For Whom the Cowbell Tolls - Mississippi State Softball Travels to Mobile for Mardi Gras InvitationalGrindin' Daily for Mississippi State Athleticshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50285/fwtct-fav.png2016-02-21T09:56:09-05:00http://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/rss/stream/108416352016-02-21T09:56:09-05:002016-02-21T09:56:09-05:00MSU Softball Remains Undefeated
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<figcaption>Mississippi State Athletics | HailState.com</figcaption>
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<p>The Bulldogs knocked off Southern Mississippi and SIU-Edwards Saturday.</p> <p>The Mississippi State Bulldogs continued their winning ways Saturday, knocking off the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (5-4) and the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars at the Mardi Gras Invitational at South Alabama.</p>
<p>In the first game of the afternoon, the Bulldogs (8-0) picked up a 6-0 victory that was perhaps most notable for the performance of freshman pitcher Cori Cooper. Making her first start with the Bulldogs, she carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a one-out single.</p>
<p>The Bulldogs ended up with all of the runs they needed in the first inning when Kayla Winkfield scored on an RBI single from Caroline Seitz to put Mississippi State up 1-0.</p>
<p>Amanda Ivy and Katie Anne Bailey drove in two more runs in the second to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.</p>
<p>In the fourth, Ivy drove in another run and later scored on an error to push the Mississippi State lead to 5-0.</p>
<p>Emily Heimberger drove in the game's final run in the sixth.</p>
<p>Cooper finished the complete game effort with four strikeouts.</p>
<p>In the second game, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead and never trailed in a 7-4 win over SIU-Edwardsville.</p>
<p>In the first, Mississippi State picked up three hits and two stolen bases to take a 2-0 lead, and Bailey added to that lead in the second with a sacrifice fly to put the Bulldogs ahead 3-0.</p>
<p>In the third, Morgan Bell smashed a three-run homer to put Mississippi State ahead 6-0.</p>
<p>The Cougars (3-5) got one run back in the bottom of the fourth, but Seitz provided an immediate answer in the top of the fifth with a solo roundtripper to put the Bulldogs up 7-1.</p>
<p>In the sixth, starting pitcher Cassady Knudsen (2-0) gave way to Mackenzie Toler in relief. The Bulldogs had a few struggles, but Holly Ward ended the game with a strike out with the bases loaded for the Cougars to earn her first save of the season.</p>
<p>Knudsen finished her efforts by striking out three and allowing one run in five innings of work.</p>
<p>On the day, Heimberger finished 5-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Seitz finished 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored.</p>
<p>Mississippi State closes out play in Mobile at 12:15 Sunday against Samford.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2016/2/21/11081646/mississippi-state-softball-undefeated-double-header-Mardi-Gras-Invitiational-Southern-Missjustinrsutton2016-02-19T23:10:18-05:002016-02-19T23:10:18-05:00MSU Softball picks up comeback win over No. 23 USA
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<figcaption>Kelly Price | MSU Athletics | HailState.com</figcaption>
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<p>The Bulldogs came from behind for the fourth time this season.</p> <p>Vann Stuedeman's first victory as the head coach at Mississippi State came against South Alabama, and thanks to a come-from-behind effort, her most recent victory as Bulldog head coach came against the Jaguars as well, as Mississippi State defeated No. 23 South Alabama 4-2 in eight innings in Mobile Friday.</p>
<p>Though the Bulldogs (7-0) later had to come from behind, Mississippi State drew first blood when Sarai Niu was hit by a pitch with two outs, bringing home Kayla Winkfield in the top of the first.</p>
<p>South Alabama (5-1) would tie in the bottom of the third when Kristian Foster drove home Kaleigh Todd with an RBI, two-out single. The same scenario played out in the bottom of the fifth to put the Jaguars ahead 2-1.</p>
<p>In the top of the sixth, Loryn Nichols picked up a single, and she moved to third on a double by Amanda Ivy. Katie Anne Bailey drove Nichols in on a ground ball to the shortstop to tie the game at 2-2.</p>
<p>In the top of the eighth, Winkfield singled in Ivy, and Caroline Seitz drove in Bailey to put the Bulldogs ahead 4-2.</p>
<p>In the bottom of the eighth, Holly Ward (4-0), who pitched three scoreless innings to pick up the victory, stranded Emily Messer to end a South Alabama two-out threat and pick up the win.</p>
<p>Regan Green drew the start for the Bulldogs, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing one run on four hits while striking out five.</p>
<p>Mackenzie Toler pitched next for the Bulldogs, lasting 2.1 innings and allowing an unearned run and two hits.</p>
<p>Ward struck out three and allowed two hits.</p>
<p>Winkfield, Seitz, and Nichols all had two hits for the Bulldogs. Foster had three hits to lead the Jaguars.</p>
<p>The Bulldogs return to action Saturday at South Alabama with a 1:30pm match up with Southern Mississippi and a 6pm game against SIU-Edwardsville.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2016/2/19/11076572/mississippi-state-bulldogs-softball-undefeated-comeback-win-against-south-alabama-jaguarsjustinrsutton