Mississippi State Edges Louisville 3-2 in Eight Innings

Saturday, February 8

Clearwater, FL/Eddie C. Moore Complex

3 PM

University of Louisville

1-3

Mississippi State

3-0

Mississippi State

Louisville

Maddy Newman catches the ball at second base during the game against Lipscomb.

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

Mississippi State Edges Louisville 3-2 in Eight Innings

February 08, 2020 | Softball

Box Score Mississippi State 3 Louisville 2 (PDF)

By: Lori Harmon

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of Louisville softball team overcame a 2-1 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, but fell 3-2 to Mississippi State in eight innings on day two of the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic Saturday evening at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

After playing through two scoreless innings, the Cardinals broke through with a run in the third. Junior Maddy Newman led off with a single, took second on sophomore Charley Butler's sacrifice bunt, moved to third on an error and scored on another Bulldog miscue.

Mississippi State (3-0) answered in the fourth. Madisyn Kennedy was hit by a pitch and eventually came around to score on a double by Christian Quinn to even the score at 1-1.

The Bulldogs pulled ahead 2-1 in the sixth when Montana Davidson was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Kennedy.

Down to their last three outs, the Cards battled back in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Jenna Servi led off with a single and moved to second on Butler's second sacrifice bunt of the game. Senior Caitlin Ferguson's base hit loaded the bases for sophomore Taylor Roby, who earned a two-out walk plate Newman and even the score at 1-1. After an infield pop up ended the seventh inning, the game moved to the eighth.

With the international tiebreaker rule in place, Mississippi State started the frame with Anna Kate Segars as a runner at second base. Chloe Malau'ulu sacrificed her to third and she scored on a hit by Davidson to the Bulldogs on top 3-2.

The Cardinals had a chance to score in the home half of the eighth. Junior Jordyn Wolfe started as a runner at second and was safe at third on Servi's fielder's choice. Servi proceeded to steal second to put two runners in scoring position with one out, but a groundout and a strikeout ended the game.

Emily Williams (1-0) got the win allowing one unearned run on two hits and striking out six in 4.1 innings of relief.

Roby (1-1) took the loss after giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits and striking out six in a complete game effort. Newman paced the Cards offensively with a 2-for-4, two run performance.

Louisville will wrap up the weekend on Sunday when they take on Missouri at 10 a.m.