Bulldogs Rally for Run-Rule Victory over Jacksonville State

Wednesday, April 3

Huntsville, Ala.

5:30 PM

Mississippi State

23-12

Jacksonville State

23-9

Jacksonville State

Mississippi State

Emily Heimberger turned in her fourth straight multi-hit game and slugged her first home run as a Bulldog in Wednesday's contest.

Bulldogs Rally for Run-Rule Victory over Jacksonville State

April 03, 2019 | Softball

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by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Trailing 3-0 heading into the bottom of the second, Mississippi State softball (23-12) scored 11 unanswered runs to secured an 11-3 run-rule victory over Jacksonville State (23-9) in six innings Wednesday night at the UAH Softball Complex.

The Gamecocks knocked two home runs in the second to take a 3-0 lead, but the Bulldogs plated 11 unanswered runs, highlighted by a five-run sixth inning for pick up the run-rule victory. Senior Sarai Niu walked off the win with an RBI double to left field.

For the fourth consecutive game, senior Emily Heimberger recorded a multi-hit game as she went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored while slugging the first home run of her Bulldog career. Junior Candace Denis also recorded three hits in the contest, including a double and an inside the park home run, to pick up four RBI. Niu added two hits and drove in three runs on the night.

Freshman left hander Grace Fagan earned the win in relief for the Bulldogs to improve to 5-5 on the season. Fagan tossed 4.2 innings in relief for Mississippi State, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out five.

After trading double plays in the first inning to wipe away base runners and keep the game scoreless, Jacksonville State took the early lead with a solo home run from Anna Chisolm and a two-run homer off the bat of Hayley Sims.

MSU answered in the home half of the second inning as senior Kat Moore worked a seven-pitch at bat to draw a lead-off walk before Denis doubled to right field to put two runners into scoring position. Sophomore Carter Spexarth drove in the first Bulldog run of the game with a ground out to second base to cut the lead to 3-1.

Leading the bottom of the fourth off with a hit by pitch to Moore and walk to Denis, the Gamecocks answered with two quick outs in the infield, but Niu cleared the bases with a single to right to tie the game up at 3-3.

Heimberger put the Bulldogs out in front, leading off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to center. The bomb was the first of her Bulldog career. After junior Fa Leilua drew a walk and Moore singled to right field to put two on with one out, Denis singled to center to extend the lead to 5-3. The final run of the fifth inning came home on a JSU error at shortstop.

Again, Heimberger came up big as she led off the bottom of the sixth with her third hit of the contest, a single to left field. Sophomore Mia Davidson push MSU's lead to 7-3 with a double to center. After Moore drew a one-out walk, Denis cleared the bases with an inside the park home run down the left field line. Junior Christian Quinn singled to center to represent the winning run before Niu secured the victory with a double to left field.

ON DECK
Mississippi State returns to Nusz Park this weekend, welcoming No. 7/5 LSU for a conference series. The series begins on Friday, April 5 at 6 p.m. CT. Saturday and Sunday's contests will be aired nationally on ESPNU.

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".