Arkansas falls to Mississippi State

FAYETTEVILLE - The University of Arkansas softball team dropped both games in the doubleheader against Mississippi State moving its overall record to 18-18 and 2-14 in the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State moves to 21-18 overall and 5-13 in the SEC.
 
In the first game of the doubleheader, Arkansas and Mississippi State both put a runner in scoring position on third base in the of the first inning. Chelsea Cohen saved the Razorbacks, not allowing the runner to score and striking her out to end its at bat. The Razorbacks first inning ended on a fly out to left field.
 
Cohen collected her second and third strikeouts of the game in the top of the second when she caught two Bulldogs looking.
 
Jennifer Rambo put Arkansas on the board in the bottom of the second when she blasted a solo home run over the right field wall, her fourth of the season.
 
The Razorbacks had a perfect defensive inning in the top of the fourth forcing the Bulldogs to go three up three down. A spectacular diving stop and throw to first from Chloe Oprzedek ended Mississippi State's at bat.
 
The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the sixth when they brought in two runs off of two hits and an error by the Razorbacks giving them the 2-1 lead.
 
The Razorbacks had another perfect defensive inning in the top of the seventh with an athletic play made by Clarisa Navarro to put the first batter out at first.
 
The Razorbacks placed two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh after Rambo was hit by a pitch, followed by a double by pinch hitter Sierra Bronkey to right-center field. Devon Wallace collected her third walk of the game to load the bases with two outs and Navarro to the plate. The Razorbacks couldn't bring a runner home leaving all three on base and allowing the Bulldogs to take the first of the two games 2-1.
 
The Razorbacks started the second game off with a bang when Amanda Geile hit a triple out to the right field wall bringing home Wallace and Navarro who were on first and second and giving the Razorbacks the 2-0 early lead.
 
The Bulldogs answered in the top of the third walking the first batter. After a bunt and a fielding error by Arkansas, one run scored. Two more runs scored after two more errors on the Razorbacks, giving Mississippi State the 3-2 lead.
 
Arkansas halted Mississippi State from scoring another run in the top of the four with a forceful throw from Geile in right field to Jayme Gee to tag out the runner coming home and end its at bat. 
 
Mississippi State put one more run on the board in the top of the fifth giving it the 4-2 lead. The Bulldogs tacked onto their lead in the top of the seventh when Kaili Smith hit a solo home run over the centerfield wall giving making it a 5-2 game. The Bulldogs put two more runs on the board before retiring and giving them the 7-2 lead.
 
The Razorbacks could not place a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh giving Mississippi State the 7-2 victory.
 
"We are just going to have to regroup," said head coach Mike Larabee. "We need to come into tomorrow thinking we are going to send Mississippi State home with a loss."
 
The final game of the series begins Saturday at noon at Bogle Park. There will be live stats and a live blog available at ArkansasRazorbacks.com. For more information regarding Razorback softball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.