Bulldogs Drop Series Opener in Knoxville

Friday, April 12

Knoxville, Tenn.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

25-15, 3-10

#9 Tennessee

30-8, 8-5

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

Kat Moore tallied one of Mississippi State's two hits during Friday's series opener at No. 9/8 Tennessee.

Bulldogs Drop Series Opener in Knoxville

April 12, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score Box Score (PDF)

by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ashley Rogers limited Mississippi State softball (25-15, 3-10 SEC) to two hits as No. 9/8 Tennessee (30-8, 8-5 SEC) opened the weekend series with a 4-0 victory Friday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

Junior Candace Denis and senior Kat Moore collected the lone Mississippi State hits in the contests as the duo both knocked singles. Rogers (14-2) only allowed the two base runners and struck out four for the Lady Vols.

Sophomore Emily Williams (8-5) tossed the complete game for Mississippi State. Williams held Tennessee to one run until the fifth inning. The right-hander close the game allowing four runs off five hits, five walks while striking out four.

After trading two scoreless innings, the Lady Vols manufacture the first run of the game with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Jenna Holcomb got on board with a hard-hit single back to the pitcher before swiping second to move into scoring position. Kaitlin Parsons drove in the first run of the game with a single to center.

Tennessee loaded up the bases with back-to-back walks, but sophomore Emily Williams limited the damage to the lone run with a bases-loaded strikeout.

Holcomb led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk before coming around to score on Parsons' triple to right field. Aubrey Leach pushed Tennessee lead to 3-0 with a sacrifice fly to left field. A Haley Bearden home run to right field to lead off the sixth inning plated the final run of the game.

Mississippi State's best scoring chance came in the top of the fourth as Moore knocked a two-out single up the middle before advancing to second to put a Bulldog in scoring position, but a ground ball to second kept State off the board in the series opener.

TENNESSEE SERIES SCHEDULE
Friday, April 12
Game One – No. 9/8 Tennessee def. Mississippi State, 4-0

Saturday, April 13
Game Two – Mississippi State at No. 9/8 Tennessee – 12 p.m. CT

Sunday, April 14
Game Three – Mississippi State at No. 9/8 Tennessee – 12:30 p.m. CT

WATCH LIVE
The final two contests at Tennessee will be streamed on the SEC Network + via Watch ESPN and the ESPN app.
Saturday, April 13 – Mississippi State at No. 9/8 Tennessee (SEC Network +)
Sunday, April 14 – Mississippi State at No. 9/8 Tennessee (SEC Network +)

LIVE STATS
Tennessee will provide live stats for all three games over the weekend series via SideArm Sports. Live stats may be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

ADMISSION
Admission to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium is $5. Fans may purchase tickets by CLICKING HERE.

WEATHER
Saturday: 73 Degrees – Thunderstorm (80%)
Sunday: 72 Degrees – Thunderstorm (90%)

ON DECK
Mississippi State rounds out its non-conference schedule with its final midweek of the season as the Bulldogs travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to face UAB. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT.

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".