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Mississippi State's (30-10) softball team knocked off #1 LSU (36-4) 9-4 with a solid performance from Alexis Silkwood (pitching and batting) and an overall dominant offense to get their 30th win of the year. This win was also the 1st win over a top ranked team for MSU here in Starkville.
The Bulldogs led the entire game as the offense was hot all evening, starting with 2 runs in the bottom of the first, another in the bottom of the second, and 2 more in the 4th. While the bats were hot all night, the offense exploded in the bottom of the 6th to give MSU 4 runs, 2 of which came on a homerun from Silkwood. LSU helped State's offense out with three errors that helped to extend MSU's lead. The Bulldogs compiled 11 hits.
Silkwood was able to put together a complete game tonight, moving her record to 22-7 with the win. Even though she gave up 12 hits, walked a pair of batters and only struck out 2 Tigers, LSU couldn't capitalize on many opportunities
The Tigers were actually able to outhit MSU, compiling 12 hits and forcing 2 errors from State, but they failed at getting more than 4 runs. Silkwood held the Tigers scoreless into the 5th inning, where they scored 2. The Tigers then scored 2 more runs in the top of the 7th but left the bases loaded at their last out, unable to plate more than 4 runs.
The starter for LSU, Allie Walliasper, only lasted 2.1 innings as she struggled and gave up the first 3 runs, 2 of which were earned. The Tigers then turned to Carley Hoover for 3.1 innings, who in turn gave up 4 runs, and then later went to Baylee Corbello to finish the game.
The 5 run differential is the largest that LSU has lost by this year, they lost 3-1 to then #1 ranked Florida and later lost 1-3 and 2-5 in a series loss to #16 ranked Kentucky.
The win over the Tigers (36-4) will count as an out of conference win but should heavily boost MSU (30-10) in RPI. The Tigers will go on to play 11th ranked Tennessee this weekend and heads to Lake Charles next Wednesday before returning to Baton Rouge to play Texas A&M next weekend.
MSU, now on a 6 game win streak, heads to Columbia, Missouri to face another team of Tigers this weekend and will return home next Wednesday to play South Alabama before facing Tennessee next weekend for Super Bulldog Weekend.