Softball Completes Sweep of Middle Tennessee with Walk-Off Double

Saturday, February 9

Starkville, Miss.

5:30 p.m

Stephen F. Austin

3-1

Middle Tennessee

1-3

Middle Tennessee

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Softball Completes Sweep of Middle Tennessee with Walk-Off Double

2/9/2019 8:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Ladyjacks defeat Blue Raiders 2-1 with freshman Alex Hedspeth’s one-out RBI double in the bottom of the seventh

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

SFA (3-1) at No. 24 Mississippi State (3-0)
Sunday, Feb. 10 | 1:30 p.m. | Nusz Park | Starkville, Miss.
SEC Network+ | Live Stats

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Freshman right fielder Alex Hedspeth faired pretty well on her second day of competing as a NCAA Division I softball player, going 4-for-6 with four RBI in two wins, including a one-out RBI double walk-off to propel SFA to a 2-1 victory over Middle Tennessee Saturday evening inside Nusz Park in Starkville, Mississippi. The Ladyjacks (3-1), who defeated the Blue Raiders (1-3) 7-1 earlier in the day, found themselves in a tie game for much of the evening before Hedspeth's double completed SFA's two-game sweep.

With the win, the Ladyjacks advance to the Bulldog Kickoff Classic championship game where they will meet 24th-ranked Mississippi State for the second time of the weekend.

"Two great team wins today against a very talented program," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the game. "I'm very proud of my team and coaching staff. Day two of the season displayed great pitching in the circle from Jordan Llinas and Kassidy Wilbur and defensively, we made routine plays and handled pressure situations."

Knotted at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, freshman Mackenzie Bennett pinch hit to lead things off and singled to right field before senior shortstop Emily Wolfe made a sacrifice bunt. Hedspeth stepped up to the plate and took a one-out pitch into left field, allowing junior catcher Bailey Richards to cross home plate for the game-winning run.

"We needed a game like tonight," coach Dickson continued. "A hard-fought win against a great program, that grows our leadership, confidence and tenacity. Freshman Alex Hedspeth set the tone all day in the leadoff spot. Tonight, Mackenzie Bennett had a pinch hit single and Emily Wolfe moved her over with a sacrifice bunt before Hedspeth did her job to score the walk-off run."

Lining seven hits in the contest and giving up just four, SFA broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hedspeth smacked a two-out RBI triple into right field allowing Wolfe to score. However, the 1-0 lead would be short lived as Middle Tennessee got an RBI single from Claire Smith in the top of the next frame.

The Ladyjacks would get runners in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth but a throw-out at home plate on a Tommi Goodman single up the middle thwarted SFA's chance. Following a walk and a sacrifice bunt in the top of the seventh, the Blue Raiders had a runner in scoring position with only one out but freshman right-handed reliever Kassidy Wilbur struck out a pair to take away any threat.

Hedspeth went 2-for-2 in the game with her two RBI, while Wolfe was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Junior right-handed starter Jordan Llinas went five and 1/3 innings inside the circle and allowed just two hits, before junior Galveston College transfer righty Ashley Kriesel tossed 2/3 innings. Wilbur (3-0) earned her third win of the weekend with her one-inning, two-strikeout performance.

Middle Tennessee's Kailey Ahlstrom (0-2) took the loss after throwing the final 2/3 innings in relief of Sarah Pinkston, who struck out three and walked none in the opening five and 2/3 innings.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks face No. 24 Mississippi State in the Bulldog Kickoff Classic championship game Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the SEC Network+ via WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app and live statistics of the action can be followed at HailState.com.

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

-SFA-