STARKVILLE, Miss. – The seventh-ranked Georgia Bulldogs softball team (28-3, 6-2) overcame a four-run deficit but fell in the bottom of the seventh to #21 Mississippi State (27-5, 3-2) Saturday afternoon, 5-4.
Mississippi State scored four runs in the first inning but Georgia clawed its way back, scoring in the fourth, fifth, and seventh to tie the game up at four runs. Mississippi State won the contest on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Georgia outhit MSU Saturday, 10-6. The offense was led by a three-hit day by Ciara Bryan. Alyssa DiCarlo finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored while Jordan Doggett had a two-RBI base hit in the fourth.
Kylie Bass worked an inning and a third in her start. She allowed four runs to Mississippi State on three hits. It was the most runs she’d allowed in an outing this season. Mary Wilson Avant pitched the final four and two-thirds innings, suffering the loss in the seventh, allowing the unearned winning run.
A pair of two-run home runs by Mia Davidson and Reggie Harrison put Mississippi State ahead 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
A one-out single and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Georgia in the top of the fourth. Doggett singled through the left side to slice the Mississippi State lead in half, 4-2.
DiCarlo led off the top of the fifth with a double down the left field line. She immediately scored on a single threaded up the middle by Alysen Febrey to make it a one-run game, 4-3.
For the second day in a row, Georgia came down to its final out before tying the game in the seventh inning. DiCarlo led off the frame with a single to center. MSU went to the pen for Cassady Knudsen who issued a one-out walk Mahlena O’Neal. After a flyout, Bryan singled to right field, driving in DiCarlo and knotting the game up at 4-4.
The last time Georgia overcame a four-run deficit was against Cal State Fullerton last season on Feb. 25.
Back-to-back base hits started the bottom half of the seventh. Kat Moore singled to Avant on a bunt. Avant’s throw to first was wide of the bag, allowing the winning run to cross the plate, 5-4.
The rubber game of the series is set for 3 p.m., EDT, Sunday in Starkville. The game will stream on the SEC Network+.
Here is a composite gallery of the 2018 season: