Softball Stumbles in Game Two at No. 4 Alabama

Saturday, March 30

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

21-12, 1-7

#4 Alabama

36-1, 7-1

Mississippi State

Alabama

Emily Heimberger turned in her second multi-hit performance against Alabama with two singles Saturday.

Softball Stumbles in Game Two at No. 4 Alabama

March 30, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Box Score (PDF)

by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite having an earlier lead over No. 4 Alabama (36-1, 7-1 SEC), Mississippi State softball (21-12, 1-7 SEC) gave up three home runs as the Crimson Tide secured the series with an 8-2 win at Rhoads Stadium on Saturday.

With Mississippi State leading 1-0, Alabama knocked two, two-run homers in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 lead that the Tide would not relinquish. The Bulldogs got one run back in the first and tied the Tide with seven hits, but State left seven base runners stranded over game two of the series.

Senior Emily Heimberger turned in her second multi-hit game against the Tide as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Fellow senior Bevia Robinson also picked up two singles on Saturday. Redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson picked up an RBI with a single in the top of the first.

Freshman Kayla Boseman (2-3) earned the start as she gave up two hits a walk and three runs over a third of an inning. Freshman Grace Fagan tossed the final 5.2 innings in relief, allowing five hits, three walks and five runs while striking out four.

It was a quick start for the Bulldogs in the first as MSU loaded the bases with one out after a hit by pitch on sophomore Mia Davidson, a single to left from senior Kat Moore and a fielding error on junior Candace Denis' bunt attempt. Montana Davidson gave MSU the early lead with a single up the middle to score her sister. The Crimson Tide limited the damage to the lone run with an inning-ending double play.

The Bulldog lead was short-lived as Bailey Hemphill followed up KB Sides' one-out single up the middle with a home run to straightaway center to put Alabama in front. With a runner on via a walk, Reagan Dykes slugged the second two-run homer of the inning to give Alabama a 4-1 lead after one.

MSU bounced back in the top of the second leading off the inning with a single to left from Robinson. After Robinson swiped second, Heimberger singled to second off the glove of Skylar Walker, allowing Robinson to score to cut the Tide lead to 4-2.

Alabama led off the home half of the second inning with a walk and single up the middle from Elissa Brown to turn over the lineup. After Kaylee Tow moved both runners into scoring position with a ground out to second, a wild pitch brought home a run to extend Alabama's lead back to three.

After leading off the bottom of the fourth with a walk, Sides singled to right to plate a run and took advantage of a Bulldog error to advance herself over to third base. Sides would come around to score on a wild pitch to extend Alabama's lead to 7-2.

The final run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth as Maddie Morgan led off the inning with a solo home run to right center.

ON DECK
The series finale in Tuscaloosa is set for Sunday, March 31 at Rhoads Stadium. First pitch on the SEC Network + Is slated for 2 p.m. CT.

ALABAMA SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, March 29
Game One – No. 4/4 Alabama def. Mississippi State, 3-2 (8 inn.)

Saturday, March 30
Game Two – No. 4/4 Alabama def. Mississippi State, 8-2

Sunday, March 31
Game Three – Mississippi State at No. 4/4 Alabama – 1:30 p.m. CT

WATCH LIVE
The series finale at Alabama will be streamed on the SEC Network + via Watch ESPN and the ESPN app. Roger Hoover (play-by-play) and Rachel Bobo (analyst) will have the call.

Sunday, March 31 – Mississippi State at No. 4/4 Alabama (SEC Network +)

LIVE STATS
Alabama will provide live stats for the weekend series via SideArm Sports. Live stats may be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

ADMISSION
General admission tickets are still available for the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium. CLICK HERE to purchase.

WEATHER
Sunday: 62 Degrees – Scattered Showers (40%)

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".