State Sets New Attendance Record, Drops #SBW15 Opener

Friday, April 17

Starkville

5:30 PM

Mississippi State

31-14, 9-10

#12 Tennessee

33-11, 9-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Tennessee	0	1	0	1	0	0	2	4	8	0
Mississippi State	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	3	12	2

State Sets New Attendance Record, Drops #SBW15 Opener

April 18, 2015 | Softball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. – After a couple of rainy days, the Mississippi State softball team (31-14, 9-10 SEC) fell to No. 12 Tennessee (33-11, 9-7 SEC) at the MSU Softball Field on the opening day of Super Bulldog Weekend.

With three home games remaining on the season, the Bulldogs set a new attendance record with 881 fans present at tonight's game. This is the second year in a row that the previous record has been exceeded.

Sophomore Mackenzie Toler went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Sophomore Katie Anne Bailey went 2-for-3 with a run and walk. Junior Kayla Winkfield went 3-for-3 with a run, RBI and walk.

Tennessee scored first with a solo homerun to left field in the top of the second inning giving them an early lead 1-0. The Lady Vols would plate another run in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to center field extending the lead to 2-0.

Senior Julia Echols ripped one for a stand up double to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Alexis Silkwood contributed offensively with a hit to score Echols cutting the UT lead to 2-1.

In the bottom of the sixth Winkfield was walked and then proceeded to steal second. Sophomore Amanda Ivy was hit by pitch to give State runners on first and second. Echols was also plunked and loaded up the bases with only one out. Toler then drew an RBI walk to tie up the game, 2-2.

An error from the Bulldogs allowed UT to score two in the top of the seventh to get back on top 4-2.

Bailey drew a walk to start off the bottom of the seventh, followed by senior Erika Gaul driving a ball down the left field line for an RBI double making it 4-3. State loaded the bases, but was unable to draw any closer before the final out was recorded.

The winning pitcher for Tennessee, Rainey Gaffin (9-2), pitched 6.0 innings with 12 hits, three runs, three walks, and two strikeouts. Cheyanne Tarango provided 1.0 innings of relief with one walk. The losing pitcher for Mississippi State, Silkwood (22-11), pitched 7.0 innings with eight hits, four runs, four walks, and four strikeouts.

Game two is set for Saturday, April 18 with first pitch set for 3 p.m. CT. Admission to all games at the MSU Softball Stadium is free and open to the public. The game will air live 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.”