The Kentucky softball team dropped the series finale to the Bulldogs of Mississippi State, 6-2, Sunday at the UK Softball Complex. Brooke Marnitz provided UK?s only two runs of the afternoon on a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

The Bulldogs (22-18, 4-11 Southeastern Conference) scored in the first inning for the third consecutive game, capitalizing on an error from the Kentucky (16-18-1, 4-14 SEC) defense for an early 1-0 lead. Iyhia McMichael led off the game with a hit to shallow left field that dropped in the midst of the UK outfield. McMichael came home one play later after Kate Jaspers? chopper to third base was overthrown to first. MSU added another in the top of the fourth before Marnitz knotted the ballgame at 2-2 with her second homer of the year.

The Bulldogs quickly regained the lead in the fifth and never looked back, scoring four runners in the next two innings to thwart a UK comeback.

Rachel Friberg continued her hot hitting against MSU, going 3-for-4 as the lead-off hitter. Five other Cats registered base hits during the game. McMichael provided two of the Bulldogs? seven hits while scoring two runs.

Gretchen Prugh (2-5) went 2.1 innings in the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in relief. Melissa Massey (9-7) struck out nine while earning her second win of the series with a two-run complete game.

The Cats take a break from SEC action this week, as they travel to Eastern Kentucky Wednesday for a doubleheader with the Colonels. Action begins at 3 p.m.