Friday, February 28
Starkville
7:00 PM
Mississippi State
16
vs
6
UAB
Offense Explodes in Run-Rule Victory Against UAB
February 28, 2020 | Softball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – A 16-hit offensive outburst led Mississippi State to a 16-6 victory against UAB on Friday night in The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial tournament.
State (14-3) sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring seven runs on eight hits and swiping three bases in that frame alone. Candace Denis doubled twice and had two RBIs in the inning.
"I really liked the way we came out swinging the bat," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We've been challenging the team all week about starting the game with a lot of energy and a lot of focus. I think they definitely showed that today from the first pitch on."
The Bulldogs didn't slow down in the next two frames either. In the first three innings, MSU cycled through the batting order three times with 15 hits. In the fourth, Ricketts called on her reserves as Brylie St. Clair, Jackie McKenna and Kiki Edwards all pinch hit.
St. Clair reached on an error and eventually scored before taking over in center field. McKenna saw her run of pinch-hitting success hit a snag with a foul pop out, but then got her first inning of the year at first base. Edwards drove an RBI single into right field.
"It's nice when you get to see the whole line-up coming through and people in and out of the game coming off the bench," Ricketts added. "I'm really happy with their production. I thought the focus from our early hitting groups today all the way through our designated player was spot on and it showed on the field."
Annie Willis earned her fifth win of the year in relief with 2.2 scoreless innings. Willis struck out six, and allowed just one base runner on a two-out walk in the third.
The Bulldogs meet the Blazers (9-8) again at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday before taking on Alcorn State (5-16) at 5:30 p.m.
Dawgs Dig the Long Ball – MSU hit three home runs in a game for the fourth time this season … Fa Leilua and Carter Spexarth hit back-to-back home runs, marking the first time MSU had done so since the eighth inning against Auburn on March 23, 2019.
Madisyn Kennedy – Had a career-high three hits on a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate with three runs scored.
Fa Leilua – Turned in her team-high seventh multi-hit game of the year and hit her team-leading seventh home run of the year.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Recorded a career-high three hits, including her first career triple, driving in a run in each at-bat.
Anna Kate Segars – Has now reached base safely in nine consecutive games, the third longest such streak by a Bulldog this year.
Lindsey Williams – Hit her second career home run and drove in a career-high-tying four runs.
Candace Denis led off the frame with a double to right field. Mia Davidson singled to left field, and Denis scored. Davidson stole second base, and advanced to third on a passed ball. Carter Spexarth singled up the middle, bringing Davidson home. Madisyn Kennedy singled up the middle, and Spexarth advanced to second. Chloe Malau'ulu singled to right field, scoring Spexarth and pushing Kennedy to third. Malau'ulu stole second base, and Kennedy raced home on the throw. Lindsey Williams singled up the middle to bring Malau'ulu home. Montana Davidson singled up the middle, and Williams advanced to second. Denis doubled to left center in her second at-bat in the inning, scoring Montana Davidson and Williams.
UAB 0, Mississippi State 7
Top 2
Faith Hegh singled through the right side. Natalie Erwin walked, and Hegh advanced to second. Ashton Clem singled to right field, advancing both Erwin and Hegh and loading the bases. Gabi Apiag hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hegh. Erwin advanced on the throw as well, and when the ball sailed over the Bulldog catcher, Clem advanced to second on the throwing error. KK Crocker doubled to right center field, scoring Clem and Erwin.
UAB 3, Mississippi State 7
Bottom 3
Anna Kate Segars drew a one-out walk before Madisyn Kennedy singled up the middle. With two on, Chloe Malau'ulu singled up the middle, bringing home Segars and advancing Kennedy to third. Lindsey Williams homered to left field, and Malau'ulu and Kennedy scored.
UAB 3, Mississippi State 11
Top 3
Dylinn Stancil doubled to right center field. Sierra Frazier singled to left field, advancing Stancil to third. Analyse Petree homered to right center, scoring Frazier and Stancil.
UAB 6, Mississippi State 11
Bottom 3
Mia Davidson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Fa Leilua homered to right center. Carter Spexarth followed with a homer of her own. Madisyn Kennedy singled. Chloe Malau'ulu tripled to right center, scoring Kennedy.
UAB 6, Mississippi State 15
Bottom 4
Brylie St. Clair reached first on an error. Fa Leilua was hit by the pitch, advancing St. Clair. Celeste Soliz came in as a pinch runner for Leilua. Kiki Edwards singled to right field to score St. Clair. Soliz advanced to second but was thrown out at third on the play.
UAB 6, Mississippi State 16
UT Martin 9, Alcorn State 0
UAB 6, Alcorn State 0
Mississippi State 16, UAB 6
Saturday, Feb. 29
Alcorn State vs. UT Martin – 10 a.m.
UT Martin vs. UAB – 12:30 p.m.
UAB at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
Alcorn State at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 16
UAB vs. UT Martin – 10 a.m.
Alcorn State at Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
UT Martin at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
This weekend features trivia at each MSU game of the tournament. Each individual trivia game winner will be entered to win a grand prize at the end of the season, with more wins earning contestants more entries. The Snowman's trivia will focus on various TV shows throughout the weekend.
The Deck will offer free hot chocolate throughout the weekend as well.
STARKVILLE – A 16-hit offensive outburst led Mississippi State to a 16-6 victory against UAB on Friday night in The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial tournament.
State (14-3) sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring seven runs on eight hits and swiping three bases in that frame alone. Candace Denis doubled twice and had two RBIs in the inning.
"I really liked the way we came out swinging the bat," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We've been challenging the team all week about starting the game with a lot of energy and a lot of focus. I think they definitely showed that today from the first pitch on."
The Bulldogs didn't slow down in the next two frames either. In the first three innings, MSU cycled through the batting order three times with 15 hits. In the fourth, Ricketts called on her reserves as Brylie St. Clair, Jackie McKenna and Kiki Edwards all pinch hit.
St. Clair reached on an error and eventually scored before taking over in center field. McKenna saw her run of pinch-hitting success hit a snag with a foul pop out, but then got her first inning of the year at first base. Edwards drove an RBI single into right field.
"It's nice when you get to see the whole line-up coming through and people in and out of the game coming off the bench," Ricketts added. "I'm really happy with their production. I thought the focus from our early hitting groups today all the way through our designated player was spot on and it showed on the field."
Annie Willis earned her fifth win of the year in relief with 2.2 scoreless innings. Willis struck out six, and allowed just one base runner on a two-out walk in the third.
The Bulldogs meet the Blazers (9-8) again at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday before taking on Alcorn State (5-16) at 5:30 p.m.
Quick Hitters
Don't Stop the Party – State sent 27 batters to the plate over the first three innings … MSU has now sent eight or more batters to the plate in eight innings this year with seven 5+ run innings … The Bulldogs' 16 16 runs matched their output against Alabama State (2/12) and are tied for fifth-most in a game in MSU history.Dawgs Dig the Long Ball – MSU hit three home runs in a game for the fourth time this season … Fa Leilua and Carter Spexarth hit back-to-back home runs, marking the first time MSU had done so since the eighth inning against Auburn on March 23, 2019.
Madisyn Kennedy – Had a career-high three hits on a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate with three runs scored.
Fa Leilua – Turned in her team-high seventh multi-hit game of the year and hit her team-leading seventh home run of the year.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Recorded a career-high three hits, including her first career triple, driving in a run in each at-bat.
Anna Kate Segars – Has now reached base safely in nine consecutive games, the third longest such streak by a Bulldog this year.
Lindsey Williams – Hit her second career home run and drove in a career-high-tying four runs.
Scoring Recap
Bottom 1Candace Denis led off the frame with a double to right field. Mia Davidson singled to left field, and Denis scored. Davidson stole second base, and advanced to third on a passed ball. Carter Spexarth singled up the middle, bringing Davidson home. Madisyn Kennedy singled up the middle, and Spexarth advanced to second. Chloe Malau'ulu singled to right field, scoring Spexarth and pushing Kennedy to third. Malau'ulu stole second base, and Kennedy raced home on the throw. Lindsey Williams singled up the middle to bring Malau'ulu home. Montana Davidson singled up the middle, and Williams advanced to second. Denis doubled to left center in her second at-bat in the inning, scoring Montana Davidson and Williams.
UAB 0, Mississippi State 7
Top 2
Faith Hegh singled through the right side. Natalie Erwin walked, and Hegh advanced to second. Ashton Clem singled to right field, advancing both Erwin and Hegh and loading the bases. Gabi Apiag hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Hegh. Erwin advanced on the throw as well, and when the ball sailed over the Bulldog catcher, Clem advanced to second on the throwing error. KK Crocker doubled to right center field, scoring Clem and Erwin.
UAB 3, Mississippi State 7
Bottom 3
Anna Kate Segars drew a one-out walk before Madisyn Kennedy singled up the middle. With two on, Chloe Malau'ulu singled up the middle, bringing home Segars and advancing Kennedy to third. Lindsey Williams homered to left field, and Malau'ulu and Kennedy scored.
UAB 3, Mississippi State 11
Top 3
Dylinn Stancil doubled to right center field. Sierra Frazier singled to left field, advancing Stancil to third. Analyse Petree homered to right center, scoring Frazier and Stancil.
UAB 6, Mississippi State 11
Bottom 3
Mia Davidson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Fa Leilua homered to right center. Carter Spexarth followed with a homer of her own. Madisyn Kennedy singled. Chloe Malau'ulu tripled to right center, scoring Kennedy.
UAB 6, Mississippi State 15
Bottom 4
Brylie St. Clair reached first on an error. Fa Leilua was hit by the pitch, advancing St. Clair. Celeste Soliz came in as a pinch runner for Leilua. Kiki Edwards singled to right field to score St. Clair. Soliz advanced to second but was thrown out at third on the play.
UAB 6, Mississippi State 16
The Snowman Schedule
Friday, Feb. 28UT Martin 9, Alcorn State 0
UAB 6, Alcorn State 0
Mississippi State 16, UAB 6
Saturday, Feb. 29
Alcorn State vs. UT Martin – 10 a.m.
UT Martin vs. UAB – 12:30 p.m.
UAB at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
Alcorn State at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 16
UAB vs. UT Martin – 10 a.m.
Alcorn State at Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
UT Martin at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
Admission/Promotions
Admission to all MSU softball home games is free.This weekend features trivia at each MSU game of the tournament. Each individual trivia game winner will be entered to win a grand prize at the end of the season, with more wins earning contestants more entries. The Snowman's trivia will focus on various TV shows throughout the weekend.
The Deck will offer free hot chocolate throughout the weekend as well.
On Deck
The Bulldogs are in the midst of a 12-game homestand. The sixth game of that stretch comes on Tuesday when UT Martin remains in town for a midweek contest. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
SS/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
OF/1B
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16