Knudsen No-Hits Braves In Regular Season Finale

Monday, May 9

Starkville

1:00 PM

Mississippi State

26-30

Alcorn State

15-26

Alcorn State

Mississippi State

Knudsen No-Hits Braves In Regular Season Finale

May 09, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – One final tune-up before the Southeastern Conference tournament found the Mississippi State softball team (26-30) defeating Alcorn State (15-26) in no-hit fashion, 8-0, Monday at Nusz Park.

The Bulldogs found early offensive production from multiple players in the first and fourth innings, while sophomore pitcher Cassady Knudsen tossed the 18th no-hitter in school history to down the Braves.

“Cassady (Knudsen) has really been working hard,” head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “With our speed at the top of the lineup, it created a little bit of confusion for the opposing team. It was nice to get on the board early like that and then to finish it all off in the bottom of the fourth.”

The Maroon and White struck early in the first inning with four runs, all coming in two-out situations. They started the scoring off in the form of a two-run double to left-center by junior Mackenzie Toler that plated senior Kayla Winkfield and freshman Emily Heimberger. Toler found home on an infield single from freshman Sarai Niu. Katie Anne Bailey capped off the inning with an infield single that drove in sophomore Calyn Adams.

In the fourth, MSU scored four more runs. Winkfield knocked in Heimberger and senior Loryn Nichols. The Bulldogs' scoring was capped off as Winkfield found home when junior Caroline Seitz hit a high homer that wrapped around the left field foul pole.

Knudsen (4-1) struck out a career-high eight batters while walking four in the five-inning contest.

Alcorn State starter Ashley Breal (12-13) allowed all eight of MSU's runs, striking out a pair and walking one. She also allowed 11 hits in three innings of work before being relieved by Jazmin Castillo, who finished off the contest for the Braves, tossing one inning.

State will turn to postseason play and the SEC Tournament which will open Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. CT against fifth-seeded Alabama on SEC Network. Nusz Park, the brand new $6.4 million home to 12th-seeded Bulldogs is hosting the four-day event.

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.”