Mitchell Registers Pair of Hits in 5-0 Rubber Match Loss
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior Hallie Mitchell registered two of Kentucky’s three hits on the day, but it wasn’t enough offense for the Wildcats as No. 17 Mississippi State won the rubber match of the series 5-0 on Sunday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium.
Mississippi State’s Raelin Chaffin struck out 11 batters and didn’t walk any in the complete-game shutout win Sunday to claim the series. Kentucky’s three hits came off the bat of Hallie Mitchell and Maddy Clark, who notched a bunt single in the bottom of the fifth inning during UK’s only scoring threat of the contest.
The Bulldogs struck for three runs in the top of the first, once in the top of the second and added a fourth insurance run in the top of the fourth.
Carson Fall threw tremendously for UK, pitching the final 7 outs of the game without allowing a run on just one hit and striking out three batters. Sydney Langdon threw 3.2 innings in relief only allowing a pair of hits with one earned run charged to her and also struck out two batters, both swinging. Julie Kelley threw the first inning of the game for the Wildcats.
Kentucky’s 2025 home season will be Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET against the Northern Kentucky Norse on SEC Network+. It will be the Wildcats final midweek of the year before its last Southeastern Conference series of the year begins Thursday in Austin, Texas at the No. 3 ranked Longhorns.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 29-22, seven games above .500. UK is 7-14 in the SEC. Mississippi State with the win improves to 35-15 and is one game above water in the league at 11-10.
Key Play
The key play for Kentucky was Carson Fall’s strikeout in the top of the fifth inning with runners on the corners and two outs, as she got a strikeout of Riley Hull to end the inning.
Key Player
Hallie Mitchell was the key player for UK going 2-for-3 with two of the three hits on the day for the Kentucky offense.
Super Stat
1,593. UK closed its SEC home season with a season-high in attendance for the year.
Run Recap
MSU recorded a three-run first inning on a two-RBI single by Jessie Blaine and an RBI fielder’s choice a batter later. MSU 3, UK 0
In the top of the second, a leadoff single scored on a sac fly. MSU 4, UK 0
In the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored their fifth run on a fielder’s choice with one out and the bases loaded on a ball to the left side. FINAL – Mississippi State 5, Kentucky 0
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The Designated Players is the Official Booster Program of Kentucky Softball. Financial contributions and community support through The Designated Players program, Kentucky Softball will be able to continue to develop our student-athletes on and off the field. To join The Designated Players, you can join online or click here to download the membership form and mail to the address listed. For more information, email Kristine Himes at kentuckysoftball@uky.edu or Larry Cash at Larry.Cash@uky.edu.
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