Bulldogs Drop SEC Series Opener to No. 15/18 Kentucky

Friday, March 15

Lexington, Ky.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

19-6, 0

#15 Kentucky

18-7, 0

Mississippi St.

Kentucky

Mississippi State out-hit Kentucky, 4-3, in game one of the series.

Bulldogs Drop SEC Series Opener to No. 15/18 Kentucky

March 15, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Box Score (PDF)

by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A two-home run performance by Kentucky senior Katie Reed helped carry the No. 15/18 Wildcats (18-7, 4-0 SEC) to an 8-0 victory over Mississippi State softball (19-6, 0-1 SEC) in five innings on Friday at John Cropp Stadium.

Three errors plagued the Bulldog defense and allowed the Wildcats to score seven unearned runs. Reed led the Wildcats as she knocked two home runs for six RBIs.

MSU out-hit the Wildcats and racked up four singles over the contest. Sophomore Mia Davidson extended her hit streak to 12 consecutive games with an infield single to deep shortstop in the first inning.

Freshman Grace Fagan as strong in her SEC debut in the circle. The left-hander allowed just three hits and two walks over her four innings of work. Seven of the eight runs allowed by the freshman were unearned as she struck out five in the contest.

The Wildcats took advantage of a Bulldog error in the home-half of the opening frame to plate four unearned runs. Reed delivered the big hit in the inning for UK with a three-run home run to left field.

Fagan settled down in the second frame, retiring the Wildcats in order, but two Bulldogs errors kept the inning alive as Kentucky plated four additional runs with help of Reed's second three-run homer of the game.

Kentucky kept MSU off the base paths until the fourth inning when senior Kat Moore knocked the second Bulldog hit of the night with a two-out infield single to second base, but a fly out in foul territory retired the side.

Needing to plate a run in the top of the fifth to extend the game, sophomore Carter Spexarth led off the inning with a single to right field, the first Bulldog hit to leave the infield. Kentucky retired the lead runner with a fielding a ground ball to second on a fielder's choice.

Redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson singled to center field, but a heads-up play by Kentucky's centerfield forced the second out at second before an infield pop-up closed out the game.

KENTUCKY SERIES SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, March 15
Game One –No. 15/18 Kentucky def. Mississippi State, 8-0 [5 inn.]

Saturday, March 16
Game Two – Mississippi State at No. 15/18 Kentucky – 11 a.m. CT

Sunday, March 17
Game Three – Mississippi State at No. 15/18 Kentucky – 11 a.m. CT

ON DECK
The Bulldogs return John Cropp Stadium for the second game of their SEC opening weekend at Kentucky on Saturday, March 16. Game two against the Wildcats is set for an 11 a.m. CT start on the SEC Network.

WATCH LIVE
The final two contests at Kentucky will be televised nationally on the SEC Network with Pam Ward (play-by-play) and Jenny Dalton-Hill (analyst) on the call. The games will also be streamed online via WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app.

Saturday, March 16 – Mississippi State at #15/18 Kentucky (SEC Network)
Sunday, March 17 – Mississippi State at #15/18 Kentucky (SEC Network)

LIVE STATS
Kentucky will provide live stats for all three-games of the weekend series via SideArm Sports. Live stats can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

ADMISSION
Tickets for this weekend series at John Cropp Stadium can be purchased by visiting www.ukathleticstix.com.

WEATHER
Saturday: 48 Degrees – Sunny (10%)
Sunday: 50 Degrees – Mostly Cloudy (10%)

FOLLOW THE DAWGS
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".