Bulldog Rally Falls Short as Gamecocks Take Series Opener

Friday, April 27

Columbia, S.C.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

34-16, 6-13

#14 South Carolina

39-11, 12-7

Mississippi State

South Carolina

Redshirt junior Bevia Robinson led MSU at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three singles.

Bulldog Rally Falls Short as Gamecocks Take Series Opener

April 27, 2018 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Box Score (PDF)

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 25 Mississippi State (34-16, 6-13 SEC) put the tying run on board in the top of the seventh, but couldn't complete the comeback attempt at No. 13 South Carolina (39-11, 12-7 SEC) took game one of the series, 5-2, Friday night.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when South Carolina took the lead off a solo home run, but the Bulldogs battles back with two runs in the sixth to take the lead. A four-run sixth inning put the Gamecocks back in front, but State did not quit, loading the bases in the seventh to put pressure on USC defense.

Senior Holly Ward turned in another strong performance in the circle, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing just two runs off five hits. The right-hander picked up three strikeouts on the night. Senior Cassady Knudsen was tagged with the loss, falling to 12-7. Knudsen allowed three runs off four hits and walk in the sixth inning.

At the plate, State was led by redshirt junior Bevia Robinson, who went 3-for-3 on Friday night.

The Gamecocks put two on the base paths to lead off the first inning with a hit by pitch and single to left. Freshman Mia Davidson recorded the first out of the inning, zipping a throw to third for her 10^th caught stealing of the season before Ward answered with a strikeout and forcing a foul out behind the plate.

Both teams had a scoring opportunity in the third. Robinson flashed her speed, beating out an infield single and stealing second to be the first Bulldog to reach scoring position in the game, but the Gamecocks retired the side to keep MSU off the board.

South Carolina led off the bottom of the third with a Krystan White double, but Ward forced three straight infield ground outs, including two comebacks to the circle, to keep the game scoreless.

USC took advantage of an MSU error to lead off the fourth, but the Bulldogs turned a crucial 4-6-3 double play to clear the bases right before Kennedy Clark knocked the second Gamecock double of the game. Once again, Ward snuffed out the scoring chance with help of her third strikeout of the game.

MSU tried to work a two-out rally magic in the top of the fifth with a walk to senior Calyn Adams and Robinson's second single of the game to turn over the lineup, but a strikeout left both runners stranded. The Gamecocks broke the stalemate in the bottom of the inning with a lead-off home run off the bat of Jana Johns. The homer was the first allowed by Ward over her senior season.

The Bulldogs responded in the top of the sixth with back-to-back, one-out walks to junior Kat Moore and senior Reggie Harrison. Junior Sarai Niu locked the game up at 1-1 with a single to right field, bring Moore home before advancing to second on the play.

South Carolina recorded the second out of the inning with a play at home to keep the game tied. Senior Morgan Bell put the Bulldogs on top with an RBI single to right field to score the go-ahead run before the Gamecocks made an out at third to retire the side.

The back-and-forth battle continued in the bottom of the sixth as USC led off the inning with a double down the right field line, forcing MSU to bring Knudsen into the game. Cayla Drotar knocked a hot shot to left field, but junior Emily Heimberger made the snag before crashing into the wall to prevent a run from scoring.

After a one-out walk, the Gamecocks pushed the tying run across with a single to left before regaining the lead with a squeeze bunt play at the plate. A sacrifice fly and an RBI single to left field capped USC's four-run inning, giving the Gamecocks a 5-2 lead heading into the seventh.

The Bulldogs got the tying run on base, loading the bases with singles by Robinson, Heimberger and Moore, but the Gamecocks flipped to third on a fielder's choice to shortstop for the final out to end the comeback attempt.

SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, April 27 – No. 13 South Carolina def. No. 25 Mississippi State, 5-2
Saturday, April 28 – No. 25 Mississippi State at No. 13 South Carolina (11 a.m. CT)
Sunday, April 29 – No. 25 Mississippi State at No. 13 South Carolina (12 p.m. CT)

WATCH LIVE
The final two games of the weekend series at South Carolina will be available on WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app. Saturday's contest will features a national broadcast on the SEC Network with Melissa Lee and Leigh Dakich on the call.

Saturday, April 28 – No. 25 Mississippi State at No. 13 South Carolina (SECN)
Sunday, April 29 – No. 25 Mississippi State at No. 13 South Carolina (SECN+)

LIVE STATS
South Carolina will provide live stats for the final two games of the weekend series, which may be accessed through the link below.

No. 25 Mississippi State at South Carolina Live Stats

ADMISSION
Tickets for this weekend's series at the Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field can be purchased online. Single-game tickets are $7 for adults and #4 for youth.

ON DECK
No. 25 Mississippi State looks to even the series tomorrow with game two of the series. First pitch on the SEC Network is set for 11 a.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".