KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 6 Tennessee lost the series opener by mercy rule on the road against Mississippi State 9-1 on Friday.
The Lady Vols wasted no time scoring. After Kiki Milloy was walked in the first at-bat of the game, Rylie West would eventually bring her home with a single for a 1-0 lead.
Mississippi State tied the game up with a quick response. In the bottom of the first inning, Nadia Barbary doubled to score a run. They'd load the bases after that with one out, but Karlyn Pickens picked up a strikeout and then forced a ground out to get out of the inning with a 1-1 tie.
Pickens gave up a run on a hit, wild pitch and sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second inning. Tennessee fell behind 4-1. She would get pulled in the third inning after letting up a double. Charli Orsini came in for the Lady Vols.
She would let up up a double to Kylee Edwards with two runners on and the Bulldogs went up 6-1. Salem Hawkins then singled for another Bulldogs run and a 7-1 lead.
Mississippi State would get the mercy rule in off a wild pitch in the fifth inning, which they scored on.
Tennessee loses their first series opener in SEC play of the season. Game two between Tennessee and Mississippi State is at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be streamed on Watch ESPN.
