STARKVILLE — Picking up where it left off after a Saturday sweep, the Mississippi State softball team used a nine-hit attack Sunday to earn a 10-2 victory against Penn State in five innings at the MSU Softball Field.
The victory helped MSU (13-1) sweep the three-game series against Penn State.
Sophomore third baseman Caroline Seitz and sophomore pitcher Alexis Silkwood helped the Bulldogs overpower the Nittany Lions (6-7).
“I am proud of how we handled the weather and the third game of this series,” MSU coach Vann Stuedeman said. “I really appreciate the fans that braved the elements with us.”
After Penn State scored a run in the top of the first, MSU responded with a bloop RBI single by Seitz that went over the head of the second baseman. The hit scored sophomore Katie Anne Bailey from second base to tie the game 1-1.
In the second inning. Silkwood was hit by a pitch and stole second. Back-to-back doubles by junior Kayla Winkfield and sophomore Amanda Ivy scored two before a wild pitch allowed Ivy to score from third to make it 4-1.
Penn State added a run in the top of the fourth, but MSU answered by batting through the order and with the help of doubles from Seitz and Silkwood. In all, MSU scored six runs to take a 10-2 lead.
Silkwood moved to 9-0 after going 2 2/3 innings. She gave up three hits and one unearned run. The two strikeouts increased Silkwood’s total to 66, which is second best in the Southeastern Conference.
MSU will take on Alabama-Birmingham at 6 p.m. Tuesday before participating in the Citrus Classic in Kissimmee, Florida, this weekend.
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