Mississippi State Softball Opens Bulldog Slamboree with a Doubleheader Sweep

Vann Stuedeman’s squad just keeps winning. The Bulldogs opened the Bulldog Slamboree Tournament last night by winning both games in the doubleheader with a 6-1 victory over Samford and a 4-1 win over UMass.

The 6-1 victory against Samford featured strong pitching from both Holly Ward and Cassady Knudsen. Ward threw 4.0 innings and struck out 3, but found herself struggling with walks for the first time this season.

Knudsen would then take the circle after throwing the second no hitter of her career on Thursday evening. Knudsen would go on to strike out 7 of the 13 batters she faced.

The Bulldogs were also able to get plenty of production at the plate, with Caroline Seitz launching a three-run home run in the 5th inning which would put the game clearly out of reach for Samford.

Mississippi State’s win over UMass gave Alexis Silkwood her 8th win of the season. Silkwood struck out 9 of the 29 batters faced while holding UMass to 1 run, which wasn’t earned.

Like the Bulldogs’ earlier win, this game featured a home run thanks to timely hitting from MSU. With a 2-1 lead in the 2nd inning, Katie Anne Bailey hit this home run.

MSU will play Central Arkansas at 12:30 before the seeded matchups begin. If the Bulldogs win, they’ll clinch the top seed in the tournament, as they have in the two previous tournaments in Nusz Park this season, and they’ll play again immediately after their game against Central Arkansas.