STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Central Arkansas softball team battled a fourth SEC team this season, and on Tuesday, came up short against the No. 18 Mississippi State Bulldogs, falling 8-0.
 
The Bears move to 17-20 on the season, and have just one more midweek this season. The offense struggled to get going against the Bulldogs, adding pressure as the game went on, and eventually, the home team prevailed. Kaitlyn Graham and Lilly Hood were the only two hits of the day for Central Arkansas, and Graham drew a walk in her one other plate appearance.
 
Central Arkansas fought out of a jam in the first inning, allowing runners to reach second and third with just one out. But back-to-back at bats resulted in elevated contact, and the Bears escaped without allowing a run.
 
The Bears made it through the second inning without allowing a run before Mississippi State finally found a few plate appearances to string together for the first run. That being said, the defense recovered and gunned down a runner going home to end the inning, halting the scoring at just two runs for the home team.
 
From there, the Bulldogs continued nickel and diming the Bears, finding enough contact to slip hits through the infield to advance runners and score runs, crossing home plate three times in each of the fourth and fifth innings.
 
Central Arkansas is scheduled to be back at home this weekend, hosting EKU for Alumni Weekend in a three-game ASUN series on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch on Saturday is slated for 2 p.m.