FROM SPECIAL REPORTS
It was a prolific weekend for the Mississippi State track and field teams in the Al Schmidt Bulldog Relays in Starkville.
On Friday, the Bulldogs combined for 20 top-five finishes on the day — winning four of the events along with seven personal-marks being set.
Most notably, the team of freshman Shayla Felder, sophomores Riley White and Charlotte Cayton-Smith, and senior Alon Lewis took home first place in the women’s sprint medley. Their time of 3:53.73 is the fourth fastest in MSU outdoor track history.
Saturday, MSU continued its success, most notably in the javelin.
Sophomore Anderson Peters’ distance of 82.64 meters is the best mark in the NCAA this season entering the weekend as the men’s team swept the event.
In the women’s javelin, junior Sarah Blake and freshman Caroline Standley finished second and third, respectively.
Blake’s distance of 45.07 meters set a school record and Standley’s throw of 43.98 meters set a freshman record in the event.
Next up is Texas Relays Thursday and Friday in Austin.
SOFTBALL: For the first time in 2019, the Mississippi State softball team took down a ranked opponent, defeating No. 17/13 Auburn 7-6 Friday night at Nusz Park.
Thanks to a six-run third inning, the Bulldogs came from three runs down to defeat the Tigers.
Sisters freshman Mia and sophomore Montana Davidson lead the offensive charge for MSU. Each notched two hits in the contest, while Mia slugged her 15th home run of the season.
On the mound, junior Alyssa Loza pitched a complete game and earned her seventh win of the year. Loza gave up six runs on seven hits with one walk and a strikeout.
The Bulldogs followed up their encore performance with a 7-4 loss in eight innings Saturday.
Auburn tagged MSU freshman starter Kayla Boseman for six runs in the top of the eighth as the Bulldogs rally fell short in the bottom half of the frame.
The Bulldogs and Tigers will close out their three-game set Sunday at 1 p.m.
GOLF: espite a quality first round, Mississippi State men’s golf team is tied for seventh at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate after playing two rounds Saturday.
As a team, MSU shot a 20-over 596 total for the two rounds. A 6-over 294 had MSU tied for fourth after a round of play before the Bulldogs shot 4 strokes above par in round two.
State’s best finisher was reigning SEC Freshman Golfer of the Week Ford Clegg, who shot 3-over-par to sit tied for 23rd after day one. Senior Ross Bell was right behind Clegg at 4-over par.
Illinois leads all teams after carding a 2-under 574 two-round total. Fighting Illini golfer Adrien Dumont de Chassart shot 7-under to boast a three-stroke lead on the player leaderboard.
Smith’s team will look to bounce back in Sunday’s final round of play. Sunday’s round will begin with an 11:45 a.m. shotgun start. MSU will play from holes 4-6.
MEN’S TENNIS: The No. 8 Mississippi State men’s tennis team continued a busy week with a 4-3 win over No. 19 Tennessee Friday afternoon.
Senior Niclas Braun won 16 of the final 18 points against Volunteers junior Scott Jones in the No. 3 singles matchup to give the Bulldogs the overall match victory.
The win marks the 23rd straight home victory for the Bulldogs (14-3, 6-1 SEC) at A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre and moves MSU’s overall record to 14-3 on the season.
The Bulldogs also defeated No. 18 Alabama on Thursday and Auburn on Saturday.
Next up is No. 22 Georgia at 1 p.m. Sunday in Starkville.
WOMEN’S TENNIS: In its first competition of the week, the Mississippi State women’s tennis team fell to No. 29 Tennessee 4-2.
MSU took the doubles point thanks to wins by sophomore Magda Adaloglou and freshman Tamara Racine in the No. 1 match and senior Janina Braun and junior Sara Lizariturry at No. 3.
It was the fourth straight match the Bulldogs won the doubles point.
The success wouldn’t last as Tennessee won four of the ensuing five singles matches to seal the victory.
Freshman Emma Antonaki earned the lone singles win for the Bulldogs, defeating No. 85 Sadie Hammond 6-4, 6-3.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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