Dispatch Staff Report
As Washington sprinted toward starting pitcher Gabbie Plain in the circle at Husky Softball Stadium in Seattle, Mississippi State senior infielder Emily Heimberger pressed her head into the beam at the top of the dugout.
With her arms hiding her face, the bitterness of defeat set in for the MSU softball team as they were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament with an 8-0 loss to Washington Sunday night in the Seattle Regional Championship game.
The Bulldogs struggled to muster much of anything at the plate as Plain tossed the 40th no-hitter in Washington history.
Senior Kat Moore was the lone base runner for MSU, earning a walk in the second inning. Moore was doubled off the following at-bat as Plain corralled a line drive right at her and delivered a throw to first to catch her off the bag.
MSU starter sophomore Emily Williams was chased after just 4 1/3 innings of work. Williams allowed seven runs off six hits.
Freshman Grace Fagan pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, surrendering just one run on two hits.
With the loss MSU continues its hunt for the program’s first-ever Super Regional appearance.
The Bulldogs have now reached the NCAA tournament in seven of the past eight years. This year also marked the first time MSU has played in the regional championship game in back-to-back seasons.
GAME ONE
MSU 5, Seattle 3: MSU came out firing in its 5-3 tournament-opening win over Seattle University Friday.
Moore led the Bulldogs offense with a three-run double in the third inning to put MSU ahead 3-1.
MSU plated another two runs on a Seattle error in the sixth inning.
Seattle cut the lead to two in the seventh inning off a two-run homer from Carley Nance before Williams retired the next three batters to earn her 14th win of the year.
Friday was the first time since 2007 that the Bulldogs opened a regional with a win.
GAME TWO
Washington 6, MSU 1: The Bulldogs’ bats fell silent in Saturday’s 6-1 loss to No. 2 Washington.
Morganne Flores paced the Huskies offense with two home runs on the day.
Moore notched the only MSU run with a solo homer in the second inning. Junior Candace Denis was the lone Bulldog batter to record a multi-hit game.
GAME THREE
MSU 7, Seattle 3: MSU staved off elimination Saturday night by downing Seattle 7-3 later Saturday.
Sophomore Mia Davidson’s fifth inning home run gave her 26 on the year — breaking the Southeastern Conference’s single-season record.
Her sister, redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson was also prolific at the plate, finishing the night 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
Williams notched her 15th win of the season after throwing 5 1/3 innings. She allowed just three runs on six hits.
With the win, MSU advanced to the regional final for the second-straight year.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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