No. 25 MSU Ties School Record with 17th Shutout of Season

Wednesday, April 25

Troy, Ala.

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

34-15

Troy

28-21

Mississippi State

Troy

Holly Ward's one-hit performance carries Mississippi State to its 17th shutout of the season.

No. 25 MSU Ties School Record with 17th Shutout of Season

April 25, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Box Score (PDF)

TROY, Ala. - Behind a gem of a pitching performance by senior Holly Ward, No. 25 Mississippi State softball (34-15) tossed its record-tying 17^th shutout of the 2018 season, blanking Troy (28-21), 7-0, Wednesday night at the Trojan Softball Complex.

Ward retired 13 straight Trojans to open the game, allowing just two base runners with an infield single in the fifth and a walk in the seventh inning. The right-hander struck out nine in the outing to record MSU's 17th shutout of the season, which ties the 1998 pitching staff for the most over a single-season in MSU history.

Juniors Emily Heimberger and Kat Moore turned in two-hit outing for the Bulldogs, both picking up two RBIs each in the outing Freshman Mia Davidson reached base in all four plate appearances with a single and three walks.

After a scoreless first, junior Sarai Niu led off the second with a single to left field. Senior Carmen Carter followed with a double to left field, but the Trojans threw out Niu at third for the first out. Redshirt junior Bevia Robinson drew a two-out walk to put runners on the corners before Heimberger cleared the bases with a double to center to put the Bulldogs on top 2-0.

The Bulldogs would go down in order in the third and fourth, but State broke through with a huge fifth inning. Heimberger and freshman Mia Davidson led off the inning with back-to-back singles, before Moore picked up an RBI with a single up the middle. Senior Reggie Harrison doubled to left center to clear the bases and push the lead to 5-0. Senior Calyn Adams capped the four-run inning with a sacrifice fly to center.

MSU put two runners in scoring position to lead off the sixth with back-to-back walks and advancing on an error. Moore knocked State's second sacrifice fly of the game to extend the lead to 7-0.

The Trojans got just their second base runner of the game with a one-out walk, but Ward shut the door with a strikeout and ground out to shortstop for the record-tying win.

HURTS SO GOOD
Sarai Niu was struck by a pitch for the ninth time of her junior season in tonight's contest versus Troy to bring her career HBP total to 35, moving her into third outright in MSU history. Briana Bell (2008-13) holds the program of 55.

WARD UP
With tonight's victory, Holly Ward recorded her 35^th victory of her career, earning her a spot on the career wins chart.

5^th            Shutouts                                  12
T5th        Saves                                          7
6^th            Strikeouts                               335
6^th            Opponent Batting Avg.   .232
T6th        Solo No-Hitter                      1
9^th            Innings Pitched                   412.2
9^th            Strikeouts per 7 inn.         5.69
T9th        Wins                                           35

ON DECK
Mississippi State will continue its road swing with its final road series in conference play, heading to Columbia, S.C., to take on the No. 5 Gamecocks. The series opener is set for Friday, April 27 at 5 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +.