Bulldog Softball Notches 9-4 Comeback Victory over #16 Oklahoma State

Friday, February 23

Palm Springs, Calif.

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

11-2

#18 Oklahoma State

9-5

Mississippi State

Oklahoma State

Sarai Niu knocked two doubles for four RBIs in MSU's win over #16 Oklahoma State

Bulldog Softball Notches 9-4 Comeback Victory over #16 Oklahoma State

February 23, 2018 | Softball

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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Trailing 3-0 after two innings, Mississippi State softball (11-2) mounted a comeback over No. 16 Oklahoma State (9-5) to notch a 9-4 victory, taking down a second ranked opponent over the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

Junior Sarai Niu drove in four runs off two hits to lead the Bulldogs. Junior Kat More and redshirt junior Bevia Robinson both knocked three hits each in the contest with Robinson scoring a team-high three runs.

Freshman Emily Williams earned the start as the right-handed allowed three runs over three hits and three hits over 1.1 innings of work. Only one of OSU's three runs were earned as Williams struck out one. Senior Holly Ward tossed the final 5.2 innings for the Bulldogs. Ward allowed one unearned run off four hits and struck out 10 Cowgirls to improve to 5-2.

Oklahoma State loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with a single and two walks. A bases-loaded, two-out walk would bring home OSU's only earned run of the game and give the Cowgirls an early lead.

With two runners on with a single and hit by pitch, a MSU throwing error on a bunt single borough home two Cowgirls to push Oklahoma State's lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the second. Ward entered the game and struck out back-to-back batters to prevent any additional runs.

The Bulldogs led off the top of the third with back-to-back singles from Robinson and Moore. After a fielder's choice for the first out, senior Reggie Harrison singled through the left side to plate Robinson and cut OSU's lead to 3-1. Niu followed with a laser to left field as her RBI double plated the second run of the inning.

Freshman O'Neil Roberson locked the game up at 3-3 with a RBI single through the right side before Emily Heimberger singled through the left side to score a run to put the Bulldogs on top 4-3.

Robinson's second hit of the game came in the top of the fourth as she led off the inning with her first collegiate home run. After a Davidson's single and OSU error on a fielder's choice allowing Harrison to get on board safely, Niu cleared the bases again with a two-RBI double to put MSU on top 7-3.

The Cowgirls got a run back in the bottom of the fourth with help of three straight singles and a MSU error to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 7-4.

Senior Calyn Adams led off the fifth reaching safely on an OSU error. Robinson singled through the right side and a second error by the Cowgirls in the inning allowed pinch runner freshman Grace Dabbs to score from first. Moore brought home the final run of the game with an RBI single to shortstop.

Ward allowed two Cowgirls on via hit by pitch in the bottom of the seventh, but her 10^th strikeout of the game retired the side as MSU knocked off its second ranked opponent in under 24 hours.

ON DECK
MSU closes the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Saturday, Feb. 24 with a doubleheader against Cal State Fullerton and San Jose State. First pitch versus SJSU is slated for 7 p.m. CT. MSU will take on Cal State Fullerton at 9:30 p.m. CT.

2018 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Results

Thursday, Feb. 22
Game 1 – Arizona State def. Mississippi State, 3-1
Game 2 – Mississippi State def. No. 23 Nebraska, 9-0 (5 inn.)

Friday, Feb. 23
Game 3 – Mississippi State def. No. 16 Oklahoma State, 9-4

Saturday, Feb. 24
Game 4 – Mississippi State vs. San Jose State – 7 p.m. CT
Game 5 – Mississippi State vs. Cal State Fullerton – 9:30 p.m. CT

DAWGS DON'T ROLL OVER
With two wins over ranked opponents during the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, Mississippi State has 35 wins over ranked teams in the Vann Stuedeman era. This weekend also marks the first time since May 5-6, 2017 that MSU has knocked off ranked opponents in back-to-back games. The Bulldogs topped No. 16 Kentucky by 6-2 and 5-3 finals.

COMEBACK DAWGS
Trailing by three runs after two innings, MSU overcame its first three-run deficit since 2015 when the Bulldogs topped Florida, 5-3, on March 29, 2015 after trailing the Gators by three runs.

STAYING ALIVE,
Mia Davidson has now recorded a hit in all 13 of MSU's contests to open the 2018 season. She leads the Bulldogs with 20 hits and a .465 average at the plate. After only recording one hit over opening weekend, Reggie Harrison has now extended her hit streak to 10 consecutive games, raising her average to .308. Harrison has reached base in 21 consecutive games. Her streak dates back to April 29, 2017 at Auburn.

MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
Head coach Vann Stuedeman recorded her 214^th victory at the helm of Mississippi State softball. She is now just five 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.

WATCH LIVE
All five contests will be streamed via FloSoftball, which requires a paid subscription to stream.

LIVE STATS
Live stats can be found HERE or by visiting msu.statbroadcast.com. Links will be updated throughout the weekend.

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".