Morgan Bell’s Walk-Off Single Delivers Extra-Inning Victory for State

Tuesday, February 20

Starkville

5:30 PM

Mississippi State

9-1

Southeastern Louisiana

7-2

Southeastern La.

Mississippi State

Morgan Bell's RBI single in the eighth inning lifted MSU to a walk-off win over Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday.

Morgan Bell’s Walk-Off Single Delivers Extra-Inning Victory for State

February 20, 2018 | Softball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Tied up at 2-2 in the eighth inning, senior Morgan Bell delivered a timely single to left field to lift Mississippi State softball (9-1) to a 3-2 win in extra innings over Southeastern Louisiana (7-2) Tuesday night at Nusz Park.

Mississippi State held a 2-0 lead until the sixth inning, but SLU was able to lock the game up in the top of the sixth with a two-RBI double from Mahalia Gibson to ultimately force MSU's second extra-inning contest of the season. Bell's second hit of the night smoked down the left field line to score junior Kat Moore and earn the 3-2 win.

"Rachel Hayes has started every time we've played Southeastern Louisiana," head coach Vann Stuedeman said after the extra-inning win. "I was so impressed with her tonight. She threw very well. I'm glad we came out on the victory side. It's good for all of us to be in that situation. Holly [Ward] held her composure. She's showing us that she's come out her senior year to compete. Great job by Morgan [Bell] to be in that situation and to come through. It was good for us to feel those emotions. I wished we didn't have to, but we're definitely going to feel them later. Why not feel it now, so we can say we've been there and done that. I'm just really proud of our fight."

State got on the board early in the bottom of the first. After a lead-off walk from junior Emily Heimberger and a single up the middle off the bat of redshirt junior Bevia Robinson, freshman Mia Davidson cleared the bases with her team-leading fourth double of the season.

Freshman Emily Williams had a strong start in the circle, retiring the first nine batters she saw. Williams allowed just three base runners over her 5.0 innings and tied her career high with seven strikeouts.

Sophomore Candace Denis came enter the circle in the top of the sixth for her fourth relief appearance of the season. Denis gave out a lead-off single through the left side before the next Lion batter was called out for hitting out of the batter's box. Lions knocked back-to-back, one-out doubles to score two runs and lock the game up at 2-2.

The Lions had a chance in the top of the eighth to push across the go-ahead run after back-to-back lead-off bunt singles and a sacrifice bunt moved two SLU runners in scoring position with just one out. Senior Holly Ward battled back with a strikeout and forced a ground ball to senior Reggie Harrison at short to retire the side.

Moore sparked the MSU's extra-inning victory, getting on base with a one-out single up the middle. A perfectly executed hit and run by junior Sarai Niu moved Moore to third base, before Bell delivered the single down the left field line to carried MSU to a 3-2 win.

ON DECK
The Bulldogs hit the road for the first time this season as MSU travels to Palm Springs, Calif., for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. MSU opens the tournament with a doubleheader versus ranked opponents on Thursday, Feb. 22, battling No. 15 Arizona State at 3 p.m. CT before taking on #23 Nebraska at 10 p.m. CT. MSU will also face No. 16 Oklahoma State, San Jose State and Cal State Fullerton over the three-day tournament.

LION TAMERS
Tonight's victory was the seventh straight over Southeastern Louisiana and the fourth over the Lions in Starkville. Over the seven meetings, MSU has outscored the Lions 52 to 10.

STAYING ALIVE
With her first-inning double versus the Lion, Mia Davidson has now recorded a hit in all 10 of MSU's contests to open the 2018 season. She leads the Bulldogs with 15 hits and a .484 average at the plate. After only recording one hit over opening weekend, Reggie Harrison has now extended her hit streak to seven consecutive games, raising her average to .321.

LATE INNINGS = OUR INNINGS
Tonight's victory with the 12^th extra-inning win under the Vann Stuedeman era. It was the first extra-inning win for MSU since defeating Samford, 6-5, in 12 innings on March 4, 2017.

MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
Head coach Vann Stuedeman recorded her 212^th victory at the helm of Mississippi State softball. She is now just seven wins shy from tying Kathy Arendsen (1997-2002) for the second-most wins in program history. Jay Miller (2003-2011) holds the program record with 295 victories.

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".