In the end, Raelin Chaffin and Mississippi State just ran out of gas.

After surviving a grueling, 11-10 elimination-game win Saturday night against Washington, the Bulldogs stayed in the fight again Sunday against their much more well-rested opponent, No. 12 seed Texas Tech. But Chaffin, who has carried MSU in the pitcher’s circle all year, was not sharp against the powerful Red Raider bats on a windy day in Lubbock. The Bulldogs fell 9-6 in the regional final as their season came to a close.

“It was a really fun, competitive game for us, but going up against a team like that and a pitcher like (Texas Tech superstar NiJaree Canady), we knew we were going to have our hands full,” MSU head coach Samantha Ricketts said. “I love the way that our team fought and continued to fight to get runs on the board against the best pitcher in the country.”

After Chaffin’s complete-game win against Washington in Friday night’s opening round, Delainey Everett got the start in the winners’ bracket game Saturday — opposed by Canady, who had not pitched in her team’s Friday win over Brown. The Red Raiders scored twice in the first and added another run in the second against Everett, which was more than enough for a locked-in Canady.

The Bulldogs (39-19) had their chances, loading the bases on two singles and a walk in the first inning but coming up empty. A double play took away a scoring threat in the third before MSU cracked the scoreboard in the fifth on an RBI single from freshman Morgan Stiles. It was Stiles’ third hit of the day against the nation’s ERA leader.

“We were one big hit away early on from getting some runs early, but (Canady) does a great job when her back is against the wall,” Ricketts said. “It’s why she’s one of the best.”

Everett allowed five runs (four earned) in 3 ⅔ innings before handing the ball to Josey Marron, and Texas Tech (48-12) hit her hard as well. Lauren Allred’s three-run home run in the sixth ended the game early, a 10-1 run-rule defeat for the Bulldogs.

MSU withstands Washington rally to extend season

In a rematch Saturday night with the Huskies, the Bulldogs were cruising along early, with Jessie Blaine’s two-run homer capping a three-run first. Chaffin allowed just two singles through the first three innings, but ran into trouble in the fourth, when two walks and an infield hit loaded the bases. Alycia Flores then unloaded them with a grand slam, suddenly vaulting Washington (35-19) into the lead.

That set the stage for two more wild, back-and-forth innings. MSU responded with a four-run fifth, highlighted freshman Paige Ernstes’ pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run double. Ernstes has been a pinch-hit specialist all year, with all eight of her runs batted in coming off the bench.

“(It’s about) just being present in the moment and being grateful for every moment in the whole game,” Ernstes said. “I just take it all in. I don’t let anything get too big.”

Jadyn Glab’s homer in the bottom of the fifth cut the Bulldogs’ lead to one, but MSU put up another four-spot in the sixth, with a Blaine double clearing the bases. Blaine had a career-best five RBI, and her homer in the first was the team’s 74th of the season, a new program record.

Sierra Sacco, Nadia Barbary, Stiles, Kylee Edwards and Ella Wesolowski all had two hits, with Blaine collecting three.

“It’s so much adrenaline and so many runs to be had in such an offensive game,” Blaine said. “I said going into the selection show that I wanted an offensive regional, and we found it. It’s a lot of adjustments. It’s a lot of focus and refocus, but I’m just glad we came out on top of it.”

Washington answered those four runs with four of its own against Chaffin, who was relieved by Everett with two outs. After the Bulldogs went down quietly in the top of the seventh, Everett retired the Huskies in order in the bottom half to make sure MSU’s season lasted another day.

“I’m just really proud of this group,” Ricketts said. “A back-and-forth game, a lot of toughness. (Washington is) a well-coached team, a really quality program. Even though they’re young, we knew this was going to be a battle, and I love the way we responded.”

Texas Tech offense too much

Chaffin has averaged more than a strikeout per inning this year, but she did not have her best stuff Sunday, striking out just one batter and allowing nine runs, eight of them earned. The Red Raiders scored in each of the first six innings and struck back immediately every time the Bulldogs showed signs of fighting back.

MSU did more damage against Canady than any team has all year as she allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits while dealing with a blister on her pitching hand. Sacco doubled in her team’s first run in the third, and Stiles hit a two-run single later that inning, continuing her stellar weekend. Blaine hit an RBI double in the fifth ahead of a two-run single from Wesolowski that at the time made it a one-run game.

But after both of those three-run innings, Hailey Toney led off with home runs. The Red Raiders’ bats were relentless, opening things up with three runs in the second and picking on Chaffin’s changeup. Alana Johnson started the fifth with an 18-pitch plate appearance that ended in a walk.

Canady left the game after walking Kiarra Sells to begin the sixth, but reliever Chloe Riassetto induced a double play from Sacco to mitigate that threat. In the seventh, a potential rally fizzled when Blaine was struck by Edwards’ sharp grounder on her way from first to second base.

Chaffin and Sacco will be taking their talents to the Talons of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League this summer, with Riley Hull, Blaine and Lexi Sosa also out of eligibility.

“Coming in, they all had high expectations, and we had a big freshmen class,” Stiles said. “(The seniors) showed us what it meant to be a State softball player. They set that expectation from the beginning. I’m just so thankful that I can learn from them and everything that we went through and how we handled it all.”