Softball Unable To Hold Off Cal State Fullerton

Sunday, March 13

Long Beach, Calif

1:30 PM

Mississippi State

18-6

Cal State Fullerton

18-8

Mississippi State

Cal State Fullerton

Softball Unable To Hold Off Cal State Fullerton

March 13, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

LONG BEACH, Calif. – A balanced offensive attack and solid pitching was not enough for Mississippi State (18-6) to overcome a trio of fielding errors as State fell 3-2 to Cal State Fullerton (18-8) Sunday.

The Bulldogs looked to get revenge in the rematch of Saturday's game with the Titans, but a sixth-inning run did MSU in and moved them to 1-3 in the Louisville Slugger Invitational.

Seven Bulldogs combined for State's seven hits in the game as senior Kayla Winkfield and sophomore Calyn Adams drove in the two MSU runs.

“This tough preseason schedule has prepared us for Southeastern Conference play,” head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “It's important that we stay confident in the process and each other.”

The designated home team, CSUF brought across the game's first run on a squeeze bunt with a runner on third to take a 1-0 lead in the second.

The Bulldogs answered immediately in the top of the third as singles Adams and junior Katie Anne Bailey set the table for Winkfield. With two outs, Winkfield beat out an infield single and alert base running from Adams allowed her to score from second and tie the game at one.

After recording a double play to keep the Titans off the board in the top of the fourth, State went on the offensive. After junior Caroline Seitz reached via hit by pitch, classmates Amanda Ivy and Mackenzie Toler delivered singles to load the bases. Adams stepped to the plate with a chance to capitalize and did just that as the first pitch she saw plunked her, bringing Seitz across and putting the Bulldogs ahead 2-1.

With a runner on second and two outs in the fifth, CSUF used a single into center to bring the runner across, bringing the score to a 2-2 tie.

The Titans would complete the comeback in the bottom of the sixth by taking advantage of the third MSU fielding error of the game to score the go-ahead run that would put CSUF on top 3-2 and be the difference maker.

Sydney Golden (9-2) picked up the complete-game win for the Titans, allowing two runs on seven hits.

Sophomore Holly Ward (8-2) took the loss as she allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in the game's final two innings. Freshman Regan Green got the start in the circle for MSU and allowed one run on two hits in 3.0 innings. Toler bridged the gap between Green and Ward, allowing just one hit in one inning.

MSU and No. 14 UCLA are still in the process of working to schedule a make-up date for the game that was rained out Friday before the Bulldogs head home Tuesday.

After returning home from California, State will prepare for a three-game series against No. 3 Auburn at Nusz Park to open SEC play. The series will open with game one Friday, March 18 at 6 p.m. CT. All three games of the series will air on SEC Network+, exclusively through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. The voice of Bulldog softball, Anthony Craven, will have the call.

For more information on the MSU softball program, follow “HailStateSB” on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all-access coverage of the Bulldogs on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”