Sunday, February 10
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No. 24 Mississippi State
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Photo by: SFA Athletics
Softball Shuts Out SEC’s 24th-Ranked Mississippi State, 1-0
2/10/2019 5:32:00 PM | Softball
Ladyjacks’ get a two-out RBI single from Emily Wolfe to capture 2019 Bulldog Kickoff Classic, Kassidy Wilbur pitches first career shutout for fourth win of season
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Playing perhaps the toughest non-conference schedule in the Southland Conference this season, the SFA softball team is 4-1 following an impressive opening weekend. The Ladyjacks captured the 2019 Bulldog Kickoff Classic with a signature victory, a 1-0 road win over the Southeastern Conference's 24th-ranked Mississippi State Sunday afternoon at Nusz Park in Starkville, Mississippi.
The triumph marks the first time SFA has defeated a nationally-ranked opponent since 2014 and is the first Power Five victory for the Ladyjacks since March 4, 2017 (Maryland, 5-4).
Handing the Bulldogs (4-1) their first loss of 2019, SFA got a two-out RBI single from senior shortstop Emily Wolfe in the top of the second inning as freshman right-hander Kassidy Wilbur tossed a two-hit shutout in just her third collegiate start.
"Great team win this afternoon," head coach Nicole Dickson said after the win. "We're proud of our team and the direction our program is heading. It's going to be a fun year with this team, they are truly selfless and very determined. They don't care who is in the other dugout, they are going to be playing hard."
"Hats off to Kassidy Wilbur," continued coach Dickson. "Her fight and flawless execution was enough to shut down one of the best programs in the country."
Senior first baseman Margarita Corona singled to left field with one out in the top of the second for the Ladyjacks first hit of the game, setting up the lone run of the afternoon. Following a Brittany Crawford walk and a fly out, Corona found herself on third base before Wolfe's RBI single to second base allowed Corona to reach home plate.
Mississippi State connected on hits in only the third inning with a pair of singles and had a runner in scoring position just three times, once in the bottom of the first, third and fourth innings. After a walk in the bottom of the sixth, SFA showcased its defense by completing a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame. The Ladyjacks had a couple of chances to tack on an insurance run, including in the top of the seventh when sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil double to right field and advanced to third on a groundout. However, with two outs already a strikeout ended any further chances.
Wilbur looked nothing like a freshman when she stepped into the circle in the bottom of the seventh inning. She struck out the side in order to clinch the weekend opening tournament and secure SFA's first win over a top-25 opponent in five years.
Dialing up nine strikeouts, Wilbur (4-0) earned her third complete-game win of the weekend, first career shutout and fourth win of the season. Wolfe finished the game 2-for-3 with her RBI, while Novegil went 2-for-4 at the plate.
The Bulldogs' Grace Fagan (1-1) took the loss inside the circle after tossing the first three innings and giving up four hits with two strikeouts.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will open up the home portion of their 2019 slate Wednesday, Feb. 13 with a midweek tilt against Louisiana-Monroe. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. from SFA Softball Field.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.
-SFA-
The triumph marks the first time SFA has defeated a nationally-ranked opponent since 2014 and is the first Power Five victory for the Ladyjacks since March 4, 2017 (Maryland, 5-4).
Handing the Bulldogs (4-1) their first loss of 2019, SFA got a two-out RBI single from senior shortstop Emily Wolfe in the top of the second inning as freshman right-hander Kassidy Wilbur tossed a two-hit shutout in just her third collegiate start.
"Great team win this afternoon," head coach Nicole Dickson said after the win. "We're proud of our team and the direction our program is heading. It's going to be a fun year with this team, they are truly selfless and very determined. They don't care who is in the other dugout, they are going to be playing hard."
"Hats off to Kassidy Wilbur," continued coach Dickson. "Her fight and flawless execution was enough to shut down one of the best programs in the country."
Senior first baseman Margarita Corona singled to left field with one out in the top of the second for the Ladyjacks first hit of the game, setting up the lone run of the afternoon. Following a Brittany Crawford walk and a fly out, Corona found herself on third base before Wolfe's RBI single to second base allowed Corona to reach home plate.
Mississippi State connected on hits in only the third inning with a pair of singles and had a runner in scoring position just three times, once in the bottom of the first, third and fourth innings. After a walk in the bottom of the sixth, SFA showcased its defense by completing a 6-4-3 double play to end the frame. The Ladyjacks had a couple of chances to tack on an insurance run, including in the top of the seventh when sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil double to right field and advanced to third on a groundout. However, with two outs already a strikeout ended any further chances.
Wilbur looked nothing like a freshman when she stepped into the circle in the bottom of the seventh inning. She struck out the side in order to clinch the weekend opening tournament and secure SFA's first win over a top-25 opponent in five years.
Dialing up nine strikeouts, Wilbur (4-0) earned her third complete-game win of the weekend, first career shutout and fourth win of the season. Wolfe finished the game 2-for-3 with her RBI, while Novegil went 2-for-4 at the plate.
The Bulldogs' Grace Fagan (1-1) took the loss inside the circle after tossing the first three innings and giving up four hits with two strikeouts.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will open up the home portion of their 2019 slate Wednesday, Feb. 13 with a midweek tilt against Louisiana-Monroe. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. from SFA Softball Field.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.
-SFA-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilbur, Kassidy (4-0)
L: G. Fagan (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Goodman, Tommi 1 ; Novegil, Bryana 1
RBI: Wolfe, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Corona, Margarita 1
HBP: Gregory, Lindsay 1
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Base Running:
SB: M. Petrey 1
HBP: S. Niu 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
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H
2
RBI
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AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
INF
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/ Softball
INF
/ Softball2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
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