Monday, April 24
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
34-15, 8-10
4
vs
3
#24 Arkansas
28-18, 6-15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Arkansas
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
8
1
Mississippi State
1
0
1
1
1
0
X
4
7
0
Alexis Silkwood had a night to remember on Monday, sealing MSU's third-straight SEC series win and getting drafted by the Akron Racers in the 2017 NPF Draft.
Silkwood Leads MSU To Third-Straight Series Win, Drafted By Akron Racers
April 24, 2017 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – You could not have asked for a better night for Mississippi State senior Alexis Silkwood.
In front of her home crowd, Silkwood led the Mississippi State Bulldogs (34-15, 8-10 SEC) to a 4-3 victory against the 24th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (28-18, 6-15 SEC), sealing a third-straight SEC series win for the Maroon and White.
Moments before she sealed her 14th win of the year, Silkwood was selected in the fifth round (24th pick) by the Akron Racers in the 2017 NPF Draft, making her the 13th Bulldog to reach the pros.
On the night, MSU's senior ace went 7.0 innings (50th-career complete game), tossing a pair of strikeouts to lead the Dogs to their third-straight SEC series win, a feat they have not accomplished since 2014. That year, State took series from No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee and Arkansas in consecutive weekends.
The visitors would not make it easy on the Dogs, as Arkansas struck first with a solo home run in the opening frame. However, much like Sunday night, the early lead would not last for long. After putting two on, State tied things up at 1-1 as a Calyn Adams RBI groundout scored Bevia Robinson.
After a silent second inning, the Maroon and White struck again. With two outs on the board, Adams and Sarai Niu put together back-to-back singles to get things going for the Dogs. A fielding error on the Razorbacks allowed Reggie Harrison to reach safely and Adams to score, giving MSU a 2-1 lead.
MSU kept it going in the fourth and fifth, tacking on a run in each. Caroline Seitz tallied an RBI single in the fourth, driving home Amanda Ivy to make it 3-1. She has now driven in 20 runs in her last nine contests.
The final insurance run came via the bat of Niu, who hit her second home run in as many days. A solo blast to left center pushed MSU's lead to 4-1 and gave the Dogs the cushion it needed to secure the win. Arkansas would attempt a rally in the sixth, scoring two runs, but would ultimately fall short.
Niu and Kat Moore led the way for MSU, each earning two hits on the night. Robinson, Seitz and Adams each tallied a hit as well. With her RBI single in the fourth, Seitz ups her career-long hitting streak to 11-straight games.
Silkwood Becomes 13th Bulldog To Reach NPF, Drafted By Akron Racers
With the 24th pick in Monday night's 2017 National Pro Fastpitch Draft, the Akron Racers selected Mississippi State's Alexis Silkwood to cap an impressive night for the senior.
"I feel just so blessed," Silkwood said. "I am so thankful for everything and everyone here that has helped me along the way. It was definitely a long road, but we're not done yet. It's just exciting to go out there with my sisters and compete."
Created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, NPF has operated since 1997. NPF has been the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women's fastpitch softball since 2002.
An East Alton, Ill., native, Silkwood becomes the 13th Bulldog to reach the pros, joining the most recent MSU draftee, Kayla Winkfield, who was taken in last year's NPF Draft by the Pennsylvania Rebellion. Currently a student assistant for the Dogs, Winkfield now plays for the Scrap Yard Dawgs, along with MSU's graduate assistant Rachel Fox.
The State ace is having a superb senior season, moving her record to 14-5 after Monday night's series clinching win against No. 24 Arkansas. This year she has set the MSU all-time records for wins (58), strikeouts (542), innings pitched (642.2), complete games (50) and appearances (139).
Silkwood and the Racers open the season on June 1 against the Chicago Bandits.
The Bulldogs will look for their fourth-straight SEC series win as they close out road play next weekend at No. 7 Auburn. Series begins Friday, April 28, 2017 at 6 p.m. CT. All three games on the weekend will be live streamed on SEC Network +.
Series Schedule Against No. 24 Arkansas…
Saturday, April 22 – Mississippi State def. No. 24 Arkansas, 3-0
Sunday, April 23 – No. 24 Arkansas def. Mississippi State, 5-4
Monday, April 24 – Mississippi State def. No. 24 Arkansas, 4-3
Scoring Plays Versus No. 24 Arkansas…
1st Inning – Calyn Adams tied things up in the first, driving home Bevia Robinson on an RBI groundout to even the game at 1-1
3rd Inning - An Arkansas fielding error would bring home Calyn Adams, putting the Dogs in front for good, 2-1
4th Inning – Caroline Seitz made it back-to-back innings that the Maroon and White tallied a run, bringing Amanda Ivy home with an RBI single
5th Inning – Sarai Niu put another insurance run on the board for MSU, hitting a home run to left center for her second bomb of the weekend.
Bulldog Home Run Tracker…
Silkwood To The Pros…
Monday night was one of the books for MSU senior Alexis Silkwood. Along with picking up win No. 13 on the year and securing State's third-straight SEC series win, the East Alton, Ill., native was drafted in the fifth round (24th overall) by the Akron Racers in the 2017 NPF Draft.
Silkwood becomes the 13th Bulldog to reach the pros, with MSU's most recent addition being former standout and current student assistant Kayla Winkfield. Winkfield was drafted last year by the Pennsylvania Rebellion and signed over the offseason with the Scrap Yard Dawgs.
Another Series Win For The Dogs…
With wins on Saturday and Monday, the Bulldogs captured their third-straight SEC series. In this stretch, State has taken two series at home (South Carolina and No. 24 Arkansas) and one on the road at No. 19 Georgia. This marks the first time since 2014 that MSU has won three-straight conference series. That year the Bulldogs earned series wins against No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee and Arkansas.
Niu Goes Back-To-Back…
For the second time in as many days, Sarai Niu sent one over the wall for the Maroon and White. This is the first time in her career that Niu has hit a home run in back-to-back games. She now has two homers this year and five for her career. Also of note, Niu hit a home run a year to this day, blasting a solo home run at No. 1 Florida (April 24, 2016).
The Arkansas Domination Continues…
With the series win on Monday night, the Bulldogs have now won five-straight series against their foes from Fayetteville. The last four have come in the Vann Stuedeman era, as she is now 9-3 against Arkansas. The Razorbacks have not won a series against MSU since 2010.
Seitz Just Keeps Hitting And Hitting And Hitting…
Caroline Seitz kept her career-long hitting streak rolling on Monday night, as her RBI single in the fourth inning extended her streak to 11-straight games. She has also been an RBI machine of late, as the senior has driven in 20 runs in her last nine contests.
Defensively Seitz has been a stud as well. With four assists in the series-clinching win, Seitz moved up to fifth place on MSU's all-time assists list with 447.
Up Next…
The Bulldogs will look for their fourth-straight SEC series win as they close out road play next weekend at No. 7 Auburn. Series begins Friday, April 28, 2017 at 6 p.m. CT. All three games on the weekend will be live streamed on SEC Network +.
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".
In front of her home crowd, Silkwood led the Mississippi State Bulldogs (34-15, 8-10 SEC) to a 4-3 victory against the 24th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (28-18, 6-15 SEC), sealing a third-straight SEC series win for the Maroon and White.
Moments before she sealed her 14th win of the year, Silkwood was selected in the fifth round (24th pick) by the Akron Racers in the 2017 NPF Draft, making her the 13th Bulldog to reach the pros.
On the night, MSU's senior ace went 7.0 innings (50th-career complete game), tossing a pair of strikeouts to lead the Dogs to their third-straight SEC series win, a feat they have not accomplished since 2014. That year, State took series from No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee and Arkansas in consecutive weekends.
The visitors would not make it easy on the Dogs, as Arkansas struck first with a solo home run in the opening frame. However, much like Sunday night, the early lead would not last for long. After putting two on, State tied things up at 1-1 as a Calyn Adams RBI groundout scored Bevia Robinson.
After a silent second inning, the Maroon and White struck again. With two outs on the board, Adams and Sarai Niu put together back-to-back singles to get things going for the Dogs. A fielding error on the Razorbacks allowed Reggie Harrison to reach safely and Adams to score, giving MSU a 2-1 lead.
MSU kept it going in the fourth and fifth, tacking on a run in each. Caroline Seitz tallied an RBI single in the fourth, driving home Amanda Ivy to make it 3-1. She has now driven in 20 runs in her last nine contests.
The final insurance run came via the bat of Niu, who hit her second home run in as many days. A solo blast to left center pushed MSU's lead to 4-1 and gave the Dogs the cushion it needed to secure the win. Arkansas would attempt a rally in the sixth, scoring two runs, but would ultimately fall short.
Niu and Kat Moore led the way for MSU, each earning two hits on the night. Robinson, Seitz and Adams each tallied a hit as well. With her RBI single in the fourth, Seitz ups her career-long hitting streak to 11-straight games.
Silkwood Becomes 13th Bulldog To Reach NPF, Drafted By Akron Racers
With the 24th pick in Monday night's 2017 National Pro Fastpitch Draft, the Akron Racers selected Mississippi State's Alexis Silkwood to cap an impressive night for the senior.
"I feel just so blessed," Silkwood said. "I am so thankful for everything and everyone here that has helped me along the way. It was definitely a long road, but we're not done yet. It's just exciting to go out there with my sisters and compete."
Created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, NPF has operated since 1997. NPF has been the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women's fastpitch softball since 2002.
An East Alton, Ill., native, Silkwood becomes the 13th Bulldog to reach the pros, joining the most recent MSU draftee, Kayla Winkfield, who was taken in last year's NPF Draft by the Pennsylvania Rebellion. Currently a student assistant for the Dogs, Winkfield now plays for the Scrap Yard Dawgs, along with MSU's graduate assistant Rachel Fox.
The State ace is having a superb senior season, moving her record to 14-5 after Monday night's series clinching win against No. 24 Arkansas. This year she has set the MSU all-time records for wins (58), strikeouts (542), innings pitched (642.2), complete games (50) and appearances (139).
Silkwood and the Racers open the season on June 1 against the Chicago Bandits.
The Bulldogs will look for their fourth-straight SEC series win as they close out road play next weekend at No. 7 Auburn. Series begins Friday, April 28, 2017 at 6 p.m. CT. All three games on the weekend will be live streamed on SEC Network +.
Series Schedule Against No. 24 Arkansas…
Saturday, April 22 – Mississippi State def. No. 24 Arkansas, 3-0
Sunday, April 23 – No. 24 Arkansas def. Mississippi State, 5-4
Monday, April 24 – Mississippi State def. No. 24 Arkansas, 4-3
Scoring Plays Versus No. 24 Arkansas…
1st Inning – Calyn Adams tied things up in the first, driving home Bevia Robinson on an RBI groundout to even the game at 1-1
3rd Inning - An Arkansas fielding error would bring home Calyn Adams, putting the Dogs in front for good, 2-1
4th Inning – Caroline Seitz made it back-to-back innings that the Maroon and White tallied a run, bringing Amanda Ivy home with an RBI single
5th Inning – Sarai Niu put another insurance run on the board for MSU, hitting a home run to left center for her second bomb of the weekend.
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 at Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 28, 2017 (0 on, 2 outs)
- Olivia Golden at Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 28, 2017 (0 on, 0 outs)
- Katie Anne Bailey at 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)
- Olivia Golden at No. 5 Texas A&M, March 10, 2017 (2 on, 1 out)
- Reggie Harrison vs. No. 8 Alabama, March 17, 2017 (1 on, 1 out)
- Calyn Adams vs. No. 12 Oklahoma, March 24, 2017 (0 on, 2 outs)
- Morgan Bell vs. South Carolina, April 9, 2017 (1 on, 1 out)
- Caroline Seitz at No. 19 Georgia, April 14, 2017 (3 on, 1 out)
- Caroline Seitz at No. 19 Georgia, April 15, 2017 (3 on, 2 outs)
- Caroline Seitz at No. 19 Georgia, April 16, 2017 (1 on, 1 out)
- Caroline Seitz at No. 19 Georgia, April 16, 2017 (0 on, 2 outs)
- Kat Moore vs. No. 24 Arkansas, April 22, 2017 (0 on, 0 outs)
- Sarai Niu vs. No. 24 Arkansas, April 23, 2017 (0 on, 0 outs)
- Sarai Niu vs. No. 24 Arkansas, April 24, 2017 (0 on, 0 outs)
Silkwood To The Pros…
Monday night was one of the books for MSU senior Alexis Silkwood. Along with picking up win No. 13 on the year and securing State's third-straight SEC series win, the East Alton, Ill., native was drafted in the fifth round (24th overall) by the Akron Racers in the 2017 NPF Draft.
Silkwood becomes the 13th Bulldog to reach the pros, with MSU's most recent addition being former standout and current student assistant Kayla Winkfield. Winkfield was drafted last year by the Pennsylvania Rebellion and signed over the offseason with the Scrap Yard Dawgs.
Another Series Win For The Dogs…
With wins on Saturday and Monday, the Bulldogs captured their third-straight SEC series. In this stretch, State has taken two series at home (South Carolina and No. 24 Arkansas) and one on the road at No. 19 Georgia. This marks the first time since 2014 that MSU has won three-straight conference series. That year the Bulldogs earned series wins against No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee and Arkansas.
Niu Goes Back-To-Back…
For the second time in as many days, Sarai Niu sent one over the wall for the Maroon and White. This is the first time in her career that Niu has hit a home run in back-to-back games. She now has two homers this year and five for her career. Also of note, Niu hit a home run a year to this day, blasting a solo home run at No. 1 Florida (April 24, 2016).
The Arkansas Domination Continues…
With the series win on Monday night, the Bulldogs have now won five-straight series against their foes from Fayetteville. The last four have come in the Vann Stuedeman era, as she is now 9-3 against Arkansas. The Razorbacks have not won a series against MSU since 2010.
Seitz Just Keeps Hitting And Hitting And Hitting…
Caroline Seitz kept her career-long hitting streak rolling on Monday night, as her RBI single in the fourth inning extended her streak to 11-straight games. She has also been an RBI machine of late, as the senior has driven in 20 runs in her last nine contests.
Defensively Seitz has been a stud as well. With four assists in the series-clinching win, Seitz moved up to fifth place on MSU's all-time assists list with 447.
Up Next…
The Bulldogs will look for their fourth-straight SEC series win as they close out road play next weekend at No. 7 Auburn. Series begins Friday, April 28, 2017 at 6 p.m. CT. All three games on the weekend will be live streamed on SEC Network +.
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: Silkwood, Alexis (14-5)
L: Autumn Storms (14-13)
Batting:
2B: Loren Krzysko 1 ; Ashley Diaz 1
HR: Tori Cooper 1
RBI: Loren Krzysko 2 ; Tori Cooper 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tori Cooper 1 ; Ashley Diaz 1 ; Sydney Parr 1
Batting:
HR: Niu, Sarai 1
RBI: Seitz, Caroline 1 ; Adams, Calyn 1 ; Niu, Sarai 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Robinson, Bevia 1 ; Adams, Calyn 1 ; Niu, Sarai 1 ; Ivy, Amanda 1
HBP: Harrison, Reggie 1 ; Ivy, Amanda 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballUTL
/ SoftballINF
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INF
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