STARKVILLE — After suffering its first loss of the season in extra innings against Drake on Friday evening, the Mississippi State softball team evened the score Sunday, beating Drake 1-0 to close the February Freezer at Nusz Park.
Candace Denis had two of the five hits for MSU (8-1). The biggest one was an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning.
Senior right-hander Cassady Knudsen (3-0) allowed four hits in 6 2/3 innings. She walked two and tied her career high with 13 strikeouts. Senior right-hander Holly Ward came on in the top of the seventh to force a groundout to third base for the second out of the inning before Knudsen returned to the circle to close the game.
Knudsen and Drake’s Nicole Timmons allowed just two hits and left three runners stranded in the first four innings.
Drake had an opportunity in the top of the fifth to score, as a single and stolen base put a runner in scoring position. Knudsen recorded the second out with a strikeout, but another single looked poised to bring home a run. Redshirt junior left fielder Bevia Robinson prevented the scoring opportunity as threw a runner out at home to end the inning.
Senior infielder Calyn Adams drew a two-out walk in the bottom half of the inning. Robinson singled to move pinch runner Maddie Dorsett into scoring position. Denis followed with a double down the left-field line.
Drake has another scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth with a leadoff double and a one-out walk. After a foul out, Robinson reeled in a fly ball at the left-field wall to retire the side.
MSU will wrap up its season-opening homestand at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when it plays host to Southeastern Louisiana at Nusz Park. It will be the second “No One Fights Alone” game, as fans are encouraged to join the team by wearing teal to bring awareness to ovarian cancer.
n Mississippi University for Women 9-10, Huntingdon College 1-2: At Columbus, the Mississippi University for Women’s softball team used victories by Madison Scoggin and Ciara Steward on Sunday to earn 9-1 and 10-2 victories against Huntingdon College at Don Usher Field.
In Game 1, Scoggin (1-1) allowed four hits in six innings. She walked one and struck out three.
Anna Lloyd and Brianna Duquette had three hits. Lloyd, who is from Batesville, scored three runs and stole two bases, while Duquette had three RBIs.
Katlyn Duke had had two hits, two RBIs, and one run, and Carolyn “Kendall” Wilkinson, a former East Webster High School standout, had one hit, two RBIs, and one run.
In Game 2, Steward entered the game in relief of starting pitcher Cara Hopper and didn’t allow a run in 2 2/3 hitless innings. She struck out one.
Kristen Martin, Wilkinson, and Duke went 2-for-3. Martin and Wilkinson had two RBIs and scored a run. Duke had an RBI and scored two runs. Martin’s double in the sixth ended the game early.
Former Caledonia High School standout Makayla Taylor had a triple and two RBIs.
To close the game, Martin delivered a double to send Kandler Flora home in the bottom of the sixth. With the run, Flora grabbed the Owls 10th run over the Hawks 2 to bring the match to an early end.
The W will travel to Selma, Alabama, on Tuesday to take on Concordia College – Alabama. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m.
n No. 11 Baylor 2, No. 9 Alabama 1: At Hattiesburg, the No. 9 Alabama softball team lost to No. 11 Baylor 2-1 on Sunday in its final game at Southern Mississippi’s Black and Gold Invitational.
Alabama (6-1) fell behind 2-0 in the first. A solo home run by Kaylee Tow in the third cut the deficit in half.
Back-to-back singles by Caroline Hardy and Claire Jenkins along with some heads-up baserunning put two in scoring position for the Crimson Tide in the seventh, but the Bears (7-0) recorded a strikeout and pop up to end the game.
Alabama had four hits against starting pitcher Gia Rodini (3-0), who earned the complete-game victory, while Crimson Tide starter Alexis Osorio (2-1) took the complete-game loss. She struck out five.
Alabama will make its home debut next weekend when it plays host to the Easton Bama Bash on Feb. 23-25 at Rhoads Stadium. Alabama is scheduled to play five games in three days. Georgia State, Northern Iowa, and No. 8 Florida State will round out the field.
n Southern Mississippi splits final two games at Black and Gold Invitational: At Hattiesburg, the Southern Mississippi softball team lost to No. 24 McNeese State 5-2 and defeated Mississippi Valley State 9-2 on Sunday in its final games at the Black and Gold Invitational.
Karley Nichols had five hits in the two games. She had three hits and an RBI against Mississippi Valley State. Chase Nelson also had three hits and three RBIs, making that her first multi-hit game of the season. Tata Davis had three RBIs against the Devilettes.
Jillian Johnson started against McNeese and allowed three earned runs before Jade Lewis came in to pitch in top of the fifth. Lewis was charged the loss after giving up the tie-breaking run in the top of the sixth.
Kim Crowson (2-1) started and earned the win against Mississippi Valley State. She allowed two runs in four innings. Samantha Robles surrendered one hit in three innings.
Southern Miss will play host to Alabama State at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Softball Complex.
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