Bulldogs Sweep St. Francis, NDSU to Advance to Tucson Regional Finals

Saturday, May 19

Tucson, Ariz.

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

37-22

St. Francis (Pa.)

39-19

Mississippi State

Saint Francis

Carmen Carter led MSU at the plate going 5-for-7 over Saturday's elimination games.

Photo by: Trevor Birchett/MSU Athletics

Bulldogs Sweep St. Francis, NDSU to Advance to Tucson Regional Finals

May 20, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 SFU Box Score SFU Box Score (PDF) NDSU Box Score NDSU Box Score (PDF)

TUCSON, Ariz. - Behind a stellar offensive performance that featured 23 runs off 30 hits over two elimination contests, Mississippi State softball (38-22) picked up victories over Saint Francis (39-19) and North Dakota State (34-19) on Saturday night to advance to the Tucson Regional Championship.

Behind the fourth-most hits in a single game in school history, the Bulldogs opened elimination Saturday with an 11-5 victory over St. Francis to advance to a rematch with the Bison. A six-run first inning sparked the ultimate 12-0 decision as Mississippi State swept the elimination games.

"We felt that we needed to make a statement today," said head coach Vann Stuedeman. "Our kids really responded. We didn't go away. We didn't want the season to be over. It was important to have some run support on the board, and it must have looked really good up there today."

The victories were the first in a regional for the Bulldogs since knocking off Weber State, 2-0, in the 2015 Lafayette Regional. The Bulldogs advance to their first regional championship under Stuedeman and the first for the program since the Austin Regional in 2005.

Senior Carmen Carter was the star at the plate over Saturday's doubleheader as she went 5-for-7 (.714) with a double, home run and four RBIs. She knocked hits in her first five plate appearances on Saturday. Junior Sarai Niu drove in five runs off three hits, including knocking the go-ahead run over SFU.

Earning the start in Saturday's opening game, Cassady Knusen (13-9) earned the victory as she tossed five innings, allowing five runs off five hits and five walks. She struck out four in the outing. Senior Holly Ward (16-9) tossed two innings of relief against SFU before picking up the complete-game win over NDSU. The right-hander tossed a total of seven innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two.

Junior Kat Moore led off Saturday's opener, hustling down the line for an infield single to shortstop. Niu gave the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead with a two-out double to the gap in right center to plate Moore.

The Bulldogs flexed the offense in the top of the second as Carter led off the inning with a double down the line to left before redshirt junior Bevia Robinson slugged her fourth triple of the season to push the Bulldog lead to 2-0. Moore picked up her second hit of the contest with single up the middle to score Robinson.

Freshman Mia Davidson chased SFU starter Abby Trahan out of the game as Davidson picked up the fourth hit of the second inning with a single to left field. Reliever Adrian Smith forced the second out of the frame with a ground out to first before Niu singled to left field to pick up her second RBI and extend State's lead to 4-0.

Junior Emily Heimberger joined the hit parade in the top of the third with a one-out single to left. After swiping second, Heimberger would come around to score on an RBI single to center from Carter.

Saint Francis would keep the Bulldogs off the board in the top of the fourth and cut into MSU's lead in the home half of the inning. After a double and MSU fielding error allowed two runners on, Taylor Hoover tripled to center before scoring on an RBI single to left from Mikayla Bower, cutting MSU's lead to 5-3.

The Red Flash loaded the bases in the fifth with help of three walks, before a two-out single up the middle by Kassidy Troxell scored two to lock the game up a 5-5.

MSU would rally with a monster sixth inning, which began with a single up the middle by Robinson. SFU would pick up two outs on a fly out and fielder's choice, but senior Morgan Bell got on board via a hit by pitch before Niu connected on her fifth homer of the season with a no doubter to left center to give the Bulldogs an 8-5 advantage.

The Bulldogs would not stop there as senior Reggie Harrison singled to left before coming home on a triple off the bat of Heimberger. Carter would cap her perfect day at the plate against SFU with a two-run homer to push the lead to 11-5.

Ward tossed two flawless frames of relief, retiring all six batters she faced with two fly outs and three groundouts to send the Bulldogs to the Saturday's second elimination game and a rematch with North Dakota State.

Mississippi State did not waste any time in Saturday's second contest as all nine Bulldogs in the batting order reached base with two outs in the first inning against North Dakota State. The insane two-out rally began with a walk to Niu and a single by Bell. Harrison plated the first run of the game with a single to center.

An NDSU errant throw on a ground ball to second sailed in the Bulldog dugout, awarding every base runner and extra base and sending Bell home. Carter, senior Calyn Adams, Robinson and Moore would knock four straight RBI singles to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead after one.

Heimberger and Harrison would spark another scoring run as the duo knocked one-out singles in the second ahead of Carter. Carter would reach base for the sixth time in her sixth plate appearance of Saturday's doubleheader with help of an NDSU error, which brought Harrison home. Adams plated the second run of the second with a sacrifice bunt, allowing Heimberger to score and extend the lead to 8-0.

MSU would take its 8-0 lead into the fifth where the Bulldogs would add four insurance runs. With two runners on, Bell would pick up an RBI with a single to left field before Harrison belted a home run to center to push the lead to 12-0.

Ward allowed just two Bison on base the entire game to pick up her ninth shutout of the season, setting a new MSU single-season record.

DUE UP
Mississippi State advances to the Tucson Regional Championship and will face the tournament host No. 9 Arizona at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday. The Bulldogs will have to knock off the Wildcats twice to advance to the program's first Super Regional.

TUCSON REGIONAL RESULTS/SCHEDULE
Friday, May 18
G1: North Dakota State def. Mississippi State, 5-4
G2: No. 9 Arizona def. St. Francis, 1-0

Saturday, May 19
G3: No. 9 Arizona def. North Dakota State, 6-0
G4: Mississippi State def. St. Francis, 11-5
G5: Mississippi State def. North Dakota State, 12-0

Sunday, May 20
G6: No. 9 Arizona vs. Mississippi State – 6 p.m. CT
G7: No. 9 Arizona vs. Mississippi State (If Necessary) – 8:30 p.m. CT

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
With its wins today, Mississippi State pick up its first victories in regional play since knocking off Weber State, 2-0 on May 16, 2015 in the Lafayette Regional. MSU has now won at least one game in regional action in four of its last five appearances.

MSU advanced to the regional championship contest for the first time under the Vann Stuedeman era. It's the first time the Bulldogs will compete for regional championship since the 2005 Austin Regional. The Bulldogs ultimately fell to No. 5 Texas, 2-0, in the finale. MSU is looking to advance to its first Super Regional in program history.

SWING SCHOOL
Over Saturday's elimination contests, Mississippi State put on a clinic at the plate, going 30-for-63 for a .476 average as a team. All nine Bulldogs in the batting order pick up hits on Saturday. Seven of MSU's hits went for extra bases as State slugged three doubles, two triples and three home runs for a .730 slugging percentage as a team. The Bulldogs outscored opponents 23-5 over Saturday's elimination games.

BANNER DAY FOR CARTER
Carmen Carter turned in a career performance at the plate for the Bulldogs over Saturday's elimination games. Carmen opened Saturday's slate going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and a home run. She is the first Bulldog to pick up four hits in a single game since Kat Moore versus Georgia on April 14, 2017.

Carmen ended the day going 5-for-7 (.714) with a double and a home run for a 1.286 slugging percentage. She picked up four RBIs and scored three runs.

WARD UP
Holly Ward made MSU history in the second elimination contest on Saturday as she picked up her ninth shutout of her senior season, which sets a new MSU single-season record. The previous record of eight held by Autumn Anderson has stood for 20 seasons, being set in 1998. Ward holds a 1.32 ERA over her senior campaign, which is the fourth lowest in program history and the lowest since Anderson's 1.07 ERA in 1998.

WATCH LIVE
Every game of the Tucson Regional will be broadcasted by EPSN though WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app with Mark Neely and Danielle Lawrie on the call. National broadcasting assignments for Sunday's regional finale will be announced tomorrow.

Arizona will provide live stats for every game of the Tucson Regional. Fans can access live stats through GameTracker as part of the NCAA's interactive bracket.

Tucson Regional Live Stats

ADMISSION
Fans looking to make their way to Arizona can still purchase both single-game and session tickets while supplies last. Ticket practices and more information can be found at ArizonaWildcats.com.

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".

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Knudsen, Cassady (13-9)

L: SMITH, Adrian (11-7)

Mississippi State

Batting:

2B: Niu, Sarai 1 ; Carter, Carmen 1

3B: Heimberger, Emily 1 ; Robinson, Bevia 1

HR: Niu, Sarai 1 ; Carter, Carmen 1

RBI: Moore, Kat 1 ; Niu, Sarai 5 ; Heimberger, Emily 1 ; Carter, Carmen 3 ; Robinson, Bevia 1

SH: Adams, Calyn 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Moore, Kat 2 ; Dorsett, Maddie 1 ; Dabbs, Grace 1 ; Niu, Sarai 1 ; Harrison, Reggie 1 ; Heimberger, Emily 2 ; Carter, Carmen 2 ; Robinson, Bevia 1