Bulldogs split pair against Aggies
It was a day of second chances for the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the softball field.
After Taylor Kelly struck out in her only plate appearance of the first game against the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies, a 3-1 loss for the Bulldogs, Kelly came back in the 10th inning of the second game and forced a bases-loaded walk to help MSU defeat Texas A&M 4-3 in the nightcap at Nusz Park.
That made a winner out of pitcher Cassady Knudsen, who after throwing 113 pitches and taking the loss in the first game for the Bulldogs, finished up the second game in the circle and improved her record to 11-4.
“We always fight and are never out of the fight,” Kelly said of being able to split with the Aggies. “We don’t go away and are always pushing. I’m really proud of my team.”
MSU (29-10 overall, 4-7 Southeastern Conference) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning of the second game.
Kat Moore singled and was driven home on a sacrifice fly by Emily Heimberger. Bevia Robinson, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on a bases-loaded walk to Calyn Adams, then Mia Davidson walked and came home on an RBI hit by pitch by Reggie Harrison.
That was all the Bulldogs got until the 10th inning, but Texas A&M was able to rally to tie the game with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.
The two teams were locked in a 3-3 game for the remainder of regulation play and three extra innings.
In the 10th frame, Adams reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third base on a single by Harrison. Moore walked to load the bases, then Kelly was called upon by MSU coach Vann Stuedeman in a big situation again.
Kelly walked to force home Adams and she was glad to be given another chance to come through in the clutch.
“My teammates always have my back and they always let me know that I’ve got it,” Kelly said. “They are just awesome and I knew with them behind me that I was going to do what I needed to do.
“Everybody is always ready and I was blessed to have the opportunity.”
Harrison had three singles for the Bulldogs, while Heimberger and Moore had the only other hits with one single each.
Knudsen was the third pitcher of the second game behind starter Holly Ward and reliever Candace Denis. Knudsen went 5.1 innings and gave up two hits, no runs with no walks and three strikeouts.
Game One
Texas A&M 3, Mississippi State 1
The Aggies got a solid 6.2 innings in the circle from starting pitcher Trinity Harrington and held the Bulldogs in check offensively.
MSU’s only run came in the fourth inning when Sarai Niu singled and scored on a ground out by Harrison.
Texas A&M scored one run each in the first, fourth and five innings.
Heimberger was the only Bulldogs to have multiple hits with a a single and her sixth double of the season. Moore, Davidson, Niu and Robinson had one single each.
Knudsen went the distance and gave up all three runs (two earned) on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
The two teams will meet again today at 2 p.m. to see which can capture the series. The Aggies now have records of 33-8 overall and 6-4 in the SEC.