Ladyjacks Hold SEC Foe to Three Runs at No. 24 Mississippi State

Friday, February 8

Starkville, Miss.

6:45 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

1-1

No. 24 Mississippi State

2-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Stephen F. Austin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Mississippi State	0	0	2	1	0	0	X	3	4	0

Margarita_Corona_SHSU_SouthlandTournament18

Photo by: Raymond Stewart

Ladyjacks Hold SEC Foe to Three Runs at No. 24 Mississippi State

2/8/2019 10:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Softball keeps 24th-ranked Bulldogs in check, holds host Mississippi State to just four hits

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

SFA (1-1) vs. Middle Tennessee (1-1)
Saturday, Feb. 9 | 10 a.m. | Nusz Park | Starkville, Miss.
Live Stats

SFA (1-1) at/vs. TBD
Saturday, Feb. 9 | 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. | Nusz Park | Starkville, Miss.
Live Stats

STARKVILLE, Miss. – In the sleet and freezing rain Friday evening in Starkville, Mississippi, the SFA softball team battled Southeastern Conference mainstay and nationally-ranked Mississippi State in a three-run affair. The Ladyjacks (1-1), fresh off of an impressive pitching display in a 6-2 season opening victory over Valparaiso, made things difficult for the Bulldogs (2-0) by holding the home team to just four hits in a 3-0 game.

Another Ladyjack making her SFA debut inside the circle, another promising performance for the future. Junior Galveston College transfer right-hander Ashley Kriesel (0-1) tossed six innings on the rubber and recorded five strikeouts, giving up just four hits and three runs against one of the nation's top teams.

"Two amazing pitching performances today from (Kassidy) Wilbur and (Ashley) Kriesel," head coach Nicole Dickson commented after day one of the season. "We saw a lot of positives on day one to build upon. We played well today, however, this team has a lot more in the tank and a lot more to give. There are some routine things on defense we need to clean up."

"We can do something special this year, but it's going to take 100 percent from everyone every day," continued coach Dickson. "It's going to take a growth mindset versus this level of competition."

Ranked 24th nationally according to the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) preseason poll, Mississippi State got on the board twice in the third inning after a walk led to an RBI triple by the Bulldogs' Emily Heimberger. Moments later, Mia Davidson flied out to center field for a sacrifice, giving the home team a 2-0 advantage.

Mississippi State's pair of third-inning runs came after senior shortstop Emily Wolfe singled to lead off the top of the third. Following a hit-by-pitch, the Ladyjacks had a pair of runners on with no outs but weren't able to drive in a run.

A pitching duel for most the night between Kriesel and the Bulldogs' steady righty Emily Williams, Mississippi State increased its lead to three after Montana Davidson collected an RBI in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out double to center field. SFA put a runner in scoring position with only one out in the top of the sixth as sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil singled to the left side and then senior first baseman Margarita Corona singled through the left side. However, the Bulldogs' Williams dialed up another strikeout and a flyout to deep center field ended the Ladyjacks' best chance to tie things up.

Mississippi State first baseman Sarai Niu went 2-for-3 in the game, while Williams (1-0) finished with 14 strikeouts and only one walk to earn her first complete game shutout of the season.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks return to Nusz Park Saturday morning for a 10 a.m. first pitch against Conference USA's Middle Tennessee (1-1). The game can be followed via live statistics at HailState.com. SFA will most likely play its fourth Bulldog Kickoff Classic game at 5:30 p.m. versus either Middle Tennessee once again or Valparaiso.

Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.

-SFA-