Bulldogs Knock Off Alabama State, 3-1

Wednesday, February 20

Starkville

5:30 PM

Mississippi State

7-3

Alabama State

5-4

Alabama State

Mississippi State

Candace Denis toss four innings of no-hit softball en route to her second victory of the season.

Bulldogs Knock Off Alabama State, 3-1

February 20, 2019 | Softball

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by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Behind the slugging power of sophomore Mia Davidson and junior Fa Leilua, Mississippi State softball topped Alabama State, 3-1, Wednesday at Nusz Park to pick up the first midweek victory of the season for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs (7-3) recorded six hits, but none bigger than the two round-trip shots by Davidson and Leilua, which plated all three of MSU's runs. Davidson closed the game going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead MSU.

Junior right-hander Candace Denis turned in a strong performance in the circle against the Hornets (5-4) to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Malakoff, Texas, native took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and allowed just one run off two hits and two walks. She struck out five in the contest.

Leading off the bottom of the first, senior Emily Heimberger beat out an infield single to third and capitalized on a mishandle ball at first base to move into scoring position. Davidson homered to straightaway center for her sixth dinger of the season to push State's lead to 2-0.

The score would hold until the top of the fifth as the Hornets picked up back-to-back singles to get their first runner into scoring position. MSU would field the fielder's choice ball for the force out at second, but a sacrifice fly to right field would bring home an ASU run to cut the Bulldog lead to 2-1.

Leilua would answer in the bottom of the fifth with a home run to left center to push MSU's lead back to two runs. The homer was Leilua's seventh of the season and was her first solo shot in a Bulldog uniform.

Emily Williams tossed the final two innings of relief, sitting down all six batters she faced in order. The sophomore tallied four strikeouts in the relief appearance.

ON DECK
Mississippi State returns to action on Friday, Feb. 22 with a doubleheader to open The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament. MSU will face Georgia Tech at 3 p.m. CT before squaring off with Alcorn State at 5:30 p.m. CT.

SUPER SMASH SISTERS
For the second time this season, Mia Davidson and Fa Leilua have homered in the same game. The Bulldogs are now 2-0 in games when the duo both go yard. The two have also combined for 13 of Mississippi State's 14 home runs this season and both rank in the top five in the SEC in the category.

Davidson's homer against the Hornets was the 25^th of her career. She is just one home run shy of tying Briana Bell (2008-13) for seventh all-time in MSU history.

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".