TALLAHASSEE, FLA. ? Christi Musser went 2-for-2 with her third homer of the season as Kansas University’s softball team beat 22nd-ranked Mississippi State, 4-3, on Sunday in Florida State’s Sunshine Classic.
It was KU’s third win this season over a ranked team.
Musser, KU’s senior left fielder, hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning, and the Jayhawks added single runs in the second and third for a 4-0 lead.
Senior third baseman Megan Urquhart scored in the second on a single, a fly out, a wild pitch and a wild throw from MSU catcher Jennifer Waterman.
Freshman first baseman Lindsey Weinstein scored in the third when she reached on an error, moved to third on Musser’s bunt and scored when Musser was caught stealing second.
MSU pulled to 4-2 on Iyhia McMichael’s two-run homer in the fifth. Mississippi State added a single run in the top of the seventh to set the margin.
Freshman Serena Settlemier (3-2) picked up the win, allowing all three earned runs off nine hits over the full seven innings. She struggled early, allowing two hits before recording an out in the first, but followed that by retiring the side.
KU, which played just two games in what was supposed to be a four-game tournament shortened by rain, improved to 5-7.
Mississippi State fell to 12-7.
Kansas 4, Mississippi State 3
Mississippi State 000 020 1 3 9 4
Kansas 211 000 x 4 5 0
Melissa Massey, Kellie Wilkerson (7) and Jennifer Waterman; Serena Settlemier and Katie Campbell, Dani May. W Settlemier, 3-2. L Massey, 2-3.
HR Iyhia McMichael, MSU; Christi Musser, Kansas.
Highlights MSU: Wilkerson 3-for-3, 2 runs; Jennifer Nelson 2-for-4; McMichael 2-for-4, 3 RBIs. Kansas: Musser 2-for-2, 1 run, 2 RBIs; Leah Tabb 2-for-3.