Friday, April 5
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
24-12, 0
6
vs
0
#7 LSU
31-8, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Mississippi State | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 6 | 7 | 0 |
Emily Williams handed No, 7/5 LSU its first shutout loss with her complete-game performance.
Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics
Williams, Bulldogs Shut Down #7/5 LSU; Saturday’s Contest Moved to 1 p.m. CT
April 05, 2019 | Softball
by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Delivering the Tigers their first shutout loss of the season, Mississippi State softball (24-13, 3-7 SEC) knocked off No. 5/7 LSU (31-8, 9-3 SEC), opening the series with a 6-0 victory Friday night at Nusz Park.
The Bulldogs plated four runs in the first inning to take an early lead over the Tigers and never looked back as sophomore Emily Williams stranded eight base runners to kept LSU off the board. Senior Kat Moore turned in one of the biggest plays of the night with a home-run robbing grab against the Tigers in the sixth.
For the third time this season, junior Fa Leilua turned in a multi-home run performance as she went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs and drew a walk during Friday's contest. Senior Sarai Niu also turned in a two-hit night with a double and an RBI.
Earning her second straight victory over a ranked opponent, Williams (7-3) tossed the complete-game shutout on Friday night. The right-hander worked around seven hits and three walks to leave a total of eight Tigers stranded over seven innings. She struck out four in the outing.
After two quick outs in the top of the first, LSU looked poised to strike first after three consecutive singles loaded the bases, but redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson retired the side to leave them loaded fielding a ball at third for the unassisted out.
State answered quickly in the bottom of the first as senior Emily Heimberger extended her hit streak to five consecutive games with a single through the left side. After she swiped second, sophomore Mia Davidson moved Heimberger to third with a single to center field. Leilua loaded the bases with a walk before an error at first base help bring in the first Bulldog run of the game.
Sophomore Candace Denis drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 2-0 before sophomore Carter Spexarth picked up and RBI with a groundout at shortstop. Niu drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI single to right field.
The Tigers had two additional scoring opportunities in the contest that were wiped away by the State's defense. After a two-out walk, Elyse Thornhill doubled to right field, but freshman Chloe Malau'ulu relayed the throw home to record the final out in the fifth inning.
Amber Serrett led off the sixth with a long ball to center, but Moore's home-run robbing grab at the wall preserved the shutout.
Leilua's solo home runs to lead off both the third and the fifth innings plated the final Bulldog runs of the game.
SATURDAY SCHEDULE CHANGE
Due to inclement weather forecasted for Saturday afternoon, game two of the series has been pushed up to a 1 p.m. CT start time. An announcement will be made on how the schedule change will affect Saturday's scheduled ESPNU broadcast.
QUOTING VANN STUEDEMAN
"What a hard-fought battle. I'm really proud of everybody. We made some really great plays. There weren't many strikeouts in the game, so we had to make all the plays. That's a testament to the girls. I'm really excited about the effort tonight."
TIGERS TAMED
Friday's victory marked a huge marker for the Mississippi State softball program. Not only was it the first time LSU has been shut out this season, but it also marked the first time in school history that Mississippi State has shut out LSU. The victory snapped a five-game skid against the Tigers and was Mississippi State's first triumph over LSU since 2016.
LIGHTNING STRIKES
For the third time this season, Fa Leilua has slugged multiple home runs in the same game. Leilua has now totaled 17 home runs over her junior season and now ranks tied for third in Mississippi State single-season history with Courtney Bures (2005).
LSU SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, April 5
Mississippi State def. No. 7/5 LSU, 6-0
Saturday, April 6
Mississippi State vs. No. 7/5 LSU – 1 p.m. CT
Sunday, April 5
Mississippi State vs. No. 7/5 – 3 p.m. CT
WATCH LIVE
Nusz Park will make its 2019 national broadcast debut as Saturday and Sunday's contests will be broadcasted on ESPNU. Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (analyst) will have the call.
Saturday, April 6 – Mississippi State vs. No. 7/5 LSU (ESPNU)
Sunday, April 7 – Mississippi State vs. No. 7/5 LSU (ESPNU)
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all three games of the weekend series. Live stats can be accessed by visiting www.msu.statbroadcast.com.
ADMISSION
Admission to all regular-season home contests at Nusz Park is FREE.
PROMOTIONS
SATURDAY, APRIL 6
SOFTBALL vs LSU at 1 PM (Nusz Park)
- FREE Admission
- "No One Fights Alone" Game - FREE T-Shirts (While Supplies Last)
- Bully's Kids Club Game
- FREE Gift Cards & Prizes Throughout the Games
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- DOUBLE HSR POINTS: Up to 450 PTS
- DOUBLE BKC POINTS: 300 PTS
SUNDAY, APRIL 7
SOFTBALL vs LSU at 3 PM (Nusz Park)
- FREE Admission
- "Daddy / Daughter Day at the Park"
- Giveaway: Free Softball Shirseys for Kids (While Supplies Last)
- FREE Gift Cards & Prizes Throughout the Games
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- DOUBLE HSR POINTS: Up to 450 PTS
- DOUBLE BKC POINTS: 300 PTS
WEATHER
Saturday: 79 Degrees – Scattered Showers (80%)
Sunday: 76 Degrees – Scattered Thunderstorms (60%)
ON DECK
Mississippi State continues its SEC series with No. 7/5 LSU on Saturday, April 6. First pitch at Nusz Park is now slated for 1 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 – Delivering the Tigers their first shutout loss of the season, Mississippi State softball (24-13, 3-7 SEC) knocked off No. 5/7 LSU (31-8, 9-3 SEC), opening the series with a 6-0 victory Friday night at Nusz Park.
The Bulldogs plated four runs in the first inning to take an early lead over the Tigers and never looked back as sophomore Emily Williams stranded eight base runners to kept LSU off the board. Senior Kat Moore turned in one of the biggest plays of the night with a home-run robbing grab against the Tigers in the sixth.
For the third time this season, junior Fa Leilua turned in a multi-home run performance as she went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs and drew a walk during Friday's contest. Senior Sarai Niu also turned in a two-hit night with a double and an RBI.
Earning her second straight victory over a ranked opponent, Williams (7-3) tossed the complete-game shutout on Friday night. The right-hander worked around seven hits and three walks to leave a total of eight Tigers stranded over seven innings. She struck out four in the outing.
After two quick outs in the top of the first, LSU looked poised to strike first after three consecutive singles loaded the bases, but redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson retired the side to leave them loaded fielding a ball at third for the unassisted out.
State answered quickly in the bottom of the first as senior Emily Heimberger extended her hit streak to five consecutive games with a single through the left side. After she swiped second, sophomore Mia Davidson moved Heimberger to third with a single to center field. Leilua loaded the bases with a walk before an error at first base help bring in the first Bulldog run of the game.
Sophomore Candace Denis drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 2-0 before sophomore Carter Spexarth picked up and RBI with a groundout at shortstop. Niu drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI single to right field.
The Tigers had two additional scoring opportunities in the contest that were wiped away by the State's defense. After a two-out walk, Elyse Thornhill doubled to right field, but freshman Chloe Malau'ulu relayed the throw home to record the final out in the fifth inning.
Amber Serrett led off the sixth with a long ball to center, but Moore's home-run robbing grab at the wall preserved the shutout.
Leilua's solo home runs to lead off both the third and the fifth innings plated the final Bulldog runs of the game.
SATURDAY SCHEDULE CHANGE
Due to inclement weather forecasted for Saturday afternoon, game two of the series has been pushed up to a 1 p.m. CT start time. An announcement will be made on how the schedule change will affect Saturday's scheduled ESPNU broadcast.
QUOTING VANN STUEDEMAN
"What a hard-fought battle. I'm really proud of everybody. We made some really great plays. There weren't many strikeouts in the game, so we had to make all the plays. That's a testament to the girls. I'm really excited about the effort tonight."
TIGERS TAMED
Friday's victory marked a huge marker for the Mississippi State softball program. Not only was it the first time LSU has been shut out this season, but it also marked the first time in school history that Mississippi State has shut out LSU. The victory snapped a five-game skid against the Tigers and was Mississippi State's first triumph over LSU since 2016.
LIGHTNING STRIKES
For the third time this season, Fa Leilua has slugged multiple home runs in the same game. Leilua has now totaled 17 home runs over her junior season and now ranks tied for third in Mississippi State single-season history with Courtney Bures (2005).
LSU SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, April 5
Mississippi State def. No. 7/5 LSU, 6-0
Saturday, April 6
Mississippi State vs. No. 7/5 LSU – 1 p.m. CT
Sunday, April 5
Mississippi State vs. No. 7/5 – 3 p.m. CT
WATCH LIVE
Nusz Park will make its 2019 national broadcast debut as Saturday and Sunday's contests will be broadcasted on ESPNU. Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (analyst) will have the call.
Saturday, April 6 – Mississippi State vs. No. 7/5 LSU (ESPNU)
Sunday, April 7 – Mississippi State vs. No. 7/5 LSU (ESPNU)
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all three games of the weekend series. Live stats can be accessed by visiting www.msu.statbroadcast.com.
ADMISSION
Admission to all regular-season home contests at Nusz Park is FREE.
PROMOTIONS
SATURDAY, APRIL 6
SOFTBALL vs LSU at 1 PM (Nusz Park)
- FREE Admission
- "No One Fights Alone" Game - FREE T-Shirts (While Supplies Last)
- Bully's Kids Club Game
- FREE Gift Cards & Prizes Throughout the Games
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- DOUBLE HSR POINTS: Up to 450 PTS
- DOUBLE BKC POINTS: 300 PTS
SUNDAY, APRIL 7
SOFTBALL vs LSU at 3 PM (Nusz Park)
- FREE Admission
- "Daddy / Daughter Day at the Park"
- Giveaway: Free Softball Shirseys for Kids (While Supplies Last)
- FREE Gift Cards & Prizes Throughout the Games
- Bully's Kids Zone for Kids with Inflatables
- DOUBLE HSR POINTS: Up to 450 PTS
- DOUBLE BKC POINTS: 300 PTS
WEATHER
Saturday: 79 Degrees – Scattered Showers (80%)
Sunday: 76 Degrees – Scattered Thunderstorms (60%)
ON DECK
Mississippi State continues its SEC series with No. 7/5 LSU on Saturday, April 6. First pitch at Nusz Park is now slated for 1 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 (7-3)
L: Shelbi Sunseri (8-5)
Batting:
2B: Elyse Thornhill 1 ; Amanda Doyle 1
Batting:
2B: Moore, Kat 1 ; Niu, Sarai 1
HR: Leilua, Fa 2
RBI: Leilua, Fa 2 ; Moore, Kat 1 ; Denis, Candace 1 ; Spexarth, Carter 1 ; Niu, Sarai 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Heimberger, Emily 1 ; Davidson, Mia 1 ; Leilua, Fa 2 ; Moore, Kat 1 ; Denis, Candace 1
SB: Heimberger, Emily 1
HBP: Niu, Sarai 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Rounding Third: Alyssa Loza
Thursday, April 16
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Arkansas (Game 3)
Sunday, April 12
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Arkansas (Game 2)
Sunday, April 12
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. Arkansas (Game 1)
Friday, April 10