Mississippi State softball runs over Howard, stays alive in Tallahassee Regional – The Dispatch

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Howard didn’t even seem to note.

The Bison have been content material to throw out Mississippi State catcher Mia Davidson stealing second base within the fourth inning of Saturday’s elimination recreation on the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. However they didn’t even appear to concentrate to Brylie St. Clair scampering dwelling to attain from third.

As soon as once more, MSU had run throughout Howard.

The Bulldogs (34-25, 10-14 Southeastern Convention) stole 5 bases, breaking a program file for essentially the most in an NCAA match recreation, and stayed alive in Tallahassee with a 6-3 win over the Bison (31-24, 17-4 MEAC) at JoAnne Graf Subject.

MSU ousted Howard from the regional and compelled one other elimination recreation Saturday evening in opposition to South Florida to find out who would advance to Sunday’s regional ultimate in opposition to host Florida State.

The Bulldogs took benefit of three Howard errors and two baserunning errors by the fourth-seeded Bison. Davidson picked off a runner who strayed too far off second on a wild pitch, and left fielder Chloe Malau’ulu simply threw out a batter attempting to stretch a single right into a double.

MSU gained and not using a single dwelling run, enjoying efficient small ball to remain alive within the postseason. The Bulldogs introduced dwelling two runs on bunts and two extra on sacrifice flies. A expensive dropped fly ball in proper area accounted for the primary run of a three-run second inning.

Mississippi State gained regardless of simply six hits, two of which got here from St. Clair. The Bulldogs’ leadoff hitter drove dwelling Riley Hull from third base on a bunt again to the pitcher within the second inning (dominated a sacrifice) earlier than lining singles within the fourth and sixth.

Davidson adopted St. Clair’s squeeze with a sac fly deep to left for the ultimate run within the second. Madisyn Kennedy’s fly ball to deep left within the third added a run earlier than Mississippi State’s well-executed steal introduced dwelling St. Clair within the fourth.

Aspen Wesley pitched successfully for Mississippi State to select up the win within the circle. The junior pitched out of a two-on, no-out jam within the first inning, getting a strikeout and two flyouts to finish the menace.

Wesley allowed only one baserunner in every of the subsequent three frames and pitched an ideal fifth. However Kalita Dennis took her deep for a two-run shot within the sixth inning to finish the shutout.

Howard added one other run throughout a rundown as Shea Moreno’s throw to the plate was low and Davidson couldn’t dig it out.

Wesley then struck out Payton Quiñonez to finish the sixth and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning to complete the entire recreation.

Theo DeRosa reviews on Mississippi State sports activities for The Dispatch. Comply with him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.