LAFAYETTE, La. — It was a different ending for Julia Echols.
However, this one hurt just as bad, if not more, for the Mississippi State senior second baseman.
Echols was injured when the MSU softball team’s season ended in the NCAA tournament Lafayette Regional a year ago. On Sunday afternoon, Echols was a big part of the action.
However, the final out in a 2-0 loss to Baylor in the Lafayette Regional at Lamson Park was even more severe, as it meant the end of her career with the Bulldogs.
“It has been a blessing to wear the Maroon and White,” Echols said. “(Coach) Vann (Stuedeman) came into the program when I hadn’t done much and was really looking for a place to transfer. She believed in me. She had never seen me play and she believed in me as a person and as a player.
“I feel blessed to have played with this group of girls and to have played for this coaching staff. A lot has come at me during my career, but I really couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.”
Echols played her freshman season Georgia. Stuedeman inherited Echols after she sat out the 2012 season to gain eligibility due to Southeastern Conference transfer rules. As she gained the trust of a new coaching staff, she quickly became a mainstay on the infield.
“No one has ever worked harder for a season than Julia Echols did this season,” Stuedeman said. “She knew it was her senior season. She has battled back from adversity throughout her playing career. She is made of rock. All of the seniors were made of the kind of rock that will help you build a foundation.”
Similar to an 8-4 loss to second-seeded Baylor, third-seeded MSU failed to get the timely hit in what turned out to be its season finale. The Bulldogs had five hits and drew three walks, but they stranded eight baserunners. In two games, MSU stranded 18 baserunners against Baylor.
Earlier Sunday, MSU started the day with a 2-0 victory against Weber State. That game was suspended by rain Saturday in the fourth inning. The Bulldogs made quick work of the Wildcats in the opening session to set up the rematch against Baylor.
“We didn’t get the timely hit,” Stuedeman said. “We had our opportunities. We battled and competed. We were that close, but we couldn’t get the one big hit to get us over the hump.”
Alexis Silkwood (26-16) allowed seven hits in her second complete game of the tournament against Baylor. She said playing for the seniors was motivation enough for the sophomore to deliver one of her best outings of the season.
“The big different in today’s game was from the very first pitch I was doing it for four seniors, Julia Echols, Ashley Phillips, Erika Gaul, and Katie Gentle,” Silkwood said. “It wasn’t about seeing who the other team was. It was about playing for four players individually.
“I drew my strength from looking at (Echols) or KG out there. When you have a player out there that changes not only the game but also changes your life, you would pitch a thousand pitches for that person.”
Silkwood threw a three-hit shutout against Weber State.
MSU built a 1-0 lead on Caroline Seitz’s 15th home run of the season, and second of the regional. The Bulldogs’ bats then went quiet against the Big Sky Conference tournament champions, who were appearing in their first NCAA tournament regional.
In the sixth, the Bulldogs scored again. Gentle singled, Loryn Nichols reached on an error, and Amanda Ivy hit a sacrifice fly.
That was more than enough for Silkwood, who didn’t allow a runner into scoring position. She struck out seven and retired the final 13 batters she faced.
In MSU’s second game, Baylor scored single runs in each of its first two at-bats. Silkwood allowed back-to-back base hits to start the first. A double play ball had the Bulldogs on the doorstep of getting out of the inning. Instead, Sarah Smith lined a two-strike, two-out single through the right side of the infield.
The Bears tacked on a run an inning later. Baylor capitalized on two walks thanks to a two-out RBI single by Lindsay Cargill.
Again, Silkwood got better as the game progressed. She retired the side in order in three of the final five frames.
However, the damage had been done. MSU left Lafayette with its third straight 1-2 worksheet in a postseason regional.
“We owe a great deal of gratitude to the seniors,” Stuedeman said. “They came in when the program was having some difficult times. A coaching change is never an easy situation. They did a great job of helping us make four-straight regionals. That is only the second time that has happened in program history.
“We sit here today with 36 wins. I don’t think a lot of people at the beginning of the year thought that would be the number.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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