STARKVILLE — The No. 12 Tennessee softball team rallied for a 5-3 victory against Mississippi State on Saturday before a crowd of 1,362 at the MSU Softball Field.
The victory helped Tennessee (34-11, 10-7 Southeastern Conference) clinch the best-of-three weekend series, while MSU slipped to 31-15 and 9-11.
Game 3 of the series will be at 1 p.m. today (SEC Network +).
The crowd of 1,362 was the third largest in the history of the MSU Softball Field.
Kayla Winkfield went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two-run triple.
MSU couldn’t hold a 3-1 lead, as Tennessee tied the game with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. The Lady Volunteers used a walk in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. They tacked on an insurance run in the seventh.
In the bottom of the second, MSU’s Katie Anne Bailey walked and Alexis Silkwood followed with a fielder’s choice. Winkfield’s triple made it 2-1. Loryn Nichols walked and the Bulldogs executed a double steal to make it 3-1.
Holly Ward (6-3) took the loss. She allowed two hits and two runs in two innings.
Cheyanne Tarango (4-2) pitched a complete-game three-hitter for the victory. She walked three and struck out two.
n On Friday, Tennessee earned a 4-3 victory.
A crowd of 881 helped MSU set a new attendance record. It is the second year in a row the Bulldogs have eclipsed the previous year’s record.
Mackenzie Toler went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Bailey was 2-for-3 with a run and walk. Winkfield went 3-for-3 with a run, an RBI, and a walk.
With the game tied at 2, an error by MSU in the seventh allowed Tennessee to score two runs. The Bulldogs rallied in the bottom half of the inning, as Bailey walked. Erika Gaul’s double made it 4-3. MSU loaded the bases, but couldn’t cash in.
Rainey Gaffin (9-2) earned the win. She allowed 12 hits in six innings. She walked three and struck out two. Tarango walked one in one inning.
Silkwood (22-11) scattered eight hits in the complete-game loss. She walked four and struck out four.
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 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.