State Falls To No. 16 Missouri On Senior Day

Saturday, April 30

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

25-26, 3-17

#16 Missouri

36-12, 11-9

Missouri

Mississippi State

State Falls To No. 16 Missouri On Senior Day

April 30, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State (25-26, 3-17 SEC) dropped the second game of its weekend series with No. 16 Missouri (36-12, 11-9 SEC) on Saturday night at Nusz Park. Despite collecting eight hits, the Bulldogs failed to plate enough runners and fell to the Tigers 3-1.

Junior Mackenzie Toler led the State offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate along with driving in the lone MSU run on the night. Sophomore Calyn Adams also put in a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3 at the dish.

“We were able to outhit Missouri eight to six tonight, but gave up too many freebies to pull of the win,” MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “I think the big key is that they capitalized on their opportunities and we did not. We stroked the ball pretty well tonight, but Missouri was always able to make the defensive plays needed.”

MU threatened immediately with runners on the corners and an out in the first, but junior catcher Katie Anne Bailey ended the inning with a double play, hustling to tag out two Tiger runners.

With a two-out double down the left field line, MU senior Emily Crane put the Tigers ahead 1-0 in the third. Crane advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a single from senior Sami Fagan to put the visitors on top 2-0.

Fagan hurt the Bulldogs again in the fifth as walk, single, and error loaded the bases for the Tigers. With a single into shallow right field, just out of the reach of Adams, Fagan extended the Missouri lead to 3-0. Ward tossed a strikeout and influenced a fly-out to end the inning with limited damage.

Junior Mackenzie Toler looked to rally the Bulldogs in the home half of the sixth with a screaming single to center field that plated sophomore pinch runner Olivia Golden from second to bring MSU within two as the score sat at 2-1.

A Tiger pitching change did State in as the Bulldogs were unable to draw any closer before MU secured the win and the series.

Missouri freshman Danielle Baumgartner (14-3) earned the win despite allowing all eight of MSU's hits over five innings. Sophomore Paige Lowery (2) relieved her and threw two no-hit innings, striking out four to collect the save.

Sophomore starter Holly Ward (9-7) took the loss as she pitched 6.0 frames, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out five. Junior Alexis Silkwood pitched the final inning, just allowing one hit.

The three-game series will conclude Sunday at 3:30 p.m. CT with a tilt that will be nationally televised on the SEC Network.

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.”