The Mississippi State softball team rebounded from a loss to BYU with a win over San Diego State late Saturday night in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, California.
The Bulldogs (12-3) beat the Aztecs 10-4 in their final game of the tournament behind a pair of big innings: a four-run second and a five-run fourth.
Senior first baseman Fa Leilua led Mississippi State with a 3-for-4 day featuring a two-run home run and an RBI single.
Junior designated player Carter Spexarth and junior third baseman Montana Davidson also homered for Mississippi State. Spexarth went deep to left in the second inning to start the scoring, and Davidson hit a two-run shot in the fourth.
Senior second baseman Lindsey Williams, senior left fielder Candace Denis, junior catcher Mia Davidson and sophomore center fielder Anna Kate Segars all drove in runs against the Aztecs.
San Diego State scored all four runs in the top of the fourth against freshman Kenley Hawk and Troy transfer Annie Willis. Hawk allowed a double, an error and another double before being pulled with nobody out, and two more errors and a sacrifice fly tied the game with Willis in the circle.
But Montana Davidson’s two-run homer gave Mississippi State the lead back in the bottom of the inning, and Leilua followed suit three batters later.
Mississippi State will host Central Arkansas at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Nusz Park in Starkville.
BYU 6, Mississippi State 2
The Bulldogs (11-3) fell behind in the first inning as the Cougars pushed a run across, and Mississippi State never led.
BYU added one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and two in the seventh. Mississippi State sophomore Grace Fagan was charged with four runs (three earned) in 4.1 innings, and junior Emily Williams allowed two unearned runs as she finished out the game.
Mississippi State scored on a sacrifice fly by Montana Davidson in the fourth and an RBI single by Denis in the sixth. Denis led the Bulldogs with two hits.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
