Box Score HATTIESBURG, Miss.  – Missouri State softball fell to 2-6 on the season with a 4-3 walk-off loss to Southern Miss (4-4) here Sunday afternoon. 
 
The Bears found themselves in an early hole for the first time in the series after the Golden Eagles used three hits and a sacrifice bunt to take a 2-0 lead after two innings. 
 
Missouri State then cut the deficit in half in the top of the third as the Bears took advantage of a couple of Southern Miss miscues. Kelsie Lewis reached on a USM error to lead off the inning, before eventually scoring two batters later on a wild throw from the center fielder.
 
In the home half of the third, the Golden Eagles knocked a couple of singles and an RBI double to once again push the lead to two runs. Following scoreless fourth and fifth innings for both squads, the Bears came back to tie the game in the sixth. 
 
Olivia Krehbiel led the inning off with a single to center field, before advancing to third over the next two at-bats on a sacrifice bunt and a fielder's choice. With runners on the corners, Sidney McLaughlin stole second to give MSU two runners in scoring position with one out. Mackenzie Chacon then stepped into the box and delivered an RBI ground out, which Kenzie Derryberry followed up with an RBI single to right field to tie the game at 3-3. 
 
The Golden Eagles would work two walks in the bottom of the sixth, but they couldn't push as run across as the game entered the seventh still tied. 
 
MSU was able to get a runner into scoring position with two outs after Abby Ford knocked a two-out single to right field and stole a base, but the Bears ultimately came up empty. In the bottom of the seventh with a chance to end the game, Southern Miss loaded the bases with one out. The Golden Eagles would then send a sacrifice fly to deep left field to walk it off against Missouri State. 
 
Ford was the only Bear in MSU's lineup to collect multiple hits on the afternoon, while Chacon and Derryberry recorded RBI. Defensively, the Bears put together a clean game, committing no errors. In the circle, Gracie Johnston tossed 4.1 innings in relief, allowing just one earned run and striking out four Golden Eagles. 
 
Missouri State will head to Louisiana Tech next weekend for a four-game series. The series will open on Friday, Feb. 23 with first pitch in Ruston, La. set for 6:00 p.m.