Saturday, March 4
Starkville
12:30 PM
Mississippi State
16-3
2
vs
1
Central Arkansas
5-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Central Arkansas
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
Mississippi State
1
1
0
0
0
0
X
2
6
0
Caroline Seitz's walk-off solo blast over the scoreboard in left sent MSU to Sunday's Bulldog Slamboree Championship game.
Seitz’s Walk-Off Homer Sends MSU To Slamboree Championship
March 04, 2017 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Down 5-3 in the bottom of the 12th, the Mississippi State Bulldogs needed a rally to stay in the game.
Enter Reggie Harrison and Caroline Seitz.
After a two-run homer from Samford in the top half of the inning, Harrison launched a two-run jack to center to tie the game up at 5-5. Two batters later, Seitz sent a monster solo shot over the scoreboard in left to send MSU (17-3) to a 6-5 walk-off victory against Samford (5-14) on Saturday night at Nusz Park.
With the walk-off victory against Samford and a 2-1 win against Central Arkansas (6-12) in MSU's first game of the day, State will move on to face Central Arkansas in the Bulldog Slamboree Championship game. First pitch for the contest is set for 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 5.
"It feels great," MSU coach Vann Stuedeman said. "I'm so excited for Reggie Harrison and Caroline Seitz coming through there in the bottom of the 12th. Hopefully that will propel us. We've come from behind, we've been ahead and stayed ahead, we've played in extra innings, won in extra innings. It's great to have that experience going into conference play. It's great to have had that situation and we know we can handle all of it."
The Bulldogs struck first in game one, as Olivia Golden tallied an RBI single to score Bevia Robinson, putting State up 1-0 against Central Arkansas. UCA responded the next inning, blasting a solo home run to left field to tie things up at 1-1.
UCA's lead wouldn't last long, as the Dogs turned on the pressure in the next inning. With two on, Emily Heimberger reached on a fielder's choice and scored Seitz, giving MSU a 2-1 lead.
From there, starter Regan Green and Alexis Silkwood would team up to shut down the Bears for the rest of the game. Green tossed 5.0 innings of work, striking out eight and only allowing one run on two hits to move to 3-0 on year. Silkwood threw 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out four to pick up her fourth save of the year.
Part two of State's doubleheader would provide much more drama, as MSU would compete in its second 12-inning game of the year (Feb. 12 vs. Georgia State).
Samford opened with a RBI single in the third to go up 1-0 and would hold the lead heading into the seventh. The Dogs would put two runners on, setting up a Kat Moore double to left that would bring home Katie Anne Bailey and tie the game at 1-1.
Both teams remained scoreless until the 10th, when the international tiebreaker rules kicked in, placing a runner at 2nd at the beginning of every half inning. Samford would single to bring home a runner and take a 2-1 lead. However, MSU answered back thanks to a Caroline Seitz double to left, scoring Moore. The potential winning run in Harrison rounded third and headed home, but was tagged out at the plate just in time.
Both sides traded runs in the 11th, moving the score to 3-3. State looked poised to take control in the top of the 12th, as they forced two quick outs. However, with a runner on, the visiting Bulldogs blasted a two-run homer to left and took a 5-2 lead.
State would need two to keep the game alive in the bottom half of the 12th and Harrison did just that. The junior blasted a rocket over the wall in center, scoring two runs and tying the game up at 5-5. Two batters later, Seitz would seal the deal.
On an 0-1 pitch, Seitz would blast a no-doubter over the scoreboard in left field, ending the game with a 6-5 victory in walk-off fashion.
"It's just great," Seitz said. "Silkwood threw her heart out. Everyone played their heart out. I had chills running around the bases and I could not wait until I got back to my teammates to celebrate."
"I just thought about all of us knowing we could do the same thing," said Harrison on the game's 12th inning. "I knew what I wanted to hit, I just trusted myself and my coaches, my teammates, everything."
Silkwood pitched all 12.0 innings of the second game, striking out seven and walking just three batters. She moved to 9-0 on the year, matching the best start to a season in her career (9-0, 2015).
Four total Bulldogs had multi-hit games on Saturday, while two turned in multi-RBI performances. For the whole day, Calyn Adams, Seitz and Robinson each tallied three hits, with each of their two-hit showings coming against Samford. Seitz and Harrison each turned two RBI in the winner against SU.
After Sunday's championship contest, State will close its seven-game home stand with a Tuesday night game against Troy. The 6:30 p.m. CT contest will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network, its first national softball broadcast of the 2017 season.
Scoring Plays Versus Central Arkansas…
1st Inning – Olivia Golden tallies an RBI single in the opening inning, driving home Bevia Robinson to give MSU a 1-0 lead
2nd Inning – Emily Heimberger lays down an infield hit, bringing Caroline Seitz home to break the tie and give MSU a 2-1 lead
Scoring Plays Versus Samford…
7th Inning – Kat Moore erases Samford's 1-0 lead with an RBI double to left, tying the game at 1-1 and sending the contest into extra innings
10th Inning – Playing international tiebreaker rules and down 2-1, Caroline Seitz drives home Kat Moore to bring the game back to a tie
11th Inning – An RBI courtesy of Bevia Robinson sends Sarai Niu home and once again ties up the game, this time at 3-3
12th Inning – After Samford launches a two-run homer in the top half of the inning, Reggie Harrison answers with a two-run blast to center field, tying up the game at 5-5
12th Inning – Caroline Seitz tallied her second hit of the night and it makes all the difference, as her solo shot over the scoreboard in the left delivered MSU a walk-off victory
Bulldog Home Run Tracker…
Another Game, Another Victory…
With the two wins on Saturday, the Bulldogs have now won 13-straight games, the fourth-longest streak in school history. It is the longest winning streak since the Bulldogs captured 15-in-a-row from Feb. 7-28 of 2014.
All She Does Is Win, Win, Win…
Senior Alexis Silkwood moved to 9-0 on the year with the win in the walk off. She has now tied the best start to a season in her career (9-0, 2015). She also reeled in her 53rd-career win, moving her three away from breaking Melissa Massey's (2002-05) school record of 55 victories.
Silkwood Captures Another Record…
Silkwood put her name atop another record on Saturday night. With the 12.0 inning showing, the senior set the record for most career complete games with 46. She passed Melissa Massey (2002-05), who held the record with 45.
Adams Silently Dominating At The Plate…
Calyn Adams has been a beast at the plate as of late. With a 1-for-3 showing in game one and a 2-for-3 performance in the second game, she extended her hitting streak to six-straight games. The streak set a new career high, breaking her previous record of five-straight contests with a hit.
Seitz Catching Fire At The Plate…
Caroline Seitz has been on a tear of late, tallying at least one hit in eight of her last nine contests. Her walk-off home run in the 12th against Samford was her second blast of the weekend and the season. It was also her 30th-career home run, tying Sam Lenahan for fourth in the MSU record books.
Seitz's two-RBI performance in the day's second game also gave her five multi-RBI contests this year, which leads the team.
Hit A Home Run, Win A Game…
The Bulldogs have been perfect this year when hitting one out of the park. State has hit at least one home run in eight games this season, winning all eight contests.
Live Video…
All of Mississippi State's games will be broadcasted on SEC Network +.
MSU vs. Central Arkansas (Game 5 – Sunday)
Live Stats…
Mississippi State will provide live stats for the remaining two games this weekend. Live stats can be found here or by visiting hailstate.com/livestats.
Admission…
All matches at Nusz Park this weekend, as well as the entire season, are free admission.
Promotions…
A list of this weekend's promotions are listed below.
Sunday, March 5
MSU vs. Central Arkansas (1:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
- Sunday S'mores (while supplies last)
- Free gift cards and prizes throughout the games
- Kids' Zone (weather and ground conditions permitting)
- "Kids' Day At The Park" (Sponsored by LeBonheur)
- Kids can run the bases after final game of the weekend
On Deck…
After Sunday's championship contest, State will close its seven-game home stand with a Tuesday night game against Troy. The 6:30 p.m. CT contest will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network, its first national softball broadcast of the 2017 season.
Social Media…
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".
Enter Reggie Harrison and Caroline Seitz.
After a two-run homer from Samford in the top half of the inning, Harrison launched a two-run jack to center to tie the game up at 5-5. Two batters later, Seitz sent a monster solo shot over the scoreboard in left to send MSU (17-3) to a 6-5 walk-off victory against Samford (5-14) on Saturday night at Nusz Park.
With the walk-off victory against Samford and a 2-1 win against Central Arkansas (6-12) in MSU's first game of the day, State will move on to face Central Arkansas in the Bulldog Slamboree Championship game. First pitch for the contest is set for 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 5.
"It feels great," MSU coach Vann Stuedeman said. "I'm so excited for Reggie Harrison and Caroline Seitz coming through there in the bottom of the 12th. Hopefully that will propel us. We've come from behind, we've been ahead and stayed ahead, we've played in extra innings, won in extra innings. It's great to have that experience going into conference play. It's great to have had that situation and we know we can handle all of it."
The Bulldogs struck first in game one, as Olivia Golden tallied an RBI single to score Bevia Robinson, putting State up 1-0 against Central Arkansas. UCA responded the next inning, blasting a solo home run to left field to tie things up at 1-1.
UCA's lead wouldn't last long, as the Dogs turned on the pressure in the next inning. With two on, Emily Heimberger reached on a fielder's choice and scored Seitz, giving MSU a 2-1 lead.
From there, starter Regan Green and Alexis Silkwood would team up to shut down the Bears for the rest of the game. Green tossed 5.0 innings of work, striking out eight and only allowing one run on two hits to move to 3-0 on year. Silkwood threw 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out four to pick up her fourth save of the year.
Part two of State's doubleheader would provide much more drama, as MSU would compete in its second 12-inning game of the year (Feb. 12 vs. Georgia State).
Samford opened with a RBI single in the third to go up 1-0 and would hold the lead heading into the seventh. The Dogs would put two runners on, setting up a Kat Moore double to left that would bring home Katie Anne Bailey and tie the game at 1-1.
Both teams remained scoreless until the 10th, when the international tiebreaker rules kicked in, placing a runner at 2nd at the beginning of every half inning. Samford would single to bring home a runner and take a 2-1 lead. However, MSU answered back thanks to a Caroline Seitz double to left, scoring Moore. The potential winning run in Harrison rounded third and headed home, but was tagged out at the plate just in time.
Both sides traded runs in the 11th, moving the score to 3-3. State looked poised to take control in the top of the 12th, as they forced two quick outs. However, with a runner on, the visiting Bulldogs blasted a two-run homer to left and took a 5-2 lead.
State would need two to keep the game alive in the bottom half of the 12th and Harrison did just that. The junior blasted a rocket over the wall in center, scoring two runs and tying the game up at 5-5. Two batters later, Seitz would seal the deal.
On an 0-1 pitch, Seitz would blast a no-doubter over the scoreboard in left field, ending the game with a 6-5 victory in walk-off fashion.
"It's just great," Seitz said. "Silkwood threw her heart out. Everyone played their heart out. I had chills running around the bases and I could not wait until I got back to my teammates to celebrate."
"I just thought about all of us knowing we could do the same thing," said Harrison on the game's 12th inning. "I knew what I wanted to hit, I just trusted myself and my coaches, my teammates, everything."
Silkwood pitched all 12.0 innings of the second game, striking out seven and walking just three batters. She moved to 9-0 on the year, matching the best start to a season in her career (9-0, 2015).
Four total Bulldogs had multi-hit games on Saturday, while two turned in multi-RBI performances. For the whole day, Calyn Adams, Seitz and Robinson each tallied three hits, with each of their two-hit showings coming against Samford. Seitz and Harrison each turned two RBI in the winner against SU.
After Sunday's championship contest, State will close its seven-game home stand with a Tuesday night game against Troy. The 6:30 p.m. CT contest will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network, its first national softball broadcast of the 2017 season.
Scoring Plays Versus Central Arkansas…
1st Inning – Olivia Golden tallies an RBI single in the opening inning, driving home Bevia Robinson to give MSU a 1-0 lead
2nd Inning – Emily Heimberger lays down an infield hit, bringing Caroline Seitz home to break the tie and give MSU a 2-1 lead
Scoring Plays Versus Samford…
7th Inning – Kat Moore erases Samford's 1-0 lead with an RBI double to left, tying the game at 1-1 and sending the contest into extra innings
10th Inning – Playing international tiebreaker rules and down 2-1, Caroline Seitz drives home Kat Moore to bring the game back to a tie
11th Inning – An RBI courtesy of Bevia Robinson sends Sarai Niu home and once again ties up the game, this time at 3-3
12th Inning – After Samford launches a two-run homer in the top half of the inning, Reggie Harrison answers with a two-run blast to center field, tying up the game at 5-5
12th Inning – Caroline Seitz tallied her second hit of the night and it makes all the difference, as her solo shot over the scoreboard in the left delivered MSU a walk-off victory
Bulldog Home Run Tracker…
- Reggie Harrison vs. Fresno State, Feb. 16, 2017 (0 on, 0 outs)
- Morgan Bell vs. North Florida, Feb. 24, 2017 (0 on, 0 outs)
- Reggie Harrison vs. Eastern Illinois, Feb. 24, 2017 (1 on, 1 out)
- Olivia Golden vs. Eastern Illinois, Feb. 24, 2017 (0 on, 1 out)
- Olivia Golden vs. Southern Illinois, Feb. 26, 2017 (2 on, 2 outs)
- Morgan Bell vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 28, 2017 (0 on, 2 outs)
- Olivia Golden vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 28, 2017 (0 on, 0 outs)
- Katie Anne Bailey vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 28, 2017 (1 on, 1 out)
- Caroline Seitz vs. Samford, March 3, 2017 (2 on, 1 out)
- Katie Anne Bailey vs. UMass, March 3, 2017 (0 on, 0 outs)
- Reggie Harrison vs. Samford, March 4, 2017 (1 on, 0 outs)
- Caroline Seitz vs. Samford, March 4, 2017 (0 on, 1 out)
Another Game, Another Victory…
With the two wins on Saturday, the Bulldogs have now won 13-straight games, the fourth-longest streak in school history. It is the longest winning streak since the Bulldogs captured 15-in-a-row from Feb. 7-28 of 2014.
All She Does Is Win, Win, Win…
Senior Alexis Silkwood moved to 9-0 on the year with the win in the walk off. She has now tied the best start to a season in her career (9-0, 2015). She also reeled in her 53rd-career win, moving her three away from breaking Melissa Massey's (2002-05) school record of 55 victories.
Silkwood Captures Another Record…
Silkwood put her name atop another record on Saturday night. With the 12.0 inning showing, the senior set the record for most career complete games with 46. She passed Melissa Massey (2002-05), who held the record with 45.
Adams Silently Dominating At The Plate…
Calyn Adams has been a beast at the plate as of late. With a 1-for-3 showing in game one and a 2-for-3 performance in the second game, she extended her hitting streak to six-straight games. The streak set a new career high, breaking her previous record of five-straight contests with a hit.
Seitz Catching Fire At The Plate…
Caroline Seitz has been on a tear of late, tallying at least one hit in eight of her last nine contests. Her walk-off home run in the 12th against Samford was her second blast of the weekend and the season. It was also her 30th-career home run, tying Sam Lenahan for fourth in the MSU record books.
Seitz's two-RBI performance in the day's second game also gave her five multi-RBI contests this year, which leads the team.
Hit A Home Run, Win A Game…
The Bulldogs have been perfect this year when hitting one out of the park. State has hit at least one home run in eight games this season, winning all eight contests.
Live Video…
All of Mississippi State's games will be broadcasted on SEC Network +.
MSU vs. Central Arkansas (Game 5 – Sunday)
Live Stats…
Mississippi State will provide live stats for the remaining two games this weekend. Live stats can be found here or by visiting hailstate.com/livestats.
Admission…
All matches at Nusz Park this weekend, as well as the entire season, are free admission.
Promotions…
A list of this weekend's promotions are listed below.
Sunday, March 5
MSU vs. Central Arkansas (1:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
- Sunday S'mores (while supplies last)
- Free gift cards and prizes throughout the games
- Kids' Zone (weather and ground conditions permitting)
- "Kids' Day At The Park" (Sponsored by LeBonheur)
- Kids can run the bases after final game of the weekend
On Deck…
After Sunday's championship contest, State will close its seven-game home stand with a Tuesday night game against Troy. The 6:30 p.m. CT contest will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network, its first national softball broadcast of the 2017 season.
Social Media…
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Green, Regan (3-0)
L: Reaves, Ellie (1-5)
S: Silkwood, Alexis (4)
Batting:
2B: Stirton, Hannah 1
HR: Fontillas, Krissy 1
RBI: Fontillas, Krissy 1
SH: Pratt, Audrey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fontillas, Krissy 1
Batting:
2B: Moore, Kat 1 ; Seitz, Caroline 1
RBI: Golden, Olivia 1 ; Heimberger, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Robinson, Bevia 1 ; Seitz, Caroline 1
SB: Robinson, Bevia 1 ; Heimberger, Emily 1
HBP: Bell, Morgan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
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