Bulldogs Unable To Win Pitcher?s Duel vs. No. 2 Florida

Friday, March 27

Starkville

5:30 PM

Mississippi State

24-9, 4-6

#3 Florida

31-3, 4-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Florida	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	3	5	1
Mississippi State	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	0

Bulldogs Unable To Win Pitcher?s Duel vs. No. 2 Florida

March 28, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Two of the Southeastern Conference's best pitchers were on display in Starkville as No. 2 Florida (31-3, 4-3 SEC) defeated Mississippi State (24-9, 4-6 SEC), 3-2, on Friday night at the MSU Softball Complex.

“Overall we played a quality ball game tonight. A couple of pitches here or there and you never know,” MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said.

After surrendering a home run to Florida in the first inning, sophomore pitcher Alexis Silkwood doubled to left-center field, scoring senior Julia Echols and sophomore Amanda Ivy from first and second, to gain the lead 2-1 after one inning.

The 2014 National Champions answered in the top half of the third until Silkwood and the Mississippi State defense locked down. After allowing the Gators to load the bases twice during the inning, MSU only allowed two runs in the inning, and Florida led 3-2 for the remainder of the game.

“Julia Echols led off the game with a double, Amanda Ivy earned a hard fought walk and Alexis Silkwood came through big with a two-run double in the bottom of the first. We had the game-winning run up to bat in the bottom of the seventh. The fight in this team inspires me,” said Stuedeman. “We need to regroup and get back after it again tomorrow.”

Haeger (14-0) earned the win after a complete-game effort for the Gators. She struck out 11 while only walking two and gave up two runs, both earned, on four hits. Silkwood (17-7) took the loss for State. In 7.0 innings, she gave up three runs, all earned, while striking out six and walking seven.

Game two of the series will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

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