No-Hitter Helps Softball Split With Troy
September 28, 2015 | Softball
TROY, Ala. – Looking to use the fall season to grow, the Mississippi State softball team split a road doubleheader with Troy on Sunday as sophomore Holly Ward tossed a no-hitter in game two.
Facing former MSU assistant coach (2012-14) and 2015 Sun Belt Co-Coach of the Year Beth Mullins, the Bulldogs dropped game one, 3-2, in nine innings, before taking game two, 7-0.
“Today was a good chance to compete against a quality opponent,” said head coach Vann Stuedeman. “I am really pleased with the performance from Cassady Knudsen and Holly Ward, highlighted by Ward's first collegiate no-hitter. Ward benefited from two defensive double plays and some great second base play from Calyn Adams.”
Sophomore Morgan Bell led the way for the Bulldog offense as she provided a double and a home run, in addition to two runs scored on the day.
GAME ONE: Troy 3, MSU 2 (9 innings)
Sophomore Cassady Knudsen got the start in the circle for State in game one and shined from the first pitch as she struck out five of the first seven batters she faced.
In the home half of the third, Troy capitalized with a pair of doubles to end the scoreless affair and take a 1-0 lead. Both defenses and pitching staffs kept opposing hitters in check for nearly the entire game.
Down to their final out in the seventh, the Bulldogs threatened with a double from Bell. A Troy error allowed sophomore Calyn Adams to reach base on the very next at bat and pinch runner Amanda Ivy to score from second, tying the game at one.
State jumped out front in the eighth on a double from freshman Madison Cousineau which scored classmate Emily Heimberger. The Trojans answered in their half of the inning to extend the game.
Troy put things to rest in the ninth with a solo homer to give the Trojans a 3-2 walk-off win to cap off the back-and-forth affair.
Knudsen finished with eight strikeouts in seven innings of work and surrendered two runs, both earned, on four hits. Junior Alexis Silkwood received the loss for MSU as she allowed the game-winning shot in the ninth.
GAME TWO: MSU 7, Troy 0
Already warmed up after game one, the Bulldog bats came alive from the start as a trio of hits and a pair of Troy errors allowed MSU to plate three runs in the first.
With defense and pitching having controlled the next five innings, the score remained 3-0 in favor of State until the final frame.
Freshman Sabrina Turner and senior Kayla Winkfield led off the seventh with walks before an error allowed senior Loryn Nichols to reach base and freshman Kat Moore to score as a pinch runner. A passed ball then plated Nichols and Bell continued her hot day with a two-run home run to left to cap the four-run inning.
Ward went the full seven innings for the complete-game no-hit victory and struck out five in the process, along with having walked five.
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