Friday, March 23
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
26-5, 0
2
vs
4
#7 Georgia
28-2, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Georgia
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
4
7
1
Mississippi State
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
5
0
Calyn Adams locked gave the Bulldogs the lead in the sixth inning, but Goergia rallied in the seventh to take game one of the series.
Seventh-Inning Georgia Rally Sinks MSU Softball
March 23, 2018 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Down a run, No. 21 Mississippi State softball (26-5, 2-2 SEC) rallied in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead, but No. 7 Georgia (28-2, 6-1) plated three runs in the seventh inning to capture a 4-2 win at Nusz Park to open the series Friday night.
Georgia' Brittany Gray and State's pitching duo of freshman Emily Williams and sophomore Candace Denis were locked in a pitching duel through the first five innings, combining for just six hits and one run scored until the late-inning rallies by both squads.
Five Bulldogs recorded hits in tonight's contest, but none was bigger than senior Calyn Adams' RBI double in the sixth inning to put MSU on top heading into the seventh inning.
"What a great game," said head coach Vann Stuedeman. "We had timely hitting in the bottom of the sixth. I was really impressed with that. That's the first time that Candace (Denis) and EW (Emily Williams) has been in that situation. They are going to learn and get better for it. It's only going to set us up for success in the long run."
After two scoreless innings, Georgia plated a run in the top of the third. Leading off the inning with a stand-up triple, UGA knocked a ground ball to Adams at second base. The Bulldogs elected to make the play at home, but the tag was not in time.
Georgia would hold its 1-0 lead until the sixth inning when Mississippi State rallied on two outs. Junior Emily Heimberger drew a walk before senior Carmen Carter slugged a double to center field. A Georgia error fielding the play allowed Heimberger to score to tie the game. Adams would plate the go-ahead run sending the first pitch she saw to center for an RBI double.
Before MSU's two-run rally, Georgia's Gray had only allowed two runs earned runs over 73.0 innings this season.
Mississippi State looked poised to win with a ground out at third and strike out to quickly retire two in the seventh. Down to her last strike, Alyssa DiCarlo tied the game up with one swing with a home run to right field. After a hard-hit single, Georgia would regain a lead with a two-run homer to left before Gray retired MSU in order in the bottom of the seventh to snuff out an MSU rally.
Williams, making her second start in conference play this season, tossed 3.2 innings and allowed two runs off four hits and six walks with a strikeout. Tossing 3.1 innings in relief, Denis allowed two runs off three hits and struck out four.
GEORGIA SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, March 23 – No. 7 Georgia def. No. 21 Mississippi State, 4-2
Saturday, March 24 – No. 21 Mississippi State vs. No. 7 Georgia (2 p.m. CT)
Sunday, March 24 – No. 21 Mississippi State vs. No. 7 Georgia (2 p.m. CT)
LIVE STREAM
The final two games of this weekend's series will live streamed through the SEC Network +. Fans can access the games through WatchESPN.com, the ESPN app or clicking the links below.
Game Two: Mississippi State vs. Georgia (SECN+)
Game Three: Mississippi State vs. Georgia (SECN+)
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all three games this weekend.
Mississippi State vs. Georgia Live Stats
ADMISSION
Admission to all regular-season home games at Nusz Park is free.
PROMOTIONS
SATURDAY, MARCH 24
- FREE Admission
- FREE Gift Cards & Prizes Throughout the Games
- FREE T-Shirts for ALL Bulldog Strikeouts!
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- Up to 225 Hail State Rewards Points Per Game
- 150 Bully's Kids Club Points Per Game
SUNDAY, MARCH 25TH
- GIVEAWAY: National Waffle Day! Free Chicken & Waffle Cones (While Supplies Last)
- FREE Admission
- FREE Gift Cards & Prizes Throughout the Games
- FREE T-Shirts for ALL Bulldog Strikeouts!
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- Up to 225 Hail State Rewards Points Per Game
- 150 Bully's Kids Club Points Per Game
ON DECK
Mississippi State will look to bounce back on Saturday and even the series in game two versus Georgia. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT.
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".
Georgia' Brittany Gray and State's pitching duo of freshman Emily Williams and sophomore Candace Denis were locked in a pitching duel through the first five innings, combining for just six hits and one run scored until the late-inning rallies by both squads.
Five Bulldogs recorded hits in tonight's contest, but none was bigger than senior Calyn Adams' RBI double in the sixth inning to put MSU on top heading into the seventh inning.
"What a great game," said head coach Vann Stuedeman. "We had timely hitting in the bottom of the sixth. I was really impressed with that. That's the first time that Candace (Denis) and EW (Emily Williams) has been in that situation. They are going to learn and get better for it. It's only going to set us up for success in the long run."
After two scoreless innings, Georgia plated a run in the top of the third. Leading off the inning with a stand-up triple, UGA knocked a ground ball to Adams at second base. The Bulldogs elected to make the play at home, but the tag was not in time.
Georgia would hold its 1-0 lead until the sixth inning when Mississippi State rallied on two outs. Junior Emily Heimberger drew a walk before senior Carmen Carter slugged a double to center field. A Georgia error fielding the play allowed Heimberger to score to tie the game. Adams would plate the go-ahead run sending the first pitch she saw to center for an RBI double.
Before MSU's two-run rally, Georgia's Gray had only allowed two runs earned runs over 73.0 innings this season.
Mississippi State looked poised to win with a ground out at third and strike out to quickly retire two in the seventh. Down to her last strike, Alyssa DiCarlo tied the game up with one swing with a home run to right field. After a hard-hit single, Georgia would regain a lead with a two-run homer to left before Gray retired MSU in order in the bottom of the seventh to snuff out an MSU rally.
Williams, making her second start in conference play this season, tossed 3.2 innings and allowed two runs off four hits and six walks with a strikeout. Tossing 3.1 innings in relief, Denis allowed two runs off three hits and struck out four.
GEORGIA SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, March 23 – No. 7 Georgia def. No. 21 Mississippi State, 4-2
Saturday, March 24 – No. 21 Mississippi State vs. No. 7 Georgia (2 p.m. CT)
Sunday, March 24 – No. 21 Mississippi State vs. No. 7 Georgia (2 p.m. CT)
LIVE STREAM
The final two games of this weekend's series will live streamed through the SEC Network +. Fans can access the games through WatchESPN.com, the ESPN app or clicking the links below.
Game Two: Mississippi State vs. Georgia (SECN+)
Game Three: Mississippi State vs. Georgia (SECN+)
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all three games this weekend.
Mississippi State vs. Georgia Live Stats
ADMISSION
Admission to all regular-season home games at Nusz Park is free.
PROMOTIONS
SATURDAY, MARCH 24
- FREE Admission
- FREE Gift Cards & Prizes Throughout the Games
- FREE T-Shirts for ALL Bulldog Strikeouts!
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- Up to 225 Hail State Rewards Points Per Game
- 150 Bully's Kids Club Points Per Game
SUNDAY, MARCH 25TH
- GIVEAWAY: National Waffle Day! Free Chicken & Waffle Cones (While Supplies Last)
- FREE Admission
- FREE Gift Cards & Prizes Throughout the Games
- FREE T-Shirts for ALL Bulldog Strikeouts!
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- Up to 225 Hail State Rewards Points Per Game
- 150 Bully's Kids Club Points Per Game
ON DECK
Mississippi State will look to bounce back on Saturday and even the series in game two versus Georgia. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT.
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".
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gray, Brittany (14-0)
L: Denis, Candace (3-1)
Batting:
2B: Febrey, Alysen 1
3B: Emanuel, Cortni 1
HR: DiCarlo, Alyssa 1 ; O'Neal, Mahlena 1
RBI: Milz, Justice 1 ; DiCarlo, Alyssa 1 ; O'Neal, Mahlena 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Emanuel, Cortni 1 ; DiCarlo, Alyssa 1 ; Febrey, Alysen 1 ; O'Neal, Mahlena 1
Batting:
2B: Carter, Carmen 1 ; Adams, Calyn 1
RBI: Adams, Calyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Heimberger, Emily 1 ; Carter, Carmen 1
HBP: Davidson, Mia 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16