Mississippi State Falls to No. 5 Florida in Walk-Off Thriller

Gainesville, Fla. — Mississippi State’s softball team lost to No. 5 Florida in a walk-off 5-4 game Sunday afternoon, despite a late rally that forced video review. The Bulldogs (33-9, 5-7 SEC) tied the game in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly from Taylor Troutman but fell in the final moments after the Gators (36-5, 11-4 SEC) loaded the bases and scored the winning run on a close play at home plate.

Florida’s winning run was confirmed after a video review, with Morgan Stiles fielding a ground ball and throwing home. The runner narrowly beat the throw, ending the game. Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts praised her team’s resilience, saying, “I loved the fight that we showed after being down, and then, again, in the seventh. Those are the lessons we have to take with us through the rest of the SEC. I like the fight and the grit.”

Mississippi State fought back from deficits twice, including a solo home run from Nadia Barbary in the second inning and back-to-back solo homers from Xiane Romero and Kiarra Sells in the third. Sells finished 2-for-3 with a homer and a double. Alyssa Faircloth pitched 4.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing only one hit and striking out six.

Sells also contributed offensively, reaching safely in 11 consecutive games and driving in a run. Barbary’s home run marked her 10th of the season. Troutman’s sacrifice fly in the seventh tied the game before the Gators scored the winning run in the bottom half.

Mississippi State returns home next weekend for Alumni Weekend and All For Alex Day, hosting No. 9/6 Arkansas from April 10-12. Saturday’s games will feature special uniforms honoring ovarian cancer awareness.

Source: Original Article