Bell answered in MSU victory
Answering the bell in a close game is something the Mississippi State Bulldogs want to be known for in softball this season.
On Tuesday night, Morgan Bell did the honors.
Bell delivered a one-out single in the eighth inning to score Kat Moore from third base with the winning run as MSU defeated Southeastern Louisiana 3-2 at Nusz Park.
After seeing the visiting Lions come back to tie the game 2-2 in the sixth inning, the Bulldogs found a way to get the job done in the extra frame.
“We don’t go away and we live by that on our team, so that was all I was thinking,” Bell said about her last at-bat. “These are late innings and these are our innings. We were going to come through and there was no doubt in my mind. I was glad to get the opportunity.”
Moore began the one-out rally with a single, then Sarai Niu followed with a single and both runners were able to move into scoring position.
That’s when Bell stepped up for the gamewinning hit, but MSU Vann Stuedeman was happy about everyone who made a difference in that situation.
“Good job for Morgan to be in that situation,” Stuedeman said. “Kat getting on base was huge. She hadn’t been on base yet. She got that base hit and beat it out. Sarai executed the hit and run, then Morgan came through.
“It’s good for all of us to be on the victory side offensively, defensively and pitching.”
The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Mia Davidson hit a two-run double down the left field line to plate Emily Heimberger and Bevia Robinson.
After that Southeastern Louisiana pitcher Rachel Hayes put up six scoreless innings to give her team a chance to tie the game with two runs in the sixth.
“I was just so impressed with her,” Stuedeman said of Hayes. “I told her what a great job that she did and go win a bunch of games because she threw really well and the whole seven. I’m glad we came out on the victory side.”
MSU had quality efforts in the circle as well from starter Emily Williams and reliever Holly Ward.
Williams went the first five innings and only gave up one hit with seven strikeouts, while Ward (4-1) finished up with 2.2 scoreless frames and three strikeouts to pick up the win.
“I thought Holy just tore them up,” Stuedeman said. “She really did a good job and held her composure after the two bunt singles and got three outs. She’s got to feel that and she’s going to feel that a lot in the league so that’s good for her.
“Emily threw a fantastic game. It’s not her fault that she comes out and we give up two runs. It was pre-planned.”
Bevia Robinson, Calyn Adams and Bell had two hits each in the 11-hit attack for the Bulldogs, but it was the big hit by Bell at the end that was the difference.
“My teammates did a good job of getting on base in front of me,” Bell said. “I knew I had people behind me and all I was thinking was have a quality at-bat, see a good pitch and hit it up the middle.”.
MSU improved to 9-1 and now travel to Palm Springs, California, for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The Bulldogs start the event with a doubleheader against Arizona State and Nebraska on Thursday.