Kat Moore’s catch makes ESPN Top 10

A big-time play by Kat Moore wrapped up a big Mississippi State win and earned the Marshall Aca­demy graduate the national spotlight.

Moore made a diving catch on a fly ball to left field, sealing State’s 1-0 win over Alabama Saturday. The spectacular catch was number 10 on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of The Day.

The MSU victory ended Alabama’s 20-game winning streak.

Moore also had a hit in the game.

She is a 2015 graduate of Marshall Academy where she played for head coach Carlton Gibson.

The write-up about the Saturday game, from www.hail­state.com, follows.

Under the lights of Nusz Park, Holly Ward closed out a spectacular pitching performance, leading the Mississippi State Bulldogs (22-6, 2-3 SEC) to a 1-0 victory against the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (27-3, 4-1 SEC) on Saturday.

 “I’m just really excited for the kids,” MSU coach Vann Stuedeman said. “They really played great. Holly Ward threw a great game and I’m really excited for the fans. They came out, the place was packed, it was a great night. It was fun to be able to come out with a victory for those guys and for the kids.”

 State used an RBI single from Amanda Ivy in the second frame to notch the only run it would need. Calyn Adams led off the inning with an infield single and would advance to third after a fielding error allowed Alexis Silkwood to reach safely. After a strikeout, Ivy stepped up and delivered a clutch two-out single over the second baseman to bring Adams home.

 From there, Ward kept up her unbelievable night in the circle. Ward would retire 10-straight batters from the first to the end of the fourth inning. Only three batters would reach base for the remainder of the game, with Ward slamming the door on the Tide with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Ward’s final inning was not without a pair of amazing plays, as Reggie Harrison would range across the infield to make an amazing grab and throw to first. The final out would come via left fielder Kat Moore, who made an unreal diving catch on a fly ball to left, sealing State’s win.

Along with Ivy and Adams, Moore would be the third Bulldog to notch a hit on the night.

Ward’s fifth win of the season was also the fourth complete game shutout of her career. In seven innings of work, she allowed no runs on two hits, striking out three and walking only two.

“We had a plan going in,” Ward said. “We’ve just worked the process all week preparing and I just trusted myself and my defense. My defense just worked for me.”