Saturday, February 17
Starkville
1:30 PM
Mississippi State
7-1
6
vs
3
South Alabama
4-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
South Alabama
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
3
5
2
Mississippi State
2
0
0
0
0
4
X
6
9
2
Mississippi State softball scored four runs in the sixth inning to mount a come-back win over South Alabama.
Sixth-Inning Rally Lifts Softball over South Alabama; State vs. Drake Rescheduled for Sunday
February 17, 2018 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Mississippi State softball (7-1) scored four runs to earn a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over South Alabama (4-3) Friday afternoon at Nusz Park.
With two outs on the scoreboard, junior left fielder Emily Heimberger singled up the middle to plate the tying and go-ahead runs. The Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the inning to give senior Holy Ward a cushion in the circle before the right-hander tossed a perfect frame in the seventh for her third win of the season.
With freshman pitcher Emily Williams in the circle, South Alabama led off the game with a Kaleigh Todd single though the left side. Todd would advance to second on an infield groundout before stealing third. Mia Davidson's throw down to third on the steal attempt sailed into the outfield, allowing Todd to score and give USA an 1-0 advantage.
Davidson would help cut the deficit in the bottom of the first, getting on board with a hit by pitch before senior shortstop Reggie Harrison singled through the left side to move Davidson into scoring position. Junior infielder Sarai Niu then loaded the bases with her 27th career hit by pitch. Down in the final strike of the inning, junior outfielder Kate Moore singled to left center to drive in two runs and give State a 2-1 lead.
South Alabama and MSU would trade two scoreless innings before the Jaguars would lock the game up in the top of the fourth. A single and one-out walk would put two Jaguars on base before head coach Vann Stuedeman called for a pitching change, bringing in sophomore Candace Denis into the circle.
Denis would load the bases on a fielder's choice as redshirt junior third baseman Bevia Robinson was unable to place a tag on an infielder grounder. Denis forced another ground ball to third that Robinson rocketed to Davidson at home to record the second out of the inning to prevent a run scoring, but a bases-loaded walk would lock the game up at 2-2.
The Jaguars took advantage of a Mississippi State fielding error for an extra out in the top of the fifth and pushed across the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly.
Trailing by one, senior second baseman Calyn Adams led off the top of the sixth with a double to center field and was immediately lifted for sophomore pinch runner Maddie Dorsett. Robinson flashed her speed to leg out a double to shallow left to put two Bulldogs into scoring position.
Denis would knock a grounder to second, but South Alabama chose to make the play at home and tagged out Dorsett to keep State off the board. After Denis swiped second, Heimberger singled up the middle to score two and put the Dogs back out top 4-3.
Davidson landed a picture-perfect triple just fair in right field to score Heimberger. South Alabama's throw from the outfield was off target and allowed Davidson to come home on the play to give MSU a 6-3 lead.
Pitching the final three innings, Ward tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning to improve to 3-1 on the year. Ward struck out four and allowed just two hits in the relief appearance.
ON DECK
Weather once again disrupted the schedule as the Bulldogs' rematch with Drake was washed out. The two teams will now play on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. CT.
2018 February Freezer Results
Friday, Feb. 16
Game 1 – Murray State def. Drake, 5-3
Game 2- Mississippi State def. Murray State, 6-1
Game 3 – Drake def. Mississippi State, 1-0 (8)
Saturday, Feb. 17
Game 4 – Murray State def. South Alabama, 4-1
Game 5 – Mississippi State def. South Alabama, 6-3
Sunday, Feb. 18
Game 6 – Drake vs. South Alabama – 9 a.m. CT
Game 7 – Mississippi State vs. Drake – 11 a.m. CT
Game 8 – South Alabama vs. Murray State – 1 p.m. CT
EIGHT STRAIGHT
Mia Davidson has now hit in eight-straight contests after a 1-for-2 outing versus South Alabama. Davidson either lead or is tied for the team lead in batting average (.542), slugging percentage (1.083), on-base percentage (.571), runs scored (11), hits (13), RBIs (8), doubles (3), triples (2) and home runs (2).
WARD-RIOR
After dropping a tough extra-innings loss last night, Holly Ward bounced back in a relief appearance and continued her dominating start to her senior campaign. Over 23.0 innings of work, Ward has struck out 27 and has allowed just 11 hits and five walks. The senior has not allowed an earned run this season and still holds a perfect 0.00 ERA.
PITCH PERFECT
MSU pitching staff has been dealing heat over the first two weekend of the season. Allowing just 20 hits, only two have gone for extra-bases. The MSU pitching staff has held opponents to an .111 average at the plate.
Follow the Dawgs
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".
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With two outs on the scoreboard, junior left fielder Emily Heimberger singled up the middle to plate the tying and go-ahead runs. The Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the inning to give senior Holy Ward a cushion in the circle before the right-hander tossed a perfect frame in the seventh for her third win of the season.
With freshman pitcher Emily Williams in the circle, South Alabama led off the game with a Kaleigh Todd single though the left side. Todd would advance to second on an infield groundout before stealing third. Mia Davidson's throw down to third on the steal attempt sailed into the outfield, allowing Todd to score and give USA an 1-0 advantage.
Davidson would help cut the deficit in the bottom of the first, getting on board with a hit by pitch before senior shortstop Reggie Harrison singled through the left side to move Davidson into scoring position. Junior infielder Sarai Niu then loaded the bases with her 27th career hit by pitch. Down in the final strike of the inning, junior outfielder Kate Moore singled to left center to drive in two runs and give State a 2-1 lead.
South Alabama and MSU would trade two scoreless innings before the Jaguars would lock the game up in the top of the fourth. A single and one-out walk would put two Jaguars on base before head coach Vann Stuedeman called for a pitching change, bringing in sophomore Candace Denis into the circle.
Denis would load the bases on a fielder's choice as redshirt junior third baseman Bevia Robinson was unable to place a tag on an infielder grounder. Denis forced another ground ball to third that Robinson rocketed to Davidson at home to record the second out of the inning to prevent a run scoring, but a bases-loaded walk would lock the game up at 2-2.
The Jaguars took advantage of a Mississippi State fielding error for an extra out in the top of the fifth and pushed across the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly.
Trailing by one, senior second baseman Calyn Adams led off the top of the sixth with a double to center field and was immediately lifted for sophomore pinch runner Maddie Dorsett. Robinson flashed her speed to leg out a double to shallow left to put two Bulldogs into scoring position.
Denis would knock a grounder to second, but South Alabama chose to make the play at home and tagged out Dorsett to keep State off the board. After Denis swiped second, Heimberger singled up the middle to score two and put the Dogs back out top 4-3.
Davidson landed a picture-perfect triple just fair in right field to score Heimberger. South Alabama's throw from the outfield was off target and allowed Davidson to come home on the play to give MSU a 6-3 lead.
Pitching the final three innings, Ward tossed a 1-2-3 seventh inning to improve to 3-1 on the year. Ward struck out four and allowed just two hits in the relief appearance.
ON DECK
Weather once again disrupted the schedule as the Bulldogs' rematch with Drake was washed out. The two teams will now play on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. CT.
2018 February Freezer Results
Friday, Feb. 16
Game 1 – Murray State def. Drake, 5-3
Game 2- Mississippi State def. Murray State, 6-1
Game 3 – Drake def. Mississippi State, 1-0 (8)
Saturday, Feb. 17
Game 4 – Murray State def. South Alabama, 4-1
Game 5 – Mississippi State def. South Alabama, 6-3
Sunday, Feb. 18
Game 6 – Drake vs. South Alabama – 9 a.m. CT
Game 7 – Mississippi State vs. Drake – 11 a.m. CT
Game 8 – South Alabama vs. Murray State – 1 p.m. CT
EIGHT STRAIGHT
Mia Davidson has now hit in eight-straight contests after a 1-for-2 outing versus South Alabama. Davidson either lead or is tied for the team lead in batting average (.542), slugging percentage (1.083), on-base percentage (.571), runs scored (11), hits (13), RBIs (8), doubles (3), triples (2) and home runs (2).
WARD-RIOR
After dropping a tough extra-innings loss last night, Holly Ward bounced back in a relief appearance and continued her dominating start to her senior campaign. Over 23.0 innings of work, Ward has struck out 27 and has allowed just 11 hits and five walks. The senior has not allowed an earned run this season and still holds a perfect 0.00 ERA.
PITCH PERFECT
MSU pitching staff has been dealing heat over the first two weekend of the season. Allowing just 20 hits, only two have gone for extra-bases. The MSU pitching staff has held opponents to an .111 average at the plate.
Follow the Dawgs
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".
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ward, Holly (3-1)
L: Brown, Devin (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Reid, Brittani 1
RBI: Gulledge, Dayla 1 ; Cabral, Lyric 1
SF: Cabral, Lyric 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Todd, Kaleigh 1 ; Flynn, Amanda 1 ; Reid, Brittani 1
SB: Todd, Kaleigh 1
Batting:
2B: Harrison, Reggie 1 ; Adams, Calyn 1 ; Robinson, Bevia 1
3B: Davidson, Mia 1
RBI: Heimberger, Emily 2 ; Davidson, Mia 1 ; Moore, Kat 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Heimberger, Emily 1 ; Davidson, Mia 2 ; Harrison, Reggie 1 ; Robinson, Bevia 1 ; Denis, Candace 1
SB: Heimberger, Emily 2 ; Robinson, Bevia 1 ; Denis, Candace 2
HBP: Davidson, Mia 1 ; Niu, Sarai 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
rf/p
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ SoftballC/INF
/ SoftballP/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
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