Bulldogs get easy win over Braves

Mississippi State softball coach Vann Stuedeman wanted to get a good look at her team on Tuesday night.

With a non-conference game against Alcorn State sandwiched in between big Southeastern Conference matchups against Texas A&M and Ole Miss, it was an opportunity for Stuedeman to put certain players in a specific position to see how they would respond.

Stuedeman liked what she saw as the Bulldogs produced 11 runs on 11 hits in an 11-0 five-inning victory over the Braves at Nusz Park.

“You want to see if they are putting in their time and doing the work in anticipation of this moment,” Stuedeman said in rewarding players with playing time. “There are times in conference games we've used a lot of pinch hitters this season so far and to see their preparation in a game as a starter is nice to see.

“These kids all work really hard. You'd like to give everybody the opportunity to get out there, start, to show what they can do and how they handle things when they get into a big time situation.”

MSU used 16 players against Alcorn State and Lindsey Williams was given the first start in her career by Stuedeman. Williams came through with a single in her second at-bat of the game.

The Bulldogs, who improve their overall record to 30-11, scored four runs in the first inning, five more in the second to break the game open and added one run in each of the fourth and fifth frames.

”We put runs on the board in every inning,” MSU senior Calyn Adams said. “That's always the goal no matter who you are playing and whether it's somebody in conference or out of conference.”

Adams had a double for the Bulldogs, while Mia Davidson had a single and her 14th home run of the season. Reggie Harrison added a double and a single and Emily Heimberger had two singles. Macey Petrey and Maddie Dorsett also had one single each to go along with Williams.

In the circle, Holly Ward worked five shutout innings. She only gave up three hits with six strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

MSU travels to Ole Miss for a Saturday, Sunday and Monday series in the SEC.