MSU Come Up Short to #12 Tennessee 4-3

Mississippi State (31-14, 9-10 SEC) started Super Bulldog Weekend off on a slightly sour note as they dropped game 1 of the series with #12 Tennessee (33-11, 9-7 SEC) by 1 run in a score of 4-3. The Lady Bulldogs were able to get 12 hits off of a very good Lady Vol pitching staff, but they stranded 14, which led to plating only 3 runs. Tennessee was slightly more efficient by scoring their 4 runs on 8 hits and 2 errors from MSU.

Although MSU was able to get the first hit of the series in the 1^st inning, Tennessee got the first score of the weekend on a single home run shot into left field from Taylor Koenig. In fact, that’s pretty much how the first 4 innings of the game went, with MSU out hitting UT by a margin of 7 to 5 while being outscored by the Lady Vols 2-0.

MSU attempted a late inning comeback, something they’ve become known for the past few weeks of this season. In the bottom of the 5^th, Alexis Silkwood drove Julia Echols in on a single RBI up the middle to bring the game to 2-1 in UT’s favor. In the bottom of the 6^th, while the bases were loaded, Mackenzie Toler was walked, bringing in a run to tie the game. Unfortunately, State’s attempt at a rally fell short as an error in the top of the 7^th while the Lady Vols had loaded the bases helped score 2 runs, and push the game ultimately out of reach. State’s one last shot at a comeback came in the final frame, as Erika Gaul got an RBI double on a powerful hit down the left field line. This brought the game to 4-3 but State failed to score again.

State turned to Alexis Silkwood, as she pitched yet another complete game. She threw an astonishing 152 pitches while giving up 8 hits and 4 runs, 3 of which were earned. Silkwood walked 5 batters and struck out 3. Her record is now 22-11. Tennessee put Rainey Gaffin in the circle to start and ultimately complete the game. She was relieved for the 6^th inning by Cheyanne Tarango, but returned to pitch the 7^th.

Prior to the game, senior 2^nd baseman Julia Echols was awarded the Newsom Award, which is given to a student-athlete from each sport to recognize them for academic excellence. All of the student-athlete recipients will be recognized together as a group at the Mississippi State Maroon-White spring game at halftime.

State’s next game against Tennessee has been moved up to 3 P.M. today due to threat of inclement weather.