Sunday, May 7
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
36-19, 10-14
7
vs
10
#16 Kentucky
35-16, 12-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 1 |
| Mississippi State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 5 |
MSU celebrated its 2017 senior class on Sunday in an 11-inning battle with No. 16 Kentucky.
Bulldogs Fall In 11-Inning Thriller To Close Regular Season
May 07, 2017 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – In an 11-inning battle that featured tremendous heart and grit, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (36-19, 10-14 SEC) fell in a 10-7 thriller to the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats (35-16, 12-12 SEC) on Sunday afternoon at Nusz Park.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs still captured the series, their fourth SEC series win of the year. That is the most since MSU won four series in head coach Vann Stuedeman's first season in 2012.
The Bulldogs earned a trio of multi-hit showings, led by senior Olivia Golden. Golden tied her career high with three hits, the second such performance of her career. Sarai Niu and Emily Heimberger each turned in a pair of hits, marking their ninth and fifth multi-hit games this year, respectively.
Along with MSU's multi-hit performers, senior Caroline Seitz kept her career-high hitting streak going. Her third inning single moved her to 17-straight games with a hit, tying for the ninth-longest hitting streak in school history.
Kentucky opened up the game with a three-run first inning. A double steal of second and home opened the scoring, before an RBI double and RBI single pushed the Cats to an early 3-0 advantage.
After Amanda Ivy made two unbelievable catches in the third, including robbing a for-sure Kentucky home run in right center, singles from Madison Cousineau and Seitz set up MSU's first run of the game. With runners on the corners, Golden drove home Ivy on a single to right, cutting the UK lead to 3-1.
Both sides would trade runs in the fifth, as Kentucky hit a solo home run and Morgan Bell drove home Reggie Harrison with a sac fly to left. UK extended its lead to 5-2 in the sixth, with a scoring error bringing home a run. MSU would get that run back in the home half as Ivy singled home Katie Anne Bailey, cutting the Wildcat lead down to 5-3 heading to the final frame.
Kentucky tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh and seemed poised to run away with the game, up 7-3. However, as has always been the case with this Bulldog softball squad, it's never over until it's over.
A pair of singles, a fielder's choice and hit by pitch got things going for State in the bottom half of the seventh. With the bases loaded, Bailey took one of MSU's three HBPs in the inning, bringing home Maddie Dorsett to cut the lead to 7-4. Ivy would draw a walk on the next at-bat and Bevia Robinson would reach on a fielder's choice right after, scoring two more runs and whittling the UK down to one at 7-6. After Seitz took the innings final HBP, Harrison drew a bases-loaded walk to complete the comeback and tie things up at 7-7.
From there, both sides would go to extras, with each team putting up numerous threats to score. It wasn't until the 11th that a team would break through, as UK used four hits and an MSU error to plate three runs and take a 10-7 lead. MSU put two on in the home half with two outs on the board, but the Wildcats just escaped, securing a 10-7 win and avoiding the sweep.
With Sunday's result, the Bulldogs will enter this week's SEC Tournament in Knoxville as the ninth seed, setting up a showdown with in-state rival Ole Miss. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 10 and will be nationally televised on SEC Network. This is MSU's fourth-straight appearance in the conference tournament and 16th in school history. Wednesday's game will be the first meeting between MSU and Ole Miss in SEC Tournament history.
Series Schedule Against No. 16 Kentucky…
Friday, May 5 – Mississippi State def. No. 16 Kentucky, 6-2
Saturday, May 6 – Mississippi State def. No. 16 Kentucky, 5-3
Sunday, May 7 –No. 16 Kentucky def. Mississippi State, 10-7 (11)
Scoring Plays Versus No. 16 Kentucky…
3rd Inning – Olivia Golden got the Bulldogs on the board in the third, driving home Amanda Ivy with an RBI single to right to cut UK's lead to 3-1
5th Inning – Morgan Bell brought home MSU's second run with a sac fly, bringing the UK lead down to 4-2
6th Inning – Amanda Ivy recorded the first of her two RBI on the day, singling up the middle to score Katie Anne Bailey and bring Kentucky's lead to 5-3
7th Inning – MSU began its rally in the seventh, loading the bases and bringing home the inning's first run with an HBP to push Maddie Dorsett home
7th Inning – UK would bring home another MSU run, this time with Amanda Ivy drawing the walk and plating Morgan Bell, cutting UK's lead to 7-5
7th Inning – Bevia Robinson cut the lead down to one with by reaching on a fielder's choice and driving home Emily Heimberger, cutting the Wildcat lead to 7-6
7th Inning – MSU completed the comeback as Reggie Harrison drew another bases-loaded walk, scoring Ivy and tying the game at 7-7
Seitz Keeps Her Hitting Streak Alive…
With a single in the third, Caroline Seitz extended her career-high hitting streak to 17-straight games. That ties for the ninth-longest hitting streak by an MSU player in school history.
Golden Shines At The Plate…
Olivia Golden tallied her second three-hit performance of her career on Sunday, while driving in MSU's first run of the game in the third with an RBI single. Golden also earned seven at-bats, which sets a new career high.
Fourth-Straight SEC Tourney Appearance Set For State…
With Sunday's result, the Bulldogs will enter this week's SEC Tournament in Knoxville as the ninth seed, setting up a showdown with in-state rival Ole Miss. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 10 and will be nationally televised on SEC Network. This is MSU's fourth-straight appearance in the conference tournament and 16th in school history. Wednesday's game will be the first meeting between MSU and Ole Miss in SEC Tournament history.
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".
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs still captured the series, their fourth SEC series win of the year. That is the most since MSU won four series in head coach Vann Stuedeman's first season in 2012.
The Bulldogs earned a trio of multi-hit showings, led by senior Olivia Golden. Golden tied her career high with three hits, the second such performance of her career. Sarai Niu and Emily Heimberger each turned in a pair of hits, marking their ninth and fifth multi-hit games this year, respectively.
Along with MSU's multi-hit performers, senior Caroline Seitz kept her career-high hitting streak going. Her third inning single moved her to 17-straight games with a hit, tying for the ninth-longest hitting streak in school history.
Kentucky opened up the game with a three-run first inning. A double steal of second and home opened the scoring, before an RBI double and RBI single pushed the Cats to an early 3-0 advantage.
After Amanda Ivy made two unbelievable catches in the third, including robbing a for-sure Kentucky home run in right center, singles from Madison Cousineau and Seitz set up MSU's first run of the game. With runners on the corners, Golden drove home Ivy on a single to right, cutting the UK lead to 3-1.
Both sides would trade runs in the fifth, as Kentucky hit a solo home run and Morgan Bell drove home Reggie Harrison with a sac fly to left. UK extended its lead to 5-2 in the sixth, with a scoring error bringing home a run. MSU would get that run back in the home half as Ivy singled home Katie Anne Bailey, cutting the Wildcat lead down to 5-3 heading to the final frame.
Kentucky tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh and seemed poised to run away with the game, up 7-3. However, as has always been the case with this Bulldog softball squad, it's never over until it's over.
A pair of singles, a fielder's choice and hit by pitch got things going for State in the bottom half of the seventh. With the bases loaded, Bailey took one of MSU's three HBPs in the inning, bringing home Maddie Dorsett to cut the lead to 7-4. Ivy would draw a walk on the next at-bat and Bevia Robinson would reach on a fielder's choice right after, scoring two more runs and whittling the UK down to one at 7-6. After Seitz took the innings final HBP, Harrison drew a bases-loaded walk to complete the comeback and tie things up at 7-7.
From there, both sides would go to extras, with each team putting up numerous threats to score. It wasn't until the 11th that a team would break through, as UK used four hits and an MSU error to plate three runs and take a 10-7 lead. MSU put two on in the home half with two outs on the board, but the Wildcats just escaped, securing a 10-7 win and avoiding the sweep.
With Sunday's result, the Bulldogs will enter this week's SEC Tournament in Knoxville as the ninth seed, setting up a showdown with in-state rival Ole Miss. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 10 and will be nationally televised on SEC Network. This is MSU's fourth-straight appearance in the conference tournament and 16th in school history. Wednesday's game will be the first meeting between MSU and Ole Miss in SEC Tournament history.
Series Schedule Against No. 16 Kentucky…
Friday, May 5 – Mississippi State def. No. 16 Kentucky, 6-2
Saturday, May 6 – Mississippi State def. No. 16 Kentucky, 5-3
Sunday, May 7 –No. 16 Kentucky def. Mississippi State, 10-7 (11)
Scoring Plays Versus No. 16 Kentucky…
3rd Inning – Olivia Golden got the Bulldogs on the board in the third, driving home Amanda Ivy with an RBI single to right to cut UK's lead to 3-1
5th Inning – Morgan Bell brought home MSU's second run with a sac fly, bringing the UK lead down to 4-2
6th Inning – Amanda Ivy recorded the first of her two RBI on the day, singling up the middle to score Katie Anne Bailey and bring Kentucky's lead to 5-3
7th Inning – MSU began its rally in the seventh, loading the bases and bringing home the inning's first run with an HBP to push Maddie Dorsett home
7th Inning – UK would bring home another MSU run, this time with Amanda Ivy drawing the walk and plating Morgan Bell, cutting UK's lead to 7-5
7th Inning – Bevia Robinson cut the lead down to one with by reaching on a fielder's choice and driving home Emily Heimberger, cutting the Wildcat lead to 7-6
7th Inning – MSU completed the comeback as Reggie Harrison drew another bases-loaded walk, scoring Ivy and tying the game at 7-7
Seitz Keeps Her Hitting Streak Alive…
With a single in the third, Caroline Seitz extended her career-high hitting streak to 17-straight games. That ties for the ninth-longest hitting streak by an MSU player in school history.
Golden Shines At The Plate…
Olivia Golden tallied her second three-hit performance of her career on Sunday, while driving in MSU's first run of the game in the third with an RBI single. Golden also earned seven at-bats, which sets a new career high.
Fourth-Straight SEC Tourney Appearance Set For State…
With Sunday's result, the Bulldogs will enter this week's SEC Tournament in Knoxville as the ninth seed, setting up a showdown with in-state rival Ole Miss. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 10 and will be nationally televised on SEC Network. This is MSU's fourth-straight appearance in the conference tournament and 16th in school history. Wednesday's game will be the first meeting between MSU and Ole Miss in SEC Tournament history.
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: Larissa Spellman (2-2)
L: Ward, Holly (7-9)
Batting:
2B: Katie Reed 1 ; Brooklin Hinz 1 ; Alex Martens 1
HR: Brooklin Hinz 1
RBI: Brooklin Hinz 2 ; Abbey Cheek 1 ; Alex Martens 3 ; Jenny Schaper 1
SH: Bailey Vick 1 ; Jenny Schaper 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Katie Reed 2 ; Bailey Vick 2 ; Brooklin Hinz 3 ; Breanne Ray 1 ; Abbey Cheek 1 ; Sarah Rainwater 1
SB: Katie Reed 1 ; Bailey Vick 2 ; Sarah Rainwater 2
HBP: Breanne Ray 1
Batting:
RBI: Robinson, Bevia 1 ; Harrison, Reggie 1 ; Golden, Olivia 1 ; Bell, Morgan 1 ; Bailey, Katie Anne 1 ; Ivy, Amanda 2
SF: Bell, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harrison, Reggie 1 ; Dorsett, Maddie 1 ; Bell, Morgan 1 ; Heimberger, Emily 1 ; Bailey, Katie Anne 1 ; Ivy, Amanda 2
CS: Bell, Morgan 1
HBP: Seitz, Caroline 1 ; Bell, Morgan 1 ; Bailey, Katie Anne 1
Game Leaders
lf/rf
AB
7
R
0
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballINF
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