STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State softball team used a four-run first inning to beat Boston College 4-3 on Wednesday at Nusz Park.
Senior Morgan Bell went 2-for-3 with a career-high two doubles and two RBIs to help MSU improve to 17-3.
“We moved our game time up, so I wasn’t sure how our kids were going to respond,” MSU coach Vann Stuedeman said. “Kat (Moore) set the tone, bouncing one over first base, and that really set the tone for the rest of the game. I thought Cassady (Knudsen) had one of her tougher outings of the season, but I look at the box score and she has 10 strikeouts. She had a little better of a day than I thought she did.”
In one of her tougher outings of the season, Knudsen (6-1) allowed three earned runs, the most she earned runs she has allowed all season, six hits and two walks. She also hit a batter, but she struck out 10 for her fifth double-digit strikeout performance of the season. Senior Holly Ward threw the final inning, allowing one run and striking out one to notch her second save.
MSU will end its nine-game homestand this weekend when it plays host to Illinois and Massachusett-Lowell to Nusz Park. MSU will play host to Illinois at 6 p.m. Friday.
n South Alabama 10, Southern Mississippi 4: At Hattiesburg, Tata Davis had her first collegiate home run, while Destini Brown and Samantha Reynolds added hits, but the Golden Eagles (9-12) lost to the Jaguars.
Kim Crowson (4-3) went four innings and allowed two earned runs. She struck out two. Samantha Robles pitched 2 1/3 innings and allowed four earned runs and struck two. Sophomore Jade Lewis closed the game.
Southern Miss will take on Western Kentucky in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday to open Conference USA play.
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