Combined No-Hitter Powers State Past MVSU

Thursday, April 28

Itta Bena, Miss.

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

25-24

Mississippi Valley State

13-26

Mississippi State

MVSU

Combined No-Hitter Powers State Past MVSU

April 28, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

ITTA BENA, Miss. – A combined no-hitter from freshman Regan Green and sophomore Holly Ward marked the 18th in program history and catapulted the Mississippi State softball team (25-24) past Mississippi Valley State (13-26) 6-0, Thursday afternoon.

The first no-hitter since Alexis Silkwood on March 25, 2015 against Southern Miss and just the second combined no-hitter in State history. Senior Kayla Winkfield was the hottest Bulldog at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two runs batted in and three runs scored, including her first-career home run.

“Today was awesome,” MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “We had a no-hitter from Regan Green and Holly Ward, while Kayla Winkfield hit her first career home run on the biggest field we've played on all year. I couldn't be happier for her.”

In search of a hot start, the Bulldogs got just that as junior Katie Anne Bailey supplied a two-out double with runners on second and third to plate both and give MSU a 2-0 lead in the first.

More runs came across for State in the second as Winkfield crushed a pitch to straightaway center field with a runner on for a two-run home run. Junior Caroline Seitz singled to center with two outs, scoring classmate Amanda Ivy from second to cap the three-run inning and put MSU on top 5-0.

Winkfield remained on the offensive by leading off the fourth with an infield single and taking second after a Devilette error. The next batter, Ivy singled to center to score Winkfield and push State's advantage to 6-0.

Green made way for Ward in the six and after issuing a pair of walks, escaped the jam to keep the no-hitter and shutout intact.

A pair of groundouts and a strikeout retired the side in the seventh, giving the Bulldogs a taste of history and victory all wrapped into one.

Green (6-5) picked up the victory in 5.0 innings pitched, striking out seven and walking two in the process. Ward tossed 2.0 innings in relief, striking out one and walking two.The no-hitter was a career first for Green and Ward.

Rebekah Clinton (8-14) suffered the loss for the Devilettes after surrendering all six State runs on eight hits, one walk and one hit batter in 4.0 innings.

The Bulldogs will close out their 2016 home slate with a three-game SEC series with No. 11 Missouri this weekend at Nusz Park. The Senior Weekend series will open Friday at 6 p.m. CT.

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.”