State Completes Bulldog Kickoff Classic Sweep

Sunday, February 14

Starkville

11:00 AM

Mississippi State

5-0

Houston

3-2

Houston

Mississippi State

State Completes Bulldog Kickoff Classic Sweep

February 14, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – On the final day of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic, the Mississippi State softball team (5-0) posted its third-straight come from behind win to defeat Houston (3-2) 7-1 and finish the weekend undefeated at Nusz Park.

“Being at home is a huge comfort level,” head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “However, in a new stadium it was a little bit new. We had to get used to how it plays, the wind, and the foul territory. Not having to travel for the first weekend is a huge advantage and we had great weather and fans all weekend long.”

In the top of the second inning, Houston grabbed an early 1-0 lead with a couple of singles and stolen bases.

Freshman Sarai Niu had her second long ball of the season to even the score at one in the bottom of the second.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs found their bats as junior Amanda Ivy's bunt got things started. Freshman Kat Moore recorded her first-career RBI to give State its first lead of the day, 2-1. Later in the inning, freshman Emily Heimberger delivered her first triple to extend the lead to 4-1.

Still in the fourth, the Cougars brought in Shelby Miller in relief of Julana Shrum. Heimberger scored on a fielding error put MSU up 5-1. With bases loaded, sophomore Morgan Bell scored senior Kayla Winkfield to make it 6-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, junior Mackenzie Toler's single turned into a run and brought the score to 7-1 in favor of the Bulldogs, which would ultimately be the final score.

Sophomore Holly Ward (3-0) picked up the complete-game victory, striking out seven of the 25 batters she faced and only allowing five hits and one earned run. Shrum (1-1) suffered the loss for Houston as she allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits in three innings of work.

The Bulldogs return to action Friday, February 19 against South Alabama at 5 p.m. CT to open their time at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Mobile, Ala.

For more information on the MSU softball program, follow “HailStateSB” on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all-access coverage of the Bulldogs on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”