Montana Davidson's walk and home run in the first inning sparked Black's offensive outburst.
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Black Bounces Back, Teal Takes Fall World Series Title
October 30, 2020 | Softball
While Black won on the scoreboard, Team Teal, made up of State’s pitchers, won the day with 581 points. The Bulldogs are using a scoring system similar to the one used by Athletes Unlimited this summer.
STARKVILLE – After finishing with the fewest runs on Friday, Team Black bounced back with an explosive first inning on its way to a 7-2-2 victory in Game 2 of Mississippi State softball's Fall World Series.
While Black won on the scoreboard, Team Teal, made up of State's pitchers, won the day with 581 points. The Bulldogs are using a scoring system similar to the one used by Athletes Unlimited this summer.
"It was good to see the other teams step up and compete as well as see the Teal team make a comeback from yesterday," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I really liked the focus and attack from Annie Willis and Grace Fagan from the start. They were dialed in from their first pitch."
Two doubles and a two-run home run provided plenty of damage in the first inning for Black. Montana Davidson who was second among hitters in scoring on Friday, hit the long ball. Davidson reached base in five of her six plate appearances, drawing three walks and reaching on an error in the third.
Team White's offense was powered by Aquana Brownlee who led all players with 136 points. Grace Fagan (135) and Annie Willis (132) narrowly trailed her. Brownlee hit a solo home run in her first at-bat and finished 2-for-3 on the day with a walk and stolen base.
White also manufactured a second run in the fourth inning. After Brownlee walked, she stole second and advanced to third when the catcher's throw was wild. Brylie St. Clair executed a squeeze bunt for an infield single, and Brownlee beat the throw home.
Fagan threw 6.1 innings while allowing one run on three hits and striking out eight. Willis went 3.1 innings before allowing a hit. She finished with 5.2 innings allowing three runs on three hits and walking five. Willis struck out seven.
Team Maroon, which won in dominant fashion on Thursday, was held hitless until the fifth and final inning. Carter Spexarth brought home a run on a sacrifice fly after a pair of singles off Willis. Chloe Malau'ulu singled home a second run in the inning to close the book on Willis. Aspen Wesley also picked up a hit and stole a base before Fagan re-entered to finish the game.
Brownlee was named the game's first MVP by her teammates, earning an additional 60 points. Willis finished second in the voting for 40 points, and Fagan took third for 20 points.
The Fall World Series Championship was decided based off cumulative team point totals over the two-day competition. Teal won the title, with White narrowly earning the honor of top hitting team. White finished with 379 points, and Maroon totaled 376 points. Black scored 321.
Mia Davidson was the individual champion with 226 points after collecting six hits, including two home runs and a double. White team produced the second- and third-place finishers. Fa Leilua scored 171, and Brownlee totaled 165. Anna Kate Segars was Black's highest-scorer with 163 points.
"Offensively Mia and Fa had strong showings, but the efforts from Aquana Brownlee, Anna Kate Segars, and Montana Davidson were a solid way to wrap up the fall," Ricketts said.
Montana Davidson drew a two-out walk and scored on Jackie McKenna's RBI double. McKenna advanced to third on a single from Anna Kate Segars. Segars then stole second, and both runners scored on a double down the left field line from Madisyn Kennedy. Davidson returned to the plate and hit a two-run homer.
Black 5, White 0, Maroon 0
Middle 1
Aquana Brownlee hit a solo home run with two outs.
Black 5, White 1, Maroon 0
Top 3
Addison Purvis led off by reaching on an error. Anna Kate Segars hit a long single into right-center field to put runners at first and second. Purvis was tagged out on her way to third on a hard-hit ground ball from Madisyn Kennedy who reached on the fielder's choice. An error then allowed Montana Davidson to reach and load the bases. Jackie McKenna hit a grounder to the shortstop, and reached on an error that brought home one run. Following a strikeout, Segars was hit by a pitch to force home a second run.
Black 7, White 1, Maroon 0
Middle 4
Aquana Brownlee singled then stole second base to open the inning. She advanced to third when the throw on her steal attempt was wild. Fa Leilua walked to put runners on the corners. Brylie St. Clair executed a squeeze play for an infield single, and Brownlee beat the throw to the plate.
Black 7, White 2, Maroon 0
Bottom 5
With one out Christian Quinn singled for Maroon's first hit of the day. Mia Davidson followed that with a single of her own that pushed Quinn to third. Carter Spexarth hit a sacrifice fly to score Quinn. Aspen Wesley singled and pushed Davidson to third. Wesley then stole second base, and Chloe Malau'ulu singled home Davidson. Malau'ulu took second on the throw home. Christian Quinn drew a two-out walk, but was left stranded with Malau'ulu when Davidson struck out to end the game.
Black 7, White 2, Maroon 2
While Black won on the scoreboard, Team Teal, made up of State's pitchers, won the day with 581 points. The Bulldogs are using a scoring system similar to the one used by Athletes Unlimited this summer.
"It was good to see the other teams step up and compete as well as see the Teal team make a comeback from yesterday," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I really liked the focus and attack from Annie Willis and Grace Fagan from the start. They were dialed in from their first pitch."
Two doubles and a two-run home run provided plenty of damage in the first inning for Black. Montana Davidson who was second among hitters in scoring on Friday, hit the long ball. Davidson reached base in five of her six plate appearances, drawing three walks and reaching on an error in the third.
Team White's offense was powered by Aquana Brownlee who led all players with 136 points. Grace Fagan (135) and Annie Willis (132) narrowly trailed her. Brownlee hit a solo home run in her first at-bat and finished 2-for-3 on the day with a walk and stolen base.
White also manufactured a second run in the fourth inning. After Brownlee walked, she stole second and advanced to third when the catcher's throw was wild. Brylie St. Clair executed a squeeze bunt for an infield single, and Brownlee beat the throw home.
Fagan threw 6.1 innings while allowing one run on three hits and striking out eight. Willis went 3.1 innings before allowing a hit. She finished with 5.2 innings allowing three runs on three hits and walking five. Willis struck out seven.
Game 2 Scorecards!#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/cTQlOJQtpm
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) October 30, 2020
Team Maroon, which won in dominant fashion on Thursday, was held hitless until the fifth and final inning. Carter Spexarth brought home a run on a sacrifice fly after a pair of singles off Willis. Chloe Malau'ulu singled home a second run in the inning to close the book on Willis. Aspen Wesley also picked up a hit and stole a base before Fagan re-entered to finish the game.
Brownlee was named the game's first MVP by her teammates, earning an additional 60 points. Willis finished second in the voting for 40 points, and Fagan took third for 20 points.
The Fall World Series Championship was decided based off cumulative team point totals over the two-day competition. Teal won the title, with White narrowly earning the honor of top hitting team. White finished with 379 points, and Maroon totaled 376 points. Black scored 321.
Here are the final combined score totals from the past two days. The Pitchers may have won, but White claims bragging rights among the hitters!#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/XxnJ6fapVP
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) October 30, 2020
Mia Davidson was the individual champion with 226 points after collecting six hits, including two home runs and a double. White team produced the second- and third-place finishers. Fa Leilua scored 171, and Brownlee totaled 165. Anna Kate Segars was Black's highest-scorer with 163 points.
"Offensively Mia and Fa had strong showings, but the efforts from Aquana Brownlee, Anna Kate Segars, and Montana Davidson were a solid way to wrap up the fall," Ricketts said.
It was a close race to land among the top three individual scorers, but these three were our leaders!
— Mississippi State Softball (@HailStateSB) October 31, 2020
Congratulations @MIASKY3332, @leilua18 and @QxanaaaB!#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/GNvXHoqWMA
Scoring Recap
Top 1Montana Davidson drew a two-out walk and scored on Jackie McKenna's RBI double. McKenna advanced to third on a single from Anna Kate Segars. Segars then stole second, and both runners scored on a double down the left field line from Madisyn Kennedy. Davidson returned to the plate and hit a two-run homer.
Black 5, White 0, Maroon 0
Middle 1
Aquana Brownlee hit a solo home run with two outs.
Black 5, White 1, Maroon 0
Top 3
Addison Purvis led off by reaching on an error. Anna Kate Segars hit a long single into right-center field to put runners at first and second. Purvis was tagged out on her way to third on a hard-hit ground ball from Madisyn Kennedy who reached on the fielder's choice. An error then allowed Montana Davidson to reach and load the bases. Jackie McKenna hit a grounder to the shortstop, and reached on an error that brought home one run. Following a strikeout, Segars was hit by a pitch to force home a second run.
Black 7, White 1, Maroon 0
Middle 4
Aquana Brownlee singled then stole second base to open the inning. She advanced to third when the throw on her steal attempt was wild. Fa Leilua walked to put runners on the corners. Brylie St. Clair executed a squeeze play for an infield single, and Brownlee beat the throw to the plate.
Black 7, White 2, Maroon 0
Bottom 5
With one out Christian Quinn singled for Maroon's first hit of the day. Mia Davidson followed that with a single of her own that pushed Quinn to third. Carter Spexarth hit a sacrifice fly to score Quinn. Aspen Wesley singled and pushed Davidson to third. Wesley then stole second base, and Chloe Malau'ulu singled home Davidson. Malau'ulu took second on the throw home. Christian Quinn drew a two-out walk, but was left stranded with Malau'ulu when Davidson struck out to end the game.
Black 7, White 2, Maroon 2
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