Friday, April 26
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
28-19, 0
8
vs
3
Missouri
29-19, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Missouri
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
3
5
0
Mississippi State
0
0
0
7
1
0
X
8
11
1
Fa Leilua turned in her 15th multi-hit game of the season with three singles against Missouri on Friday.
Seven-Run Fourth Lifts Bulldogs to 8-3 Victory over Missouri
April 26, 2019 | Softball
by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Facing a 3-0 deficit after three innings, Mississippi State softball (28-19, 5-15 SEC) drove in seven runs over the fourth inning en route to defeating Missouri (29-19, 10-9 SEC) in the series opener Friday night at Nusz Park.
Four Bulldogs turned in multi-hit performances led by junior Fa Leilua, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles. Senior Sarai Niu picked up two hits, including a double, to drive in two runs. Senior Emily Heimberger also turned in a multi-RBI performance with a two-run double in the fourth.
Sophomore Emily Williams tossed the complete game to improve to 10-7 on the season. Over her seven innings of work, the right hander allowed just three runs off five hits and seven walks. She stranded 10 base runners over the contest.
After exchanging two scoreless innings, Missouri struck first in the top of the third. After a fielder's choice erased a lead-off single, a two-out walk move a Tiger into scoring position. Missouri captilized with a two-out single to left field from Hatti Moore.
The Tigers extended its lead in the fourth getting two runners on via a Kolby Romaine one-out single to center and a walk. A Bulldog error at third base loaded up the bases for the Tigers with the top of the order due up. Brooke Wilmes knocked an RBI single through the right side, while a bases-loaded walk extended the Missouri lead to 3-0.
Mississippi State delivers most of its damage in the bottom of the fourth. Leilua sparked the comeback, leading off with a single through the left side followed up by a single to right field from senior Kat Moore. Junior Candace Denis loaded the bases with a tricky infield single between first and second base.
Redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson plated the first Bulldog run of the inning with a single to right field. Niu slugged the first pitch of her at bat back up the middle to pick up an RBI and pull the Bulldogs within one. Back-to-back hit by pitches with the bases loaded scored the tying and go-head runs.
Heimberger delivered the big blow of the inning with a double to right field to extend the lead to 6-3. The final run of the inning came off of sophomore Mia Davidson's fourth sacrifice fly of the season. The RBI of Davidson's 56th of the season, which ties All-American Courtney Bures for third in MSU single-season history.
MSU's final run of the contest came in the bottom of the fifth. After Montana Davidson led off with a single to left field, Niu double to right center to plate pinch runner freshman Jamie Gregg to give MSU a comfortable 8-3 lead that Williams would preserve in the circle.
The Bulldogs return to the diamond against the Tigers on Saturday, April 27 at 3 p.m. CT. MSU is searching for its first series win in conference play.
MISSOURI SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, April 26
Mississippi State def. Missouri, 8-3
Saturday, April 27
Mississippi State vs. Missouri – 3 p.m. CT
Sunday, April 28
Mississippi State vs. Missouri – 12 p.m. CT
WATCH LIVE
The final two games of the series will be aired nationally on the SEC Network with Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Kayla Braud (analyst) in the booth.
Saturday, April 27 – Mississippi State vs. Missouri (SEC Network)
Sunday, April 28 – Mississippi State vs. Missouri (SEC Network)
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all three games of the weekend series. 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
Friday, April 27
Friday, April 28
WEATHER
Saturday: 78 Degrees – Mostly Sunny (10%)
Sunday: 77 Degrees – Cloudy (0%)
ON DECK
Mississippi State closes out the regular season next weekend as the Bulldogs trek to Gainesville for a three-game series versus No. 7/10 Florida. The finale weekend of the regular season begins on Friday, May 3 at 5 p.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".
STARKVILLE – Facing a 3-0 deficit after three innings, Mississippi State softball (28-19, 5-15 SEC) drove in seven runs over the fourth inning en route to defeating Missouri (29-19, 10-9 SEC) in the series opener Friday night at Nusz Park.
Four Bulldogs turned in multi-hit performances led by junior Fa Leilua, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with three singles. Senior Sarai Niu picked up two hits, including a double, to drive in two runs. Senior Emily Heimberger also turned in a multi-RBI performance with a two-run double in the fourth.
Sophomore Emily Williams tossed the complete game to improve to 10-7 on the season. Over her seven innings of work, the right hander allowed just three runs off five hits and seven walks. She stranded 10 base runners over the contest.
After exchanging two scoreless innings, Missouri struck first in the top of the third. After a fielder's choice erased a lead-off single, a two-out walk move a Tiger into scoring position. Missouri captilized with a two-out single to left field from Hatti Moore.
The Tigers extended its lead in the fourth getting two runners on via a Kolby Romaine one-out single to center and a walk. A Bulldog error at third base loaded up the bases for the Tigers with the top of the order due up. Brooke Wilmes knocked an RBI single through the right side, while a bases-loaded walk extended the Missouri lead to 3-0.
Mississippi State delivers most of its damage in the bottom of the fourth. Leilua sparked the comeback, leading off with a single through the left side followed up by a single to right field from senior Kat Moore. Junior Candace Denis loaded the bases with a tricky infield single between first and second base.
Redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson plated the first Bulldog run of the inning with a single to right field. Niu slugged the first pitch of her at bat back up the middle to pick up an RBI and pull the Bulldogs within one. Back-to-back hit by pitches with the bases loaded scored the tying and go-head runs.
Heimberger delivered the big blow of the inning with a double to right field to extend the lead to 6-3. The final run of the inning came off of sophomore Mia Davidson's fourth sacrifice fly of the season. The RBI of Davidson's 56th of the season, which ties All-American Courtney Bures for third in MSU single-season history.
MSU's final run of the contest came in the bottom of the fifth. After Montana Davidson led off with a single to left field, Niu double to right center to plate pinch runner freshman Jamie Gregg to give MSU a comfortable 8-3 lead that Williams would preserve in the circle.
The Bulldogs return to the diamond against the Tigers on Saturday, April 27 at 3 p.m. CT. MSU is searching for its first series win in conference play.
MISSOURI SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, April 26
Mississippi State def. Missouri, 8-3
Saturday, April 27
Mississippi State vs. Missouri – 3 p.m. CT
Sunday, April 28
Mississippi State vs. Missouri – 12 p.m. CT
WATCH LIVE
The final two games of the series will be aired nationally on the SEC Network with Tiffany Greene (play-by-play) and Kayla Braud (analyst) in the booth.
Saturday, April 27 – Mississippi State vs. Missouri (SEC Network)
Sunday, April 28 – Mississippi State vs. Missouri (SEC Network)
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all three games of the weekend series. 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
Friday, April 27
- BYOG [Bring Your Own Grill] – Hot Dogs provided for those with a Grill
- Starkville Parks and Rec Day
- Tennis Ball Toss Post-Game for various prizes including a YETI Coolers
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- Up to 225 HSR Points
- 150 BKC Points
Friday, April 28
- Bark in the Park presented by Dog Pound Printing
- Bandanas for Dogs // Dogs get to run on the field post-game
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- Up to 225 HSR Points
- 150 BKC Points
WEATHER
Saturday: 78 Degrees – Mostly Sunny (10%)
Sunday: 77 Degrees – Cloudy (0%)
ON DECK
Mississippi State closes out the regular season next weekend as the Bulldogs trek to Gainesville for a three-game series versus No. 7/10 Florida. The finale weekend of the regular season begins on Friday, May 3 at 5 p.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".
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Williams, Emily (10-7)
L: Madi Norman (14-8)
Batting:
RBI: Brooke Wilmes 1 ; Jazmyn Rollin 1 ; Hatti Moore 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brooke Wilmes 1 ; Delaney McDannold 1 ; Kendyll Bailey 1
Batting:
2B: Heimberger, Emily 1 ; Niu, Sarai 1
RBI: Heimberger, Emily 2 ; Davidson, Mia 1 ; Davidson, Montana 1 ; Niu, Sarai 2 ; Segars, Anna Kate 1 ; Robinson, Bevia 1
SF: Davidson, Mia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dabbs, Grace 1 ; Moore, Kat 1 ; Denis, Candace 1 ; Davidson, Montana 1 ; Gregg, Jamie 1 ; Niu, Sarai 1 ; Segars, Anna Kate 1 ; Robinson, Bevia 1
HBP: Segars, Anna Kate 1 ; Robinson, Bevia 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C/INF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballP/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
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