Williams One-Hits No. 7/9 Gators to Claim Series-Opening Win

Friday, May 3

Gainesville, Fla.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

31-19, 8-14

#7 Florida

39-14, 11-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mississippi State	2	3	1	0	0	0	0	6	7	0
Florida	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	4	1	0

Emilly Williams earned her 12th win of the season with a one-hit performance against No. 7/9 Florida.

Williams One-Hits No. 7/9 Gators to Claim Series-Opening Win

May 03, 2019 | Softball

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By Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Holding No. 7/9 Florida (39-14, 11-11 SEC) to an infield single, sophomore Emily Williams turned in a one-hit performance to secure Mississippi State softball's (31-19, 8-14 SEC) series-opening victory, 6-4, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Friday.

The victory snapped a six-game losing streak against the Gators and was Mississippi State's first victory in Gainesville since 2013.

The Bulldogs got on board early with a two-run homer from junior Fa Leilua in the top of the first, and went on to score in both the second and third innings to put up some much-needed insurance runs against the Gators.

Florida got the winning run on board in the bottom of the seventh before an hour and 27-minute lightning delay halted play. Williams gave up one walk once action returned, but got the called strike three to close out the game with the bases loaded.

Leilua led Mississippi State at the plate as she went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Senior Kat Moore also turned in a multi-hit night with two singles. Senior Sarai Niu's lone hit of the contest was her first home run of her senior season, a two-run bomb to left in the top of the second.

Williams was strong in the circle as she tossed the complete game, allowing just an infield single from Sophia Reynoso in the bottom of the fourth. Williams struck out five Gators in the contest will allowing 12 walks. All four of Florida's runs on Friday night were scored off bases-loaded walks.

With sophomore Mia Davidson on board with a hit by pitch, Leilua struck first with a monstrous home run ball that sailed over the Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium scoreboard in left center to give Mississippi State a 2-0 lead.

Florida manufactured its first run of the game in the home half of the inning with help of four walks. A ground ball to third base ended the limited the scoring threat to the lone run and left the bases loaded for the Gators.

The Bulldogs used the big bats in the top of the second to plate some key insurance runs against Gator ace Kelly Barnhill. Redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson led off the inning with a tricky infield second to second base. Niu delivered the big blow with her first home run of the season, a two-run bomb to left field.

Senior Bevia Robinson kept the inning alive with a triple down the right field line, her second of the season. Her fellow senior teammate Emily Heimberger drove her home with a ground ball to second to extend the lead to 5-1.

State took advantage of some pitching miscues in the third to bring across another run. Leilua led off the inning with a walk before moving into scoring position with a single to left from Moore. A wild pitch on strike three on Montana Davidson's at bat allowed her to reach first safely to load the bases with one out. A second wild pitch on strike three – this time to sophomore Carter Spexarth – allowed Leilua to scoot home to push the Bulldog lead to 6-1.

Williams kept the Gators in check until the bottom of the seventh as three walks loaded the bases with two outs. Two bases-loaded walks brought cut Mississippi State's lead to 6-3 and brought the winning run to the plate before a lightning delay halted play for one hour and 27 minutes.

Returning the field, the Gators put the winning run on base with a walk to cut State's lead to 6-4, but Williams caught pinch-hitter Cheyenne Lindsey looking for the final out to pick up her 12^th victory of the season.

UPSET IN THE SWAMP
Friday's win against the Gators snapped a six-game losing skid for the Bulldogs against Florida, marking Mississippi State's first win in the series since knocking of Florida in Starkville on March 29, 2015 by a 5-3 final. The win was the first in Gainesville for State since taking a 6-5 contest on April 7, 2013.

SERIES FINALE DOUBLEHEADER SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY
With inclement weather forecasted for Sunday, Mississippi State will face Florida in a doubleheader on Saturday to round out the regular-season. Game one of Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 3 p.m. CT start time.

FLORIDA SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, May 3
Game One – Mississippi State at No. 7/9 Florida – 5 p.m. CT

Saturday, May 4
Game Two – Mississippi State at No. 7/9 Florida – 3 p.m. CT

Saturday, May 4
Game Three – Mississippi State at No. 7/9 Florida – 5:30 p.m. CT

WATCH LIVE
Saturday's doubleheader versus Florida will be streamed in the SEC Network + via WatchESPN and the ESPN app.

Saturday, May 4 – Mississippi State at No. 7/9 Florida (SEC Network +)
Saturday, May 4 – Mississippi State at No. 7/9 Florida (SEC Network +)

LIVE STATS
Florida will provide live stats for all three games of the weekend series via SideArm Sports. Live stats may be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

ADMISSION
General admission tickets to Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium are available for purchase by CLICKING HERE.

WEATHER
Saturday: 90 Degrees – Partly Cloudy (20%)

ON DECK
Mississippi State turns its sights to postseason play with the 2019 SEC Tournament hosted by Texas A&M in College Station. The Bulldogs will await their tournament seeding fate for their first match-up of the tournament, which will begin on Wednesday, May 8.

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".