No. 21 MSU Walks Off 5-4 Win Against No. 7 Georgia to Even Series

Saturday, March 24

Starkville

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

27-5, 0

#7 Georgia

28-3, 0

Georgia

Mississippi State

A Kat Moore single forced Georgia to make an errant throw in the seventh inning, allowing Maddie Dorsett to score for a walk-off win.

No. 21 MSU Walks Off 5-4 Win Against No. 7 Georgia to Even Series

March 24, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Box Score (PDF)

STARKVILLE, Miss. – After allowing No. 7 Georgia (28-3, 6-2 SEC) to tie the game in the top of the seventh, No. 21 Mississippi State (27-5, 3-2) took advantage of an errant throw on junior Kat Moore's infield single to walk off a 5-4 victory at Nusz Park on Saturday afternoon to even the series.

Moore led MSU at the plate going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Her biggest hit of the night came in the bottom of the seventh as she singled to the pitcher advancing the winning run to third base. Pinch runner sophomore Maddie Dorsett took advantage of an errant throw at first to score the winning run on the play.

"Kat (Moore) is a spark plug on the field and off the field," said head coach Vann Stuedeman. "She's so fun to be around. She was having trouble getting the drag bunt, but the game knows. She gets that swinging bunt and makes it happen. It's tough to defend because it takes everyone by surprise."

Senior Holly Ward grinding it out in the circle for the Bulldogs. Over six innings of work, she allowed four runs off nine hits and three walks, while striking out five. Ward stranded base runner after base runner to preserve Mississippi State's lead until the seventh inning.

Cassady Knudsen recorded the final three outs of the game, allowing just one hits and one walk to earn the victory as the senior improved to 10-2 in the circle.

It was the Mississippi State Bulldogs that scored first in the game two of the series. Moore sent the first pitch she saw to left center for a single before freshman Mia Davidson slugged her 11^th home run of the season to give State a 2-0 lead.

Junior Sarai Niu earned a free base with a one-out hit by pitch and senior Reggie Harrison took advantage with a home run to center to give MSU a 4-0 lead after one.

State would hold its 4-0 lead until the fourth inning. Georgia loaded the bases with one out with help of two walks and a single. Jordan Doggett cut the lead in half, plating two runs on a single through the left side. Georgia added its third run in the top of the fifth after a leadoff double and RBI single up the middle by Alysen Febrey.

In the top of the seventh, Alyssa DiCarlo singled up the middle to lead off the inning, forcing MSU to bring Knudsen in from the bullpen. With one out, Knudsen issued a walk to move the tying run into scoring position. Knudsen answered with a fly out to left field and quickly got two strikes on Ciara Bryan, but Bryan would single to right field to bring in a run to lock the game at 4-4.

MSU stormed right back, leading off the bottom of the seventh with a single through the left side off the bat of senior Calyn Adams, who was lifted for pinch runner Dorsett. Redshirt junior Bevia Robinson beat out a single to third base, before Moore's swinging bunt back to the pitcher and Georgia throwing error plated the winning run in walk-off fashion.

HURTS SO GOOD
For the 33^rd time in her career, Sarai Niu was hit by a pitch. She now stands tied with Keri McCallum (1997-00) for third all-time in program history for hit by pitches. Briana Bell (2008-13) holds the program record at 55.

BOMB SQUAD
Mississippi State has hit 29 home runs over 32 games, surpassing 2017's season grand total of 28. The Bulldogs have turned in 10 multi-home run games this season. Freshman Mia Davidson leads the team after slugging her 11^th home run of the season in Saturday's win against Georgia. Davidson stands at eight outright in single-season history and is just two homers away from moving into a four-way tie for fifth.

THESE DAWGS DON'T ROLL OVER
Mississippi State did not let a late-inning Georgia rally shift momentum and earned the program's fourth walk-off victory of the season. The win was also the 36^th over a ranked opponent during the Vann Stuedeman era as MSU improved to 3-2 against Top 25 programs this season.

GEORGIA SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, March 23 – No. 7 Georgia def. No. 21 Mississippi State, 4-2
Saturday, March 24 – No. 21 Mississippi State def. No. 7 Georgia, 5-4
Sunday, March 24 – No. 21 Mississippi State vs. No. 7 Georgia (2 p.m. CT)

LIVE STREAM
The final two game 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 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
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
With the series tied, it will all come down to Sunday's finale. 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".