Softball Falls in Series Opener to Mississippi State, 3-2

The No. 4 ranked Alabama softball team tried to comeback from early 3-0 deficit but fell just short in a 3-2 series opening loss to Mississippi State, Friday night at Rhoads Stadium. With the loss the Crimson Tide moves to 38-7 overall and 10-6 in Southeastern Conference play.

Mississippi State (29-14, 7-9) scored two runs in the third and added another in the fourth to take the early lead. Alabama climbed back with a run in the fourth and fifth innings but couldn’t even the score.

The Bulldogs outhit the Tide, 6-5. The win for MSU snapped a 27-game losing streak against Alabama. Junior Jackie Traina (17-4) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs –two earned on six hits while striking out four.

After MSU took a 3-0 lead, Alabama got on the board in the fourth inning, scoring a single run. Junior Molly Fichtner hit her second home run on the year, a lined shot over the wall in left to make it a 3-1 lead for the Bulldogs.

The Tide pulled another run across in the fifth to make it 3-2 in favor of the Bulldogs when junior Kaila Hunt singled up the middle to score senior Kayla Braud. Braud got into scoring position by beating out an infield single and advancing to second on an error.

The two teams will meet for game two of the series on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The contest will mark the Power of Pink game for the Crimson Tide. The game can be heard on the flagship station for Alabama softball-99.1 WDGM, 991wdgm.com and the Radio Pup application for Androids and Iphones.