STARKVILLE, Miss. --- The UAB softball team dropped a 7-0 decision to No. 18 Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. on Tuesday night.

Despite the defeat, UAB senior pitcher Jennifer Nelson earned her 700th career strikeout in the second inning of the contest. In doing so, she becomes the first-ever UAB pitcher to earn 700 Ks in her career, and the third pitcher in Conference USA history to do so. Nelson finished the game with 702 strikeouts.

Her milestone came when Chelsea Bramlet went down swinging on three pitches to end the second inning.

After a turnaround weekend at the plate in the Magic City Classic, the Blazers were only able to knock out three hits, two of which belonged to Cameron Skates. Kayla Orr singled in the seventh for the other Blazers' hit.

UAB was particularly hurt by the Bulldogs' ability to get their leadoff hitter on. The first batter reached base every inning and scored in all but one instance.

Trailing by four in the sixth inning, UAB had two runners on base. Krzan reached base with her second walk and Skates singled to right. A Harris popout to the shortstop ended the Blazers' inning.

Nelson (7-7), who was named the C-USA Player of the Week Monday, struck out five in the losing effort. Harris pitched the three-run sixth for UAB.

Mississippi State scored single runs in each of the first four innings and did the majority of damage in the three-run sixth inning.

The Blazers will return to action on Thursday, when they host the No. 2-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide at George Ward Park. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.