MSU Softball Is Eliminated From Lafayette Regional

LAFAYETTE, La. (MSU Athletics) – Playing in a Lafayette Regional that was greatly affected by weather throughout the weekend, Mississippi State was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.

After having defeated Weber State, 2-0, the Bulldogs earned a rematch with No. 18 Baylor, but were unable to exact revenge as MSU fell 2-0 at Lamson Park.

With its season-ending loss, State fell to a final record of 36-21 after a season that saw numerous offensive records fall and the Bulldogs make their 12th NCAA Tournament appearance in 16 seasons.

GAME ONE: MSU 2, Weber State 0
Facing Big Sky Tournament Champion Weber State on Saturday in the first elimination game of the Lafayette Regional, State used strong pitching and defense, along with timely hitting, to stay alive.

For the second time in as many days, sophomore Caroline Seitz went yard for a home run, this time a solo shot in the first to put MSU on top 1-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, lightning and rain caused the game to be postponed until noon on Sunday. After a 16 hour, 11 minute delay between pitches, the game resumed.

With runners on second and third in the sixth, a sacrifice fly from sophomore Amanda Ivy scored junior Kayla Winkfield from third to make it a 2-0 game with the insurance run.

Sophomore Alexis Silkwood (26-15) sealed the victory in the seventh as she got Weber State three up, three down to collect the complete-game shutout as she allowed just three hits and recorded seven strikeouts. For the Wildcats, starting pitcher Flint MaCauley (14-9) received the loss as she lasted just 1.2 innings and allowed the home run to Seitz.

The win advanced the Bulldogs into another elimination game, a rematch with a Baylor team that defeated MSU on Friday.

GAME TWO: No. 18 Baylor 2, MSU 0
In a rematch from Friday’s Lafayette Regional opener that Baylor took 8-4 over State, pitching and defense kept opposing hitters in check until the final out.

Serving as the visiting team, Baylor jumped out front early with a pair of one-run base hits to take a 2-0 lead after one and a half innings of play.

The Bears put runners on and in scoring position on numerous occasions, but the MSU defense was able to lock in to keep any from crossing the plate through the sixth.

A single from sophomore Mackenzie Toler and a double from senior Katie Gentle set the table with two outs in the bottom of the sixth with MSU down two runs. Unfortunately the Bulldogs were unable to plate any baserunners before they fell 2-0 to the Bears.

Making the start again, Silkwood (26-16) went the full 7.0 innings against the Bears and struck out six, along with having surrendered two runs, one earned, on seven hits. For Baylor, Kendall Potts (7-3) got the start and the win as she lasted 5.2 innings and allowed five hits in the shutout effort.

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