Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader to Close Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Saturday, February 24

Palm Springs, Calif.

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

12-2

San Jose State

9-6

San Jose State

Mississippi State

Holly Ward earned her sixth win of the season as she led MSU to a comeback victory over San Jose State.

Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader to Close Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

February 25, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 MSU vs. SJSU Box Score MSU vs. SJSU Box Score (PDF)MSU vs. CSF Box Score MSU vs. CSF Box Score (PDF)

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – A come-from-behind victory over San Jose State highlighted Mississippi State softball's final day of competition at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic as the Bulldogs split Saturday's doubleheader slate suffering a loss to Cal State Fullerton.

Mississippi State (12-3) trailed the Spartans 3-2 after four innings, but a four-run fifth inning sparked the Bulldogs comeback as MSU topped San Jose State (9-6), 6-4. Five Bulldog errors proved too much to overcome in the weekend finale as MSU suffered a 4-1 loss to Cal State Fullerton (6-6) to close the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a 3-1 record.

The Spartans got on the board early in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. SJSU led off the first with a single through the left side. Freshman Emily William's battled back with to pop up outs, but a two-out walk allowed two Spartans on base. An MSU error on a pick-off attempt allowed a run to score from second base before an RBI single plated the second unearned run of the inning.

SJSU led off the third with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners, forcing MSU to make a pitching change and bring in senior Holly Ward. Ward forced three straight ground outs, but one Spartan was able to cross the plate, pushing SJSU lead to 3-0.

The Bulldogs would answer in the bottom of the third as senior Calyn Adams led off the inning with a single to left center. She'd advance to second on a ground out to short and to third on a SJSU passed ball. Junior Kat Moore would plate Adams with a ground out to second base. Freshman Mia Davidson cut the lead down to one run with her fourth home run of the season as her solo blast sliced the lead to 3-2 SJSU.

The two squads would trade a scoreless fourth inning before MSU would rally with a huge offensive bottom of the fifth. The rally began with a one-out infield single to second base by Moore. Davidson followed, slugging a double to right center to move two runners into scoring position for senior Reggie Harrison. Harrison cleared the bases with a single to left field to give MSU a 4-3 lead. With two outs, MSU called on a pinch-hit appearance by senior Morgan Bell. Bell roped a homer to deep center to extend State's lead to 6-3.

The Spartans would get a run back in the top of the sixth, leading off the inning with back-to-back singles and a wild pitch and a walk to load the bases with no outs. Ward answered with a strikeout, but a fielder's choice play allowed one run to score to but the lead down to two, 6-4.

Ward would toss a shutdown seventh inning after giving up a leadoff single. The right-hander struck out two and forced a ground ball to second for a fielder's choice to retire the side and secure a second comeback victory for MSU over the weekend's slate.

Ward earned her sixth victory of the season against the Spartans. Over 5.0 innings of work she allowed one earned run off of one walk and four hits while striking out five. Williams tossed 2.0 innings, allowing six hits, one walk and one earned run. The freshman struck out two.

Against the Titans, Mississippi State defense struggled allowed three unearned runs in the loss.

Senior Cassady Knudsen had a strong stark to the game, allowing just one base runner via a walk and striking out four over the first two innings. Knudsen struck out the first two batters she saw in the top of the third, but a throwing error on a bunt attempt put at Titan on base. After a steal to move the runner into scoring position, a dropped ball at first base allowed an unearned run to score and extend the inning, giving CSF a 1-0 lead.

The Titans would score a second unearned run in the top of the fifth. After getting on board with a one out hit by pitch and error on a stolen base moved the runner to third. Knudsen would strike out the next batter for the second out, but would issue a walk to put a second Titan on board. The Titans pushed its lead to 2-0 with a double steal.

State would see just its second base runner of the game and the first since the first inning in the bottom of the fifth as junior Sarai Niu led off with a walk. Junior Emily Heimberger's one-out double to left center move two Bulldogs into scoring position. Adams would push across MSU's lone run with a ground out to second to cut the lead to 2-1.

With a one-run game in the top of the seventh, Knudsen allowed her first hit with a leadoff double followed by a hit by pitch to put a second Titan on base. Two Mississippi State errors in the inning scored two insurance runs as CSF took a 4-1 lead.

Harrison led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, but MSU was unable to string anything together and suffered its third loss of the season.

Knudsen was the unlucky victim in the loss, falling to 4-1. Taking a no-hitter into the seventh, Knudsen allowed just one earned run of one hit, two walks and two hit by pitches. The senior struck out 11 in the outing.

ON DECK
Mississippi State returns to Nusz Park on Friday, March 2 to host the Bulldog Slamboree. MSU opens the tournament with a 3:30 p.m. CT contest versus Lamar. The Bulldogs will also face Mercer and Sam Houston State over the three-day tournament.

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 def. San Jose State, 6-4
Game 5 – Cal State Fullerton def. Mississippi State, 4-1

STAYING ALIVE
Mia Davidson has now recorded a hit in all 15 of MSU's contests to open the 2018 season. She leads the Bulldogs with 23 hits and a .469 average at the plate. Reggie Harrison has reached base in all 15 contests this season and holds a reached base streak of 23 consecutive games, dating back to April 29, 2017 at Auburn.

"KKKKK"NUDSEN STRIKEOUT QUEEN
In three of her four starts this season, Cassady Knudsen has struck out at least 10 batters and has racked up 54 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched. She entered the Mary Nutter Classic with a 13.5 stirkeouts per seven inning average, which ranked second nationally. Her scoreless inning streak to start the season came to a close after 26.2 innings, which ranks as the third longest streak in MSU history behing only Autumn Anderson's 29.0 in 1998 and Alexis Silkwood's 33.1 in 2014.

MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
Head coach Vann Stuedeman recorded her 215th victory at the helm of Mississippi State softball. She is now just four 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".