Bulldog Bats Unable to Match No. 21 Mizzou

Friday, April 10

Columbia, Mo.

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

30-11, 8-8

#21 Missouri

25-9, 7-6

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

Bulldog Bats Unable to Match No. 21 Mizzou

April 11, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite numerous stellar defensive plays from the Mississippi State defense, the Bulldogs (30-11, 8-8 SEC) were unable to awaken their bats in a 3-2 loss to No. 21 Missouri (25-9, 7-6 SEC) at University Field on Friday night.

Mizzou drew first blood in the home half of the second as a single to the right side scored a runner from third made it 1-0.

State had runners on base in each of the first five innings, but was unable to bring any Bulldog runners across the plate. The MSU defense turned in two double plays to keep Mizzou from formulating any additional offense.

On a pair of errors in the fifth, the Tigers capitalized to bring another two run across, pushing their lead to 3-0 over MSU.

Down to their final two outs in the seventh, the Bulldogs started clawing back as a Mizzou throwing error plated junior Loryn Nichols to make it 3-1. A single through the left side from sophomore Mackenzie Toler closed the gap further and made it 3-2 after senior Julia Echols crossed the dish.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Mizzou defense locked in to record the final two outs and clinch the 3-2 series-opening victory.

Starting pitcher Tori Finucane (13-6) got the win for the Tigers as in 4.0 innings of work, she struck out three and allowed just three hits, while having kept State scoreless. Sophomore and back-to-back SEC Pitcher of the Week Alexis Silkwood (22-8) suffered the loss for State as in 6.0 innings she surrendered six hits for three runs, one earned, and also struck out three batters.

Paige Lowary (2) recorded the save as she tossed the final three innings for Mizzou and gave up the two MSU runs in the seventh.

The Bulldogs and Tigers will go at it again for game two on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT. The contest will air on SEC Network+ through WatchESPN.com and the “Watch ESPN” app.

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.”