No. 23 Gamecocks Fall in Series Finale to No. 12 Bulldogs

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The No. 23 South Carolina softball team (22-15, 2-7) came up just short in its comeback bid Monday night (Mar. 30), as the Gamecocks fell in their series finale to No. 12 Mississippi State (32-7, 4-5) 4-3.

Lexi Winters led all players going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Jori Heard (5-5) took the loss after allowing three runs, one earned, in an inning of relief. Emma Friedel started in the circle and struck out three in three innings of work while giving up one run on three hits.

The Bulldogs scored first with a solo home run in the second. South Carolina responded in the fourth when Arianna Rodi connected on her team-leading seventh home run of the season to center field.

Mississippi State regained the lead in the fifth, scoring three runs, two of which were unearned after a Carolina error extended the inning.

South Carolina loaded the bases in the sixth thanks to a pair of walks and a single from Jamie Mackay. On the first pitch Lexi Winters saw, she delivered a double to left center. Tori Ensley and pinch runner Ansley Bennett scored, but the tying run was thrown out at the plate.

The Gamecocks got the tying run on base in the seventh on a two-out single by Karley Shelton, but the final out was recorded to end the game.

Carolina continues its road trip with an SEC series at Tennessee beginning April 2. First pitch will be at 6 p.m.

For the latest on South Carolina Softball, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockSoftbll, Facebook /GamecockSoftball, and Instagram @GamecockSoftball.