STARKVILLE, Miss. –  The Samford softball team dropped a pair of road games to SEC opponent Mississippi State by 2-1 final decisions on Saturday afternoon at Nusz Park.

BOX SCORE: GAME ONE (PDF)
BOX SCORE: GAME TWO (PDF)
 
GAME 1
Final: Samford 1 | Mississippi State 2
 
Despite earning the loss, freshman pitcher McKenzie Newcomb battled in the circle for Samford, putting in the 6.0 innings of work. The Meridianville, Ala., native recorded three strikeouts for a total of 97 on the season, while giving up just two earned runs on six scattered hits at Nusz Park.
 
Freshman Sarah Squillace opened up game one at the leadoff spot for Samford, reaching first base on a fielding error from Mississippi State's second baseman, Shea Moreno. Another MSU fielding error would come just four plays later after Paige Cook was unable to field a routine grounder on the corner bag, allowing for Squillace to make it back home for the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Starkville Bulldogs responded in the bottom half of the second inning to knot the game at one after Addison Purvis launched a ball out to right center on a 3-2 count prior to Madisyn Kennedy registering an RBI single, driving in pinch runner Phoebe Florian. The inning came to a close in the next play with a ground out to Mary Katherine Tedder at shortstop, stranding one on base for Mississippi State.
 
Over the next three innings, neither team was able to add a run to the board with Samford firing off just one hit compared the MSU's two before heading into the sixth. This inning would be home to the winning run for Mississippi State after Samford was unable to convert in the top half of the frame. Addison Purvis recorded a two-out base hit before Madisyn Kennedy stepped up to the plate and doubled down the left field line to plate pinch runner Aquana Brownlee to edge the Bulldogs of Birmingham, 2-1.
 
GAME 2
Final: Samford 1 | Mississippi State 2
 
The Bulldogs of Samford would suffer the same fate in game two after Mississippi State rallied once again in the bottom of the sixth for a 2-1 victory. Right-handed pitcher Jordyn Partain saw the entire 6.0 innings in the circle, ultimately receiving her fifth loss of the season for an overall record of 2-5. The Macon, Ga., native gave up two runs and on five hits while logging five strikeouts after 26 batters faced in Starkville.
 
At the plate, senior Timberlyn Shurbutt provided Samford's lone run of the game with a solo shot out of right center in the top of the fourth for her fifth home run of the season. Mississippi State answered two frames later in the bottom of the sixth with Addison Purvis smacking a two RBI double on a 3-1 count for the doubleheader sweep.
 
UP NEXT:
The Samford softball team will return to the diamond on Wednesday, March 30th for a doubleheader against Troy University. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at the Samford Softball Stadium.
 
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For the latest news and information on Samford softball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSB (Twitter), and @SamfordSB (Instagram).