The Bulldogs struck for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Gators 13-12.
STARKVILLE, MISS. – The 10th-ranked Florida Gators fell in the series opener, 13-12, against No. 17 Mississippi State on a crisp Thursday afternoon at Nusz Park.
The Gators (29-5, 5-2 SEC) and the Bulldogs (25-7, 6-4 SEC) went back-and-forth in the series opening game as there were three lead changes with MSU claiming the final exchange with a seven-run sixth inning.
To start the game, Florida pushed across the first run of the game in the top of the first inning against Mississippi State. Skylar Wallace drew a one-out hit-by-pitch and then stole her 24th base of the season to move into scoring position. Jocelyn Erickson drove Wallace home shortly after with an RBI single into right field to take a 1-0 lead.
Freshman Ava Brown extended the lead out to 2-0 in the top of the second. Brown fell behind early against MSU starting pitcher Aspen Wesley but sent the 0-2 pitch over the right center field wall for a leadoff solo home run, her sixth of the year, to extend the lead.
Mississippi State fought back to take the lead 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning. Salen Hawkins broke up the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout with a one-out solo home run off freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock. MSU added three more runs on an RBI single by leadoff batter Sierra Sacco and a two-run home run by Madisyn Kennedy.
The lead however was short lived as Florida fought back to retake the lead 7-4 in the top of the fifth. The five-run rally started with back-to-back walks drawn by Ava Brown and Ariel Kowalewski. Mia Williams then advanced the runners to second and third on a successfully executed SAC but and Falby followed up with a one-out infield hit to load the bases.
Wallace and Korbe Otis each pushed across a run via hit-by-pitch and a five-pitch walk respectively. Reagan Walsh belted her eighth double of the season that scored Wallace and Falby and Otis closed out the scoring by stealing home.
The Bulldogs fought back to close down the Gators lead to 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth via a two-RBI double.
The Gators pushed the score back out to a three-run lead 9-6 after Falby and Wallace notched back-to-back hits and Otis plated the pair on third triple of the year. Walsh gave UF a 10-6 lead and scored Otis via a RBI single up the middle. After being hit on her knuckles, pinch-hitter Baylee Goddard sent the next pitch over the center field wall for a two-run home run that concluded the scoring in the frame and gave Florida a 12-6 lead.
Next up is game two of the series which is set for Friday, March 29, at 5 p.m. ET and will air on SEC Network+.
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