Mississippi State softball coach Samantha Ricketts said her team’s four-game opening weekend in Southern California would be a good way to see where the Bulldogs stand early on.
If that’s the case, MSU has some work to do.
Losses to No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 3 UCLA were almost expected, but Sunday’s 5-3 defeat at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles likely means Mississippi State has quite a bit to improve before its Southeastern Conference schedule begins in about one month.
The Bulldogs (1-3) were done in by the same things that cost them against the Sooners and Bruins: spotty pitching, poor defense and inconsistent hitting.
Two of their three runs came on a home run by Mia Davidson with two outs in the seventh inning that proved too little, too late. Davidson’s 70th home run moved her within one of Florida’s Lauren Haeger for a share of the SEC all-time lead, but the Bulldogs star couldn’t will MSU to victory.
Mississippi State’s only other run came on a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the second inning. The Bulldogs hit just 1 for 15 with runners on base, stranding eight in the game.
Pitchers Bri Bower and Annie Willis both gave up home runs, including a two-run shot ceded by Willis in the fourth inning that put Loyola Marymount up 5-1. Alyssa Daniell’s solo shot off Bower put LMU up for good with a 2-1 lead.
Mississippi State also committed its eighth error of the season, which led to a run in the fourth inning. Morgan DeBord reached on the error and scored on a double by Andrea Gonzalez before Peyton Angulo’s two-run homer off Willis.
Davidson got the runs back after pinch-hitter Kiki Edwards’ infield single with two out in the seventh. Jackie McKenna singled to bring up the tying run, but Addison Purvis flied out to end the game.
Mississippi State will play a doubleheader with Alabama State for its home opener Wednesday at Nusz Park. First pitch for Game 1 is at 1 p.m., while Game 2 is set to begin at 3 p.m.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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