dollars for youth. Day of game passes can be purchased for 10 dollars. For more ticket information, contact the Alabama Ticket Office at (205) 348-6161 or order online at http://netstile.evenue.net/evenue/se/ubama.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/02/04
Track and Field
OXFORD, Miss. Mississippi State University's men's and women's track and field teams finished the regular season at the Ole Miss Invitational on Saturday. The event was held at the Ole Miss Track and Field Complex, the site of the 2004 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track Championships, May
13-16.
Bulldog Jamel Ashley finished runner-up in the 400m dash in 47.39, and Keston Nelson took fifth in the event with a 48.31. Eliott Morant led the squad in the 100m dash with a 11.00 for a fifth place showing. Arthur Davis recorded a 21.77 in the 200m dash to finish tied for fourth. Daniel Nolan took seventh in the 400m hurdles in a time of 55.70.
Elmore McConnell set a career best mark in the 800m run with his 1:50.83 performance for second place. Freshman Dustin Fier recorded a 4:01.24 in the 1500m run for sixth. Senior Clay Garner tied his season best mark of a 182-7 for fifth at the meet.
On the women's side, Nicole Dunn ran the 400m dash in 57.48, and Kia James set a career best time in the event with her 57.77 performance. Crystal Averitt took fourth in the hammer throw with a distance of 167-4, and Jenn Johnstone also set a career best with her 161-10 in the hammer.
Next, the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs compete in the SEC Outdoor Championships in Oxford, Miss., on May 13-16.
Source: MSU Media Relations
05/01/04
Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. For the second straight season, Mississippi State senior all-American found her name among the nation's elite Friday afternoon as she was announced as one of the top 10 finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, the Amateur Softball Association announced.
The initial watch list of 25 athletes was announced May 7. Three finalists will be announced May 11th, with the winner of the 2004 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award being announced May 26 at the opening ceremonies of the NCAA College World Series in Oklahoma City.
The winner will be recognized and presented with the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year trophy during the ASA National Council Meeting in Mobile, Alabama, in November. A replica of the award will be placed in a permanent display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner. An additional replica of the award will be presented to the player's academic institution.
The award, which is considered the Heisman Trophy in women's collegiate softball and is the only national player of the year award, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country. The final list is comprised of 10 players that represent seven colleges and six different conferences.
McMichael joined Tennessee rookie righthander Monica Abbott in the final 10. Joining them are Autumn Champion, Alicia Hollowell and Caitlin Lowe from Arizona, Christina Clark and Jamie Southern from Fresno State, Brooke Mitchell from Louisiana-Lafayette, Kristen Rivera from Washington and Jessica van der Linden from Florida State.
The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation's largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 91 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 240,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than three million. For more information on the ASA, visit www.asasoftball.com.
Source: MSU Media Relations