State Drops Game One In Extra Innings To No. 12 Kentucky

Friday, May 6

Lexington, Ky.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

27-28, 0

#12 Kentucky

41-11, 0

Mississippi State

Kentucky

State Drops Game One In Extra Innings To No. 12 Kentucky

May 06, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. – What started as a pitching duel turned into a back-and-forth affair that saw the Mississippi State softball team (25-28, 3-19 SEC) fall to No. 12 Kentucky (41-11, 15-7 SEC) 3-2 in nine innings.

Four Bulldogs tallied multiple-hit games to combine for all eight of State's hits. Senior Kayla Winkfield and sophomore Calyn Adams led the way for MSU at the plate as each finished 2-for-3 with one run batted in and one walk.

“It was a great game played by both teams and we are one play away from a different outcome,” MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “We are looking forward to coming right back tomorrow and dominating the process.”

Pitching and defense were the story through the first half of the game as quick outs made for short innings. UK did not record its first hit until the bottom of the third, with MSU's coming in the top of the fourth.

The Bulldogs had the best scoring chance of both teams in the top of the sixth with one out, runners on the corners and Winkfield at the plate. The Wildcats gave Winkfield a pitch to hit and she made them pay with a standup double to straightaway center field, scoring senior Loryn Nichols from third and putting State on top 1-0.

Down to its final out of the game, the Wildcats extended the game a two-out double. A single down the line in left field plated the runner from second an tied the game at one run apiece to give UK renewed hope and send the game into extra innings.

A hit and a pair of walks loaded the bases for MSU in the top of the eighth with two outs as Adams stepped to the plate and continued her hot day with a slow-rolling single that scored junior Caroline Seitz from third and put State back on top, 2-1.

Once again, the Wildcats responded as a solo home run to left field allowed UK to tie the game at two in the home half of the eighth.

The home team didn't stop there as UK used a leadoff double to set the table in the ninth as a sacrifice bunt from the very next batter moved the runner to third. A wild pitch served as the dagger as the Wildcat runner scored from third to give UK the walk-off win, 3-2 in extra innings.

Meagan Prince (18-4) picked up the win for the Wildcats in relief as she allowed just two hits and one walk in 1.1 innings.

Junior Alexis Silkwood (4-12) suffered the loss, allowing all three Wildcat runs on seven hits and in 8.0 innings. Silkwood also struck out two and walked one. Sophomore Holly Ward entered in relief in the ninth and lasted 0.1 innings.

The two sides will retake the field at John Cropp Stadium on Saturday for game two with first pitch set for 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network+.

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