Softball Sweeps The Day to Clinch Series Win vs. Penn State

Saturday, February 21

Starkville

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

11-1

Penn State (DH-1)

6-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Penn State	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	3	4	4
Mississippi State	4	0	0	0	3	2	X	9	6	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Penn State	2	0	3	0	0	0	5	10	2
Mississippi State	3	0	5	0	2	X	10	13	0

Softball Sweeps The Day to Clinch Series Win vs. Penn State

February 22, 2015 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Even bad weather couldn't stop the Mississippi State softball team today, as by the time heavy rainfall reached Starkville, the Bulldogs took both games in Saturday's doubleheader vs. Penn State.

Mississippi State (12-1) defeated Penn State (6-6) by a combined score of 19-8 at the MSU Softball Stadium in just 12.1 innings of play.

“I thought the team did a great job handling the conditions today against a tough Penn State team,” hitting coach Samantha Ricketts said. “The offense answered back multiple times and the whole line up contributed in both games. We are looking forward to another good game tomorrow against a competitive team.”

GAME ONE: MSU 9, Penn State 3
With one out in the first, junior Loryn Nichols started the MSU attack by reaching base and taking second base on an error. After senior Julia Echols was hit-by-pitch and a double steal occurred, Nichols crossed home for the game's first run when sophomore Caroline Seitz reached on an error. With a 2-0 count, sophomore Mackenzie Toler blasted a three-run home run over the wall in left center, giving the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.

Penn State responded in the top of the fourth inning with a three run home-run off sophomore Alexis Silkwood, bringing the score to 4-3.

Senior Erika Gaul launched a two-run bomb over the left-field fence in the bottom of the sixth to give the Bulldogs some insurance. Senior Ashley Phillips reached base on a walk and was batted in by sophomore Amanda Ivy. The three-run inning for the Bulldogs extended their lead to 7-3.

Echols provided additional cushion with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. Gaul batted in Seitz, who reached on one of the game's four Nittany Lion errors. Gaul's RBI put the count at its final tally, 9-3.

Silkwood (8-0) earned the win in a complete game effort, while recording eight strikeouts and allowing three runs on four hits.

Marissa Diescher (2-2) took the loss for the Nittany Lions, having pitched four innings, she gave up five earned runs and two unearned, while also walking five Bulldogs

GAME TWO: MSU 10, Penn State 5 (6)
Following a two-run first inning for Penn State, a double by Seitz drove in two Bulldogs. Gaul followed suit with a double of her own, driving Seitz in from second base and giving the Maroon & White a 3-2 lead.

The Nittany Lions used a solo home run, a passed ball and a RBI double to tally three runs in the top of the third to regain the lead and set the score at 5-3.

State wouldn't wait long to respond. In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs used alertness on the base paths to force and take advantage of Penn State errors. On seven hits, MSU plated five runs while batting around and took an 8-5 edge that wouldn't be relinquished.

Sophomore Katie Anne Bailey doubled off the wall in center field to drive in Ivy in the bottom of the fifth. A single by Seitz brought Bailey home and brought the score to 10-5.

The game was called with one out in the top of the sixth inning because of rain.

Holly Ward (4-1) earned the win in a complete-game outing that lasted 5.1 innings. Ward gave up five runs, four earned, while also having struck out three batters and walked two. Marlaina Laubach (2-1) received the loss for Penn State after she gave up eight runs, five of which were earned, in 2.1 innings pitched.

With the Saturday sweep, MSU now leads the all-time series between the two sides, 3-2. The two sides will close their three-game weekend set on Sunday at noon CT. The game will air on SEC Network+.

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.”