Friday, April 19
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
26-18, 0
0
vs
21
#17 Ole Miss
31-11, 0
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Ole Miss
9
4
3
3
2
21
17
0
Mississippi State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Mississippi State bounced back with a 6-0 shutout to even up the weekend series versus Ole Miss.
Photo by: Trevor Birchett/MSU Athletics
Bulldogs Split Friday Doubleheader with No. 17/16 Ole Miss
April 19, 2019 | Softball
by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – After suffering the worst loss of the season in game one of Friday's doubleheader, Mississippi State softball (27-18, 4-13 SEC) responded, shutting out No. 16/17 Ole Miss (32-12, 10-6 SEC) by a 6-0 final in game two at Nusz Park to even the series.
Ole Miss opened the series with a 21-0 run-rule victory over the Bulldogs in five innings. The Rebels scored in every inning of the contest, including plating nine runs in the first inning. Amanda Roth led Ole Miss in the series opener, going 3-for-3 with three doubles and five RBI. Jessica Puk drove in four runs for Ole Miss with a home run and a triple.
The Bulldogs saw four base runners in the opening contest with help of three walks and a lone base hit from senior Emily Heimberger, who singled to shallow center to lead off the third inning.
Junior Candace Denis was tagged with her first loss of the season, falling to 3-1. She tossed a third of an inning, allowed eight runs, four earned, off three hits and two walks. She struck out one.
In game two of Friday's doubleheader, Mississippi State responded quickly in the bottom of the first. Heimberger led off the inning with a triple to right center before coming home on junior Fa Leilua's sacrifice fly to center, her third sac fly of the season.
The Bulldogs broke open the game in the bottom of the second, Denis led off the inning with a bunt single to first base before redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson singled to center to put two on board for senior Sarai Niu.
Niu sent a pitch back up the middle to pick up an RBI. Senior Bevia Robinson laid down a bunt single in front of home plate to load the bases for the top of the order. Heimberger singled through the right side to drive in two runs. The Rebels would turn an inning-ending double play, but Robinson scored from third before the final out was made to extend MSU's lead to 5-0.
The final run of the contest came in the bottom of the fifth. After senior Kat Moore reached safely with a single to left, freshman Anna Kate Segars found a hole through the right side for her first hit in Southeastern Conference play and first career RBI.
Sophomore Emily Williams was the hero in the circle for State as she improved to 9-6 on the season with her fourth complete-game shutout. Over seven innings, Williams allowed four walks and four hits, while striking out seven. She forced seven fly outs and six ground outs to keep the Rebels off the board and even up the series.
Saturday's series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT first pitch on the SEC Network +. Following the game, Mississippi State will honor its 2019 senior class of Bevia Robinson, Kat Moore, Emily Heimberger, Sarai Niu and Taylor Kelly in a special post-game ceremony.
OLE MISS SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, April 19
Game One - No. 17/16 Ole Miss def. Mississippi State, 21-0 [5 inn.]
Game Two -Mississippi State def. Ole Miss, 6-0
Friday, April 20
Game Three - Mississippi State vs. No. 17/16 Ole Miss – 1p.m. CT
WATCH LIVE
Saturday's series finale will be streamed on the SEC Network + with Anthony Craven (play-by-play) and Mississippi State softball alumna Morgan Bell on the call.
Saturday, April 20 – Mississippi State vs. No. 17/16 Ole Miss (SEC Network + )
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for the series finale via StatBroadcast. Live stats may be accessed by visiting www.msu.statbroadcast.com.
ADMISSION
Admission to all regular-season home contests at Nusz Park is FREE.
PROMOTIONS
Saturday, April 20
WEATHER
Saturday: 66 Degrees – Sunny (0%)
ON DECK
Mississippi State rounds out its home schedule at Nusz Park next weekend with a three-game series versus Missouri. The home finale begins on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +. Saturday and Sunday's contests against the Tigers will feature a national broadcast on the SEC Network .
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".
STARKVILLE – After suffering the worst loss of the season in game one of Friday's doubleheader, Mississippi State softball (27-18, 4-13 SEC) responded, shutting out No. 16/17 Ole Miss (32-12, 10-6 SEC) by a 6-0 final in game two at Nusz Park to even the series.
Ole Miss opened the series with a 21-0 run-rule victory over the Bulldogs in five innings. The Rebels scored in every inning of the contest, including plating nine runs in the first inning. Amanda Roth led Ole Miss in the series opener, going 3-for-3 with three doubles and five RBI. Jessica Puk drove in four runs for Ole Miss with a home run and a triple.
The Bulldogs saw four base runners in the opening contest with help of three walks and a lone base hit from senior Emily Heimberger, who singled to shallow center to lead off the third inning.
Junior Candace Denis was tagged with her first loss of the season, falling to 3-1. She tossed a third of an inning, allowed eight runs, four earned, off three hits and two walks. She struck out one.
In game two of Friday's doubleheader, Mississippi State responded quickly in the bottom of the first. Heimberger led off the inning with a triple to right center before coming home on junior Fa Leilua's sacrifice fly to center, her third sac fly of the season.
The Bulldogs broke open the game in the bottom of the second, Denis led off the inning with a bunt single to first base before redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson singled to center to put two on board for senior Sarai Niu.
Niu sent a pitch back up the middle to pick up an RBI. Senior Bevia Robinson laid down a bunt single in front of home plate to load the bases for the top of the order. Heimberger singled through the right side to drive in two runs. The Rebels would turn an inning-ending double play, but Robinson scored from third before the final out was made to extend MSU's lead to 5-0.
The final run of the contest came in the bottom of the fifth. After senior Kat Moore reached safely with a single to left, freshman Anna Kate Segars found a hole through the right side for her first hit in Southeastern Conference play and first career RBI.
Sophomore Emily Williams was the hero in the circle for State as she improved to 9-6 on the season with her fourth complete-game shutout. Over seven innings, Williams allowed four walks and four hits, while striking out seven. She forced seven fly outs and six ground outs to keep the Rebels off the board and even up the series.
Saturday's series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT first pitch on the SEC Network +. Following the game, Mississippi State will honor its 2019 senior class of Bevia Robinson, Kat Moore, Emily Heimberger, Sarai Niu and Taylor Kelly in a special post-game ceremony.
OLE MISS SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, April 19
Game One - No. 17/16 Ole Miss def. Mississippi State, 21-0 [5 inn.]
Game Two -Mississippi State def. Ole Miss, 6-0
Friday, April 20
Game Three - Mississippi State vs. No. 17/16 Ole Miss – 1p.m. CT
WATCH LIVE
Saturday's series finale will be streamed on the SEC Network + with Anthony Craven (play-by-play) and Mississippi State softball alumna Morgan Bell on the call.
Saturday, April 20 – Mississippi State vs. No. 17/16 Ole Miss (SEC Network + )
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for the series finale via StatBroadcast. Live stats may be accessed by visiting www.msu.statbroadcast.com.
ADMISSION
Admission to all regular-season home contests at Nusz Park is FREE.
PROMOTIONS
Saturday, April 20
- Easter Egg Hunt
- Senior Day
WEATHER
Saturday: 66 Degrees – Sunny (0%)
ON DECK
Mississippi State rounds out its home schedule at Nusz Park next weekend with a three-game series versus Missouri. The home finale begins on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +. Saturday and Sunday's contests against the Tigers will feature a national broadcast on the SEC Network .
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".
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brittany Finney (12-5)
L: Denis, Candace (3-1)
Batting:
2B: Kylan Becker 1 ; Autumn Gillespie 1 ; Amanda Roth 3
3B: Jessica Puk 1 ; Katelin Cooper 1
HR: Jessica Puk 1 ; Autumn Gillespie 1
RBI: Kylan Becker 1 ; Abbey Latham 3 ; Jessica Puk 5 ; Autumn Gillespie 1 ; Kaylee Horton 1 ; Katelin Cooper 2 ; Amanda Roth 5 ; Tate Whitley 1 ; Mikayla Allee 1 ; Gabby Alvarez 1
SH: Tate Whitley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kylan Becker 3 ; Abbey Latham 1 ; Ally Mena 1 ; Jessica Puk 2 ; Brittany Finney 2 ; Kelsha Loftin 1 ; Autumn Gillespie 3 ; Kaylee Horton 3 ; Amanda Roth 2 ; Tate Whitley 1 ; Mikayla Allee 2
SB: Kylan Becker 1
HBP: Autumn Gillespie 1 ; Amanda Roth 1 ; Tate Whitley 1 ; Mikayla Allee 1
Base Running:
HBP: Denis, Candace 1 ; Davidson, Mia 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
p/lf
AB
1
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
0
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballP/UT
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballOF/1B
/ Softball
P
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