STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 1 Tennessee won an extra-inning thriller Friday at Nusz Park, taking down No. 12 Mississippi State 3-1 in nine innings.
Junior Makenzie Butt provided the big hit in an otherwise classic pitcher’s duel. With two runners on and two out, Butt launched a first-pitch home run opposite field to give Tennessee a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
Mississippi State (26-3, 0-1 SEC) fought back as it got a leadoff home run from Taylor Troutman, drawing to within two runs with nobody out in the home half of the frame.
After a groundout retired the next batter, an error put a runner on with one away. The Lady Vols turned to Erin Nuwer out of the bullpen, who proceeded to get an out on a fielder’s choice before a fly out to left ended the game.
Tennessee (26-0, 4-0 SEC) started Sage Mardjetko in the circle and got 8.1 innings of work out of the righty. Mardjetko allowed one run on two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. The junior worked seven 1-2-3 innings en route to her sixth victory of the season.
Nuwer entered out of the bullpen and recorded the final two outs of the contest, notching her third save of the year.
The Bulldogs started Alyssa Faircloth in the circle. She went the distance, throwing all nine innings. She allowed three runs on six hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. She took the loss and is 7-2 on the year.
Butt led UT at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one run, three RBIs and a walk. Emma Clarke collected two more hits on the night, while Ella Dodge and Bella Faw had one apiece.
DUE UP
Tennessee and Mississippi State return to action on Saturday at Nusz Park. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. ET on SECN+.
