State Falls At No. 12 Kentucky In Eight Innings

Saturday, May 7

Lexington, Ky.

11:00 PM

Mississippi State

25-29, 0

#12 Kentucky

42-11, 0

Mississippi State

Kentucky

State Falls At No. 12 Kentucky In Eight Innings

May 07, 2016 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second-straight day, a pitching duel turned into defeat in extra innings for the Mississippi State softball team (25-29, 3-20 SEC) as No. 12 Kentucky (42-11, 16-7 SEC) won 1-0 in eight innings.

Following a nine-inning game one on Friday night, the two sides followed with another extra-inning affair in game two Saturday at John Cropp Stadium.

“Just like yesterday it was a very good game and we were very close to a different outcome,” MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “We'll come back on Toughness Sunday ready to battle.”

Just as was the theme in Friday night's game one, pitching and defense controlled the game early as both teams put runners on, but were kept scoreless through the game's first seven innings which sent the contest into extra innings once again.

The Bulldogs had opportunities in the first three innings of the game with a combined seven runners left on base, but the UK defense kept them from crossing home plate.

An error allowed the leadoff hitter to get all the way to send base in the bottom of the eighth. An attempted pickoff play at second base went in favor of the Wildcats as a Bulldog error allowed the runner to score all the way from second and lift UK to the 1-0 walk-off win.

Meagan Prince (19-4) picked up the win in 7.0 innings of relief after allowing just three hits and one walk, paired with four strikeouts.

Sophomore Holly Ward (9-8) was stellar in the circle for State, allowing just two hits and one unearned run. Ward also struck out four and walked five in the complete-game effort.

The series will conclude tomorrow with first pitch set for noon CT. Fans can follows the action on SEC Network+ and HailStatePLUS.

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.”