Coming off the first-ever Super Regional win in which it rallied for nine runs in the final two innings on Friday, Mississippi State’s softball team was faced with another large deficit in Saturday’s Game 2 of the Norman Regional but couldn’t create the magic once more in a 7-1 loss to No. 3 Oklahoma.
Helped by a few walks and some big hits, the Sooners (52-9) piled on seven runs in the third inning and held on for the remainder of the game to force a series-deciding Game 3 on Sunday where the winner advances to the Women’s College World Series.
The game started off as a pitchers duel through the first two innings as State’s (42-19) Peja Goold and Oklahoma’s Audrey Lowry each delivered back-to-back scoreless innings from the circle before a double by Kai Minor ignited a monumental spark for the Sooners. Ella Parker was walked by Goold, and Kendall Wells singled to center field to get the team on the board. With the bases loaded, Gabbie Garcia was walked to score another run, and Isabela Emerling grounded out to add to the lead.
The sequence brought about a pitching change and Goold was replaced by Alyssa Faircloth, who also struggled to get out of the jam. Garcia rushed home during a passed ball, and Lexi McDaniel delivered the fireworks with a three-run home run.
Easy pop-ups for outs and flyouts were all the No. 20 Bulldogs could muster as a response for the majority of the next two innings until they managed to get some offensive traction in the sixth inning. After Morgan’s Stiles singled for her first hit of the day, Tatum Silva advanced to first on a fielder’s choice and Nadia Barbary followed up with another single to load the bases. Kinley Keller was walked to bring home Silva for the team’s lone run of the game.
State still had its chances to tack on a few more scores in the final two innings, but just couldn’t summon the rally once more. After Keller’s walk, the bases were still loaded but a fly out by Abby Grace Richardson ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Morgan Bernardini took a walk to start the inning but was thrown out during a fielder’s choice after a single by Anna Carder. With one out left, Stiles put a barrel on the ball but the Sooners got Carder out running to second base to end the game.
Monday brings the last chance for MSU to continue its season, and a win would give the team its first-ever appearance in the WCWS. For Oklahoma, a win would send the team back to Oklahoma City for its 10th consecutive season.
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