MSU Softball Takes One From #11 LSU, Unable To Win SBW Series

STARKVILLE, Miss. (MSU Athletics) – An early lead did not stick for the Mississippi State softball team (23-20, 3-12 SEC) as No. 11 LSU (32-13, 7-11 SEC) collected a 12-1 victory in five innings Sunday at Nusz Park.

State jumped out in front early, but were unable to hold off the Tigers in the Southeastern Conference series finale. The rubber game victory allowed LSU to clinch the series on Super Bulldog Weekend.

“We just have to make some things go a little more offensively and put a little bit more pressure on the other team,” head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “They just hit the ball very well and I tip my hat to them. We have to make little improvements.”

The Bulldogs did not wait long to get on the board as senior Kayla Winkfield led off the first with a bunt single. An LSU error moved her to second before a sacrifice bunt moved her to third. Sophomore Calyn Adams laid down a squeeze bunt to score Winkfield and put State the 1-0 lead.

LSU responded immediately by plating a runner that initially reached base on an error to tie the score midway through the second.

In the third, the top-15 Tigers took the lead on a sacrifice fly and a double to left center to put them out front 3-1 in the third. Another sacrifice fly in the fourth pushed LSU’s advantage to 4-1.

With the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth, the visitors capitalized on a wild pitch and a walk to extend their lead to 6-1. A grand slam and a two-run base hit capped the eight-run inning to put the Tigers ahead 12-1.

The Bulldogs were unable to draw closer before LSU secured the run-rule victory in five innings.

Sydney Smith (7-2) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing just one run on two hits with no walks allowed and three strikeouts.

Freshman starter Cori Cooper (3-2) suffered the loss for the Bulldogs after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits and three walks in 2.0 innings.

Next up for MSU is a single game with Southern Miss Tuesday, April 19 at 6 p.m. CT in a contest that will air through SEC Network+.

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