STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The ULM softball team (17-9) dropped its midweek game to No. 21 Mississippi State (20-4) on Wednesday (March 13) night at Nusz Park in Starkville, Miss. 

The Bulldogs plated one run in the first inning when Madisyn Kennedy punched a single up the middle to score Sierra Sacco. In the top of the second, Maryssa Zenzen reached on an error and Jacelyn Buck drew a walk with two outs before the Bulldogs recorded the third out on a pickoff to end the inning. In the bottom of the second, the Bulldogs' lead grew after Sierra Sacco walked with the bases loaded and Nadia Barbary singled home another run. Maddie Nichols entered the game with the bases loaded and one out and got the Warhawks out of a bases-loaded jam after recording a popout and a flyout to keep the Bulldogs' lead at three. 

Kassidy Giddens reached second base to start the third inning on a dropped fly ball. Taylor Broddick followed with ULM's first hit of the game on a single back to the pitcher. Lourdes Bacon kept the line moving after Mississippi State committed its second error of the inning and loaded the bases with no outs. Delainey Everett worked out of the jam and held the Warhawks scoreless in the third. Nichols tossed a scoreless frame in the bottom of the third. Giddens singled through the left side with two outs and moved Brooklin Lippert in scoring position. Broddick hit a sharp liner to third that was caught to end ULM's scoring opportunity. The Bulldogs' offense broke open the game in the bottom of the fourth with a 12-run inning that featured a pair of home runs by Kennedy and a grand slam by Nadia Barbary. Meagan Brown singled to right with two outs in the fifth and Andie Edwards followed with a walk. The nationally-ranked Bulldogs limited the Warhawks to no runs in the fifth and won the game, 15-0 in five innings. 

The Warhawks open Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday (March 16) in Hattiesburg at Southern Miss. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.