Bailey’s Walk-Off Homer Leads MSU Softball over No. 8 Georgia

March 8, 2015

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – One swing separated Mississippi State (18-5, 1-2 SEC) and No. 8 Georgia (21-3, 2-1 SEC) on the diamond Sunday afternoon in Starkville. Sophomore catcher Katie Anne Bailey lifted the home team to an 8-7 victory with a walk-off home run in the ninth.

“This win was a total team effort. That was the definition of toughness against a great Georgia team and a tough pitcher,” said assistant coach Samantha Ricketts. “The fight shown up and down our line up from (Kayla) Winkfield to (Katie Anne) Bailey was phenomenal. And (Alexis) Silkwood’s determination to finish the game was fun to watch too.”

(HailState.com/Bill Simmonds)

Georgia started their scoring early. Junior shortstop Alex Hugo hit a three-run homer in the top of the first, and UGA continued to score, adding another run in the top of the second to lead 4-0 after two innings.

MSU responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the third. An RBI double and an RBI single by sophomore Caroline Seitz and sophomore Mackenzie Toler, respectively, accounted for three runs in the inning. An error by the left fielder brought the inning run total to four. After three innings, State and Georgia were locked in a dogfight and tied 4-4.

After Georgia scored in the top of the fifth, Seitz launched a double to left center and advanced to third on an error in the home half of the inning. Sophomore pitcher Alexis Silkwood batted the run in with a sacrifice fly to center field, and the Maroon & White again tied the game, this time at five.

Trailing UGA by two runs headed into the final frame of the game, State used a clutch two-out triple by junior Kayla Winkfield to score Toler and Silkwood and send the game into extra innings tied at seven.

Bailey ended the game for State when she launched a walk-off home run to straight-away center field with one out in the bottom of the ninth, setting the final score at 8-7.

Chealsea Wilkinson (13-3) took the loss for Georgia and in 8.1 innings of work, she surrendered eight runs, six earned, while walking four and striking out five.

Silkwood (13-3) earned the win for State in a complete game, nine-inning effort. She notched seven strikeouts, walked seven and gave up seven runs, six of which were earned.

State will travel for midweek road games against Lipscomb and Samford on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. First pitch vs. Lipscomb is set for 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday.