Mississippi State Softball Weekend Recap: MSU Goes 4-0 with Ease

The softball season has started and Vann Stuedeman certainly had her team ready. In a rainy weekend that forced some scheduling changes, Mississippi State hosted Mississippi Valley State, Omaha, and Missouri State. In facing those opponents, the Bulldogs came away with a perfect 4-0 start.

Here’s how the weekend went:

Friday: Mississippi State 10, Mississippi Valley State 0 (5 innings)

Holly Ward and the Bulldogs got the season started on a perfect note, namely with Ward’s perfect game. State got off to a hot start at the plate by scoring 6 runs in the first inning and then 4 runs in the second. Ward was able to fend off MVSU by striking out 11 in the 5 innings the game went on. Read more about it here.

Friday: Mississippi State 8, Omaha 0 (5 innings)

Cassady Knudsen’s outing was interrupted by rain and she had an incredible start of her own. Knudsen gave up 1 hit and walked 1, but she struck out 13 of the 18 batters that she faced. MSU racked up 8 runs off of 8 hits in the 5 innings they played en route to a shortened shut out. Read more about it here.

Sunday: Mississippi State 5, Missouri State 0

Between two teams that are typically clad in maroon and white, this game developed into the toughest test of the weekend for the Bulldogs. Ward took the circle again for Mississippi State and performed well in the shut out, striking out 7 while holding Missouri State to 2 hits and 4 walks. Read more about it here.

Sunday: Mississippi State 8, Mississippi Valley State 0 (6 innings)

In her first start, freshman Emily Williams followed the theme of the weekend for MSU’s pitchers by dominating. She faced 13 batters and struck out 7 of them. Williams would be replaced by fellow newcomer in sophomore transfer Candace Denis who would close out the game. From behind the plate, MSU had two home runs, one from Kat Moore and one from Mia Davidson. Read more about it here.

Results from the other games in Starkville this weekend:

• 2/9/18: Omaha 2, Missouri State 1
• 2/9/18: Missouri State 4, Mississippi Valley State 0
• 2/11/18: Missouri State 16, Omaha 2 (5 innings)
• 2/11/18: Omaha 2, Mississippi Valley State 1

What Was Good?

Mississippi State’s dominant pitching carried the Bulldogs through the weekend. The hitting came in at clutch moments, but having a group of pitchers capable of putting up a perfect game and three more shutouts prevented the visiting opponents from even having a shot at winning this weekend.

What Was Not?

The weather is really the only thing that can be complained about from this weekend. Rain on Friday night that spilled over into all of Saturday prevented the Bulldog Kickoff Classic from following the schedule that was initially set.

What’s up Next for MSU?

Mississippi State hosts UT Martin on Thursday, February 15th.