Bulldogs Hold Off Southeastern Louisiana, Improve to 10-1

Thursday, February 19

Starkville

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

10-1

Southeastern Louisiana

4-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Southeastern La.	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	3	4	0
Mississippi State	3	1	0	0	0	0	X	4	6	3

Bulldogs Hold Off Southeastern Louisiana, Improve to 10-1

February 19, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – With help from a three-run home run in the first inning, Mississippi State softball used a hot start to hold off Southeastern Louisiana, 4-3, at the MSU Softball Field on Thursday.

The Bulldogs improved to 10-1 on the season, while the Lions fell to 4-4 on the 2015 campaign.

“I told them before the game that today we had to go out there and control the things we could,” head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “We did just that in the first inning with the first three at bats resulting in three runs. I'd like to see us keep our foot on the gas pedal, but the season is a marathon. We have time to put the pieces together. The more times we can feel the pressure of close games and come out on top, it will benefit us in the long run.”

Sophomore pitcher Alexis Silkwood got the start for the Bulldogs and opened the game with five strikeouts in the first two innings. Freshman hurler Cassady Knudsen played an important relief role for two outs between the sixth and seventh innings before Silkwood re-entered to finish the game to collect the win and 10 strikeouts on the day.

catcher Katie Anne Bailey led things off with a stand up double in the first followed by a junior Loryn Nichols walk. Sophomore Caroline Seitz seized the moment by ripping a three-run homer to give MSU a 3-0 advantage with no outs in the first.

Junior Kayla Winkfield led off the second inning with a slap hit over third baseman's head for a double followed by a successful stolen base attempt of third. Sophomore Amanda Ivy provided a sacrifice fly out to score Winkfield, increasing the lead 4-0.

SLU answered back with a two-run home run in the third, bringing the score to 4-2. They would score again in the fifth on a MSU rushed throw, making it 4-3. The score would get no closer as a locked in State defense kept the Lions from crossing the plate again.

The Maroon & White will have Friday off before playing a three-game set with Penn State, Saturday and Sunday, at the MSU Softball Field. The action will commence on Saturday, Feb. 21 with a Saturday doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 12 p.m. with game two to follow the conclusion of the first. Sunday's finale will begin at 1 p.m. Admission to all games at the MSU Softball Stadium is free and open to the public.

For more information on the MSU softball program, follow “HailStateSB” on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all-access coverage of the Bulldogs on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”

Postgame Notes:

Katie Anne Bailey has five doubles through eleven games this season. She had three all of last season. It is also her second game of the 2015 season with two doubles.
Caroline Seitz is now tied for Southeastern Conference lead in home runs. With her home run in the first inning, she now has six home runs on the season.
Kayla Winkfield reached base for the 11th straight game on a double in the second inning.
With her steal vs. SLU, Loryn Nichols is still perfect on the year for stolen bases with 13 swipes in 13 attempts.
Alexis Silkwood dominated Southeastern Louisiana hitters, striking out 10. Silkwood notched at least 10 strikeouts for the third time this season. She moves into first place in the SEC in strikeouts with 56 K's in 37.0 IP.
Bailey recorded a season-high 3 assists.
Nichols extended her 7 game hitting streak to 8 games.
Seitz recorded her fourth multi-RBI game of the season with two today.