STARKVILLE — As the softball calendar hits the final two week of the regular season, the one-run losses cut a little deeper.
“We should have won this game,” MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “We have to win this game. There is no margin for error now. We have to win these kinds of games.”
Instead, No. 24 Arkansas pushed across the game-winner on a hard chopper on the infield to knock off Mississippi State 5-4 in a nationally-televised Southeastern Conference contest played Sunday night at Nusz Park.
The teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series at 6 tonight. MSU is trying to win a third straight conference series for the first time since 2012. After tonight, two weekends will remain on the SEC schedule.
“It’s just a matter of doing a little more,” MSU senior third baseman Caroline Seitz said. “We’re playing well right now. We have a lot of confidence at the plate. You can’t get down about a loss. You have to come out and a win a series.”
In a tightly-bunched conference, each team can experience huge swings in the standings based on the outcome of one game.
MSU is now 33-15 overall and 7-10 in the league. Arkansas is 28-17 and 6-14. The Bulldogs entered the series with the lowest Ratings Percentage Index rating (No. 34) of any team in the league. The league is hoping to get 13 NCAA regional invites for a first time. In the meanwhile, the goal is to make sure not to be the team left out if that doesn’t happen.
“I think we will come out and play with our hair on fire (today),” Stuedeman said. “We have challenged our kids to do everything this year with their hair on fire, whether it is practice or playing a game. You have an opportunity to play the game you love in the best conference in the nation. That should fire you up. That should help you get over the hump when it is time to win games like this.”
MSU pitcher Holly Ward was touched for a three-run home run by A.J. Belans in the first inning. After that, Ward was masterful allowing one hit over the next five innings of play. Alexis Silkwood (13-5) was touched for the game-winning run in the seventh inning.
“We have to have a better start in the circle,” Stuedeman said. “Now that being said, Holly was really great after the first inning. She settled in and gave us a chance.”
MSU came right back with three runs in the first inning. Bevia Robinson reached on a single and Kat Moore reached when a fielder’s choice led to an error. Seitz followed with a two-run double. Calyn Adams followed with a game-tying RBI-single.
In the second inning, MSU first baseman Sarai Niu homered to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.
“That was a long time coming,” Niu said. “Lately, I have been focusing on making sure I get the bat on the ball, because I know if I do that consistently, the power will come. The home run was finally me doing what I am capable of doing. It felt good.”
The Bulldogs felt good until a pair of errors helped the Razorbacks tie the game in the sixth inning. Center fielder Amanda Ivy caught a fly out before colliding hard into the wall for the inning’s second out. A runner was called out for not tagging second base on a return to first base for the final out of the inning. However, Betina Beringhele scored from third base to tie the game on the play.
“An amazing play by Amanda,” Stuedeman said. “That play is as good as you will see in this game.”
Riding the momentum of a game-defining defensive play, the Bulldogs loaded the bases in the home half of the sixth inning but failed to score.
“It was not a normal offensive night for us,” Seitz said. “Recently, we have been able to get something out of that.”
An infield hit, a bunt single and a blooper to right field loaded the bases for Arkansas in the seventh inning. A chopper on the infield had to go to first base for the out but the game-winning run scored. MSU went down in order in the seventh inning.
“(Today) is a big game for us,” Niu said. “We have to come out and find a way to win the series.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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