Mizzou suffers shutout loss to Mississippi State in series opener

STARKVILLE, Miss. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Softball's SEC skid has stretched into the second half of its conference season.

The Tigers (20-23) lost their fifth consecutive game and fourth straight SEC showdown 7-0 to No. 15 Mississippi State (32-10). With Friday's loss, head coach Larissa Anderson's team sits three games below the .500-mark and holds a 2-11 record in league play.

MU only recorded two hits in this contest, a pair of singles from Abby Hay and Stefanie Abruscato in the second and seventh innings respectively. Mississippi State's Raelin Chaffin induced a healthy amount of weak contact in the circle to record a complete game shutout, allowing only three baserunners and striking out five batters.

Mississippi State dealt most of its damage via extra base hits, charging Cierra Harrison with four runs over five innings on two home runs and a first-inning RBI double from Nadia Barbary that put the Bulldogs ahead for the entirety of the game. Sierra Sacco also posted a two-RBI double against Nathalie Touchet in the sixth inning to pad Mississippi State's lead in the sixth inning, ending her three-hit effort at the plate.

Defensively, Mizzou committed four uncharacteristic errors in the contest, including a throwing error in the sixth frame that aided a three-run rally from Mississippi State.

Up next - Mizzou will strive to even this weekend series on Saturday, April 12 at 2 p.m. in Starkville, Mississippi.