Mississippi State softball was one pitch from getting out of a seventh-inning jam unscathed Saturday against No. 25 Michigan at the Clearwater Invitational.
But it wasn’t to be.
The Wolverines stayed alive, broke a 4-4 tie with a clutch base hit and held on to hand MSU (5-3) a 5-4 loss at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater Florida.
Maddie Erickson faced an 0-2 count with two runners on and two out in the seventh before working the count to 2-2. She grounded a single off Aspen Wesley through the right side to bring in the winning run for Michigan (6-3).
The Wolverines provided the final blow in a back-and-forth contest. With two out in the sixth inning, Mississippi State’s Jackie McKenna worked a bases-loaded walk on four pitches to force in the tying run.
The Bulldogs responded after Michigan scored four runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take the lead.
Keke Tholl slugged a solo homer off freshman Reis Beuerlein in the fourth, and Audrey LeClair knocked a two-run single up the middle later in the inning.
Michigan’s Melina Livingston added a run on an RBI single in the fifth, but center fielder Brylie St. Clair cut down a second potential tally with a strong throw to the plate.
MSU’s Chloe Malau’ulu got the scoring started in the third inning with a two-out, three-run home run to dead center field.
Malau’ulu and Matalasi Faapito each had two hits for the Bulldogs, who finished with five.
The Bulldogs will play twice Sunday to wrap up the Clearwater Invitational. Mississippi State will take on South Florida (2-5) — which it eliminated in last year’s Tallahassee Regional — at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+. MSU will wrap up the tournament on ESPN2 against No. 20 UCF (4-5) at 7 p.m. Sunday.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
