Saturday, February 8
Clearwater, Fla.
11:30 AM
Mississippi State
2-0
9
vs
2
Liberty
0-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Liberty
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
4
1
Mississippi State
0
0
0
2
3
4
X
9
11
2
Bulldog Offense Breaks Out, Pitchers Shine on Two-Win Afternoon
February 08, 2020 | Softball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
CLEARWATER, Fla. – "Thunder and Lightning" were in full force despite the cloudless sky on Saturday as Mississippi State softball picked up two more victories to move to 3-0 on the weekend.
The Bulldogs, led by power-hitting duo Mia Davidson and Fa Leilua, exploded for a 9-2 victory against Liberty (0-4), then battled through an eight-inning affair against Louisville (1-3) to win 3-2.
"I'm very proud of our effort in both games today," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "The pitching staff was attacking the zone and Emily Williams did a great job closing out both games. Having to come from behind in both games today and play extra innings was a good test for us both offensively and defensively and I liked the composure and fight we showed all day long.
Williams earned her first win of the year in the afternoon's second game and picked up nine strikeouts on the day. State allowed just two earned runs over two games.
Davidson hit a solo homer against Liberty, and Leilua sealed the game with a late grand slam against the Flames. Freshman Madisyn Kennedy went 2-for-3 in that game with an RBI and a run scored.
Against Louisville, State's pitchers did not allow an earned run, but the Bulldogs made three errors in the field. MSU immediately answered the Cardinals' run, scoring in the next half inning both times. Two of the Bulldog runs were the result of batters being hit by a pitch before being driven in. Kennedy again scored once and drove in one run.
Through three games, the Bulldogs are slugging .512 as a team while their pitching staff has stuck out 28 in 22.0 innings of work.
MSU closes the weekend with a final game against NC State (2-2) on Sunday. First pitch from the Eddie C. Moore Complex is set for 11 a.m. CT.
Madisyn Kennedy – Doubled twice in a 3-for-6 day at the plate … Scored two runs and drove in a pair … Made a crucial play in the hole to cut down a runner at third.
Mia Davidson – Hit her 46th career home run.
Annie Willis – Has not allowed an earned run in her first 8.2 innings of the year.
Emily Williams – Made two relief appearances, striking out nine over 6.1 combined innings of work.
Denay Griffin homered to left center on a 2-1 pitch with one out. The following two batters grounded out and struck out swinging.
Liberty 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 4
Mia Davidson led off the inning with a home run to center on the first pitch. Fa Leilua then singled, and was pinch ran for by Celeste Soliz. Carter Spexarth doubled to push Soliz to third. Brylie St. Clair came on to run for Spexarth while the Flames made a pitching change. After a strikeout, Soliz was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Madisyn Kennedy singled to bring home St. Clair before Montana Davidson was thrown out at third on the play.
Liberty 1, Mississippi State 2
Bottom 5
Lindsey Williams led off with a single before being replaced on the bases by Aquana Brownlee. Christian Quinn singled to put two runners on, and Candace Denis drove in Brownlee with a single up the middle. Mia Davidson walked to load the bases, and Fa Leilua sent an RBI single to left. With no outs in the frame, Spexarth walked to bring home a third run in the inning before a double play ended the threat.
Liberty 1, Mississippi State 5
Top 6
Amber Bishop led off the frame with a home run that stayed just inside the left field foul pole.
Liberty 2, Mississippi State 5
Bottom 6
Kennedy led off with a double, followed by a Brownlee walk. After a strikeout, Candace Denis beat out an infield single to load the bases. With two outs, Leilua hit a grand slam to right center field.
Liberty 2, Mississippi State 9
Maddy Newman led off with a single and was bunted over to second. She advanced to third on an error following a fly out to center. Another fielding error brought her home to open the scoring.
Mississippi State 0, Louisville 1
Top 4
Montana Davidson singled with one out. Madisyn Kennedy was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Davidson was thrown out at third when Aquana Brownlee reached on a fielder's choice. Christian Quinn doubled down the left field line to bring home Kennedy before a ground out ended the frame.
Mississippi State 1, Louisville 1
Top 6
Chloe Malau'ulu was hit by a pitch to lead off. Following a strikeout, Kennedy doubled off the right center wall to drive her in. Consecutive ground outs ended the inning.
Mississippi State 2, Louisville 1
Bottom 7
Following Newman's leadoff single and a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt, the Cardinals had two on with nobody out. Emily Williams induced a pop up and a struck out Carmyn Greenwood, but then surrendered a single to load the bases and walked in a run before the third out was recorded.
Mississippi State 2, Louisville 2
Top 8
Following the international tiebreaker rule, Anna Kate Segars was placed on second base to open the inning. Malau'ulu moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. Montana Davidson then hit a grounder, and Louisville tried to throw Segars out at the plate, but the ball was dropped at the plate to allow the winning run to score.
Mississippi State 3, Louisville 2
Mississippi State vs. Missouri State – W, 5-0
Mississippi State vs. Team USA (Exh.) – L, 0-4
Saturday, Feb. 8
Liberty vs. Mississippi State – W, 9-2
Louisville vs. Mississippi State – W, 3-2 (8)
Sunday, Feb. 9
Mississippi State vs. NC State – 11 a.m. CT
CLEARWATER, Fla. – "Thunder and Lightning" were in full force despite the cloudless sky on Saturday as Mississippi State softball picked up two more victories to move to 3-0 on the weekend.
The Bulldogs, led by power-hitting duo Mia Davidson and Fa Leilua, exploded for a 9-2 victory against Liberty (0-4), then battled through an eight-inning affair against Louisville (1-3) to win 3-2.
"I'm very proud of our effort in both games today," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "The pitching staff was attacking the zone and Emily Williams did a great job closing out both games. Having to come from behind in both games today and play extra innings was a good test for us both offensively and defensively and I liked the composure and fight we showed all day long.
Williams earned her first win of the year in the afternoon's second game and picked up nine strikeouts on the day. State allowed just two earned runs over two games.
Davidson hit a solo homer against Liberty, and Leilua sealed the game with a late grand slam against the Flames. Freshman Madisyn Kennedy went 2-for-3 in that game with an RBI and a run scored.
Against Louisville, State's pitchers did not allow an earned run, but the Bulldogs made three errors in the field. MSU immediately answered the Cardinals' run, scoring in the next half inning both times. Two of the Bulldog runs were the result of batters being hit by a pitch before being driven in. Kennedy again scored once and drove in one run.
Through three games, the Bulldogs are slugging .512 as a team while their pitching staff has stuck out 28 in 22.0 innings of work.
MSU closes the weekend with a final game against NC State (2-2) on Sunday. First pitch from the Eddie C. Moore Complex is set for 11 a.m. CT.
Quick Hitters
Fa Leilua – Hit the 42nd grand slam in school history and the eighth since the start of the 2018 season … It was Leilua's second grand slam as a Bulldog (Feb. 27, 2019) … Led the Bulldogs with seven total bases and a 4-for-7 effort at the plate on Saturday … Drove in five RBIs.Madisyn Kennedy – Doubled twice in a 3-for-6 day at the plate … Scored two runs and drove in a pair … Made a crucial play in the hole to cut down a runner at third.
Mia Davidson – Hit her 46th career home run.
Annie Willis – Has not allowed an earned run in her first 8.2 innings of the year.
Emily Williams – Made two relief appearances, striking out nine over 6.1 combined innings of work.
vs. Liberty Scoring Recap
Top 2Denay Griffin homered to left center on a 2-1 pitch with one out. The following two batters grounded out and struck out swinging.
Liberty 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 4
Mia Davidson led off the inning with a home run to center on the first pitch. Fa Leilua then singled, and was pinch ran for by Celeste Soliz. Carter Spexarth doubled to push Soliz to third. Brylie St. Clair came on to run for Spexarth while the Flames made a pitching change. After a strikeout, Soliz was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Madisyn Kennedy singled to bring home St. Clair before Montana Davidson was thrown out at third on the play.
Liberty 1, Mississippi State 2
Bottom 5
Lindsey Williams led off with a single before being replaced on the bases by Aquana Brownlee. Christian Quinn singled to put two runners on, and Candace Denis drove in Brownlee with a single up the middle. Mia Davidson walked to load the bases, and Fa Leilua sent an RBI single to left. With no outs in the frame, Spexarth walked to bring home a third run in the inning before a double play ended the threat.
Liberty 1, Mississippi State 5
Top 6
Amber Bishop led off the frame with a home run that stayed just inside the left field foul pole.
Liberty 2, Mississippi State 5
Bottom 6
Kennedy led off with a double, followed by a Brownlee walk. After a strikeout, Candace Denis beat out an infield single to load the bases. With two outs, Leilua hit a grand slam to right center field.
Liberty 2, Mississippi State 9
vs. Louisville Scoring Recap
Bottom 3Maddy Newman led off with a single and was bunted over to second. She advanced to third on an error following a fly out to center. Another fielding error brought her home to open the scoring.
Mississippi State 0, Louisville 1
Top 4
Montana Davidson singled with one out. Madisyn Kennedy was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Davidson was thrown out at third when Aquana Brownlee reached on a fielder's choice. Christian Quinn doubled down the left field line to bring home Kennedy before a ground out ended the frame.
Mississippi State 1, Louisville 1
Top 6
Chloe Malau'ulu was hit by a pitch to lead off. Following a strikeout, Kennedy doubled off the right center wall to drive her in. Consecutive ground outs ended the inning.
Mississippi State 2, Louisville 1
Bottom 7
Following Newman's leadoff single and a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt, the Cardinals had two on with nobody out. Emily Williams induced a pop up and a struck out Carmyn Greenwood, but then surrendered a single to load the bases and walked in a run before the third out was recorded.
Mississippi State 2, Louisville 2
Top 8
Following the international tiebreaker rule, Anna Kate Segars was placed on second base to open the inning. Malau'ulu moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. Montana Davidson then hit a grounder, and Louisville tried to throw Segars out at the plate, but the ball was dropped at the plate to allow the winning run to score.
Mississippi State 3, Louisville 2
NFCA Leadoff Classic Schedule/Results
Friday, Feb. 7 Mississippi State vs. Missouri State – W, 5-0
Mississippi State vs. Team USA (Exh.) – L, 0-4
Saturday, Feb. 8
Liberty vs. Mississippi State – W, 9-2
Louisville vs. Mississippi State – W, 3-2 (8)
Sunday, Feb. 9
Mississippi State vs. NC State – 11 a.m. CT
On Deck
MSU returns to Starkville for its home opener at Nusz Park on Feb. 12 against Alabama State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. with free T-shirts and koozies available on the outfield deck.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fagan, Grace (1-0)
L: BELOGORSKA, Kastin (0-1)
Batting:
HR: BISHOP, Amber 1 ; GRIFFIN, Denay 1
RBI: BISHOP, Amber 1 ; GRIFFIN, Denay 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BISHOP, Amber 1 ; GRIFFIN, Denay 1
Batting:
2B: Spexarth, Carter 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1
HR: Davidson, Mia 1 ; Leilua, Fa 1
RBI: Denis, Candace 1 ; Davidson, Mia 1 ; Leilua, Fa 5 ; Spexarth, Carter 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Denis, Candace 2 ; Davidson, Mia 1 ; Leilua, Fa 1 ; St. Clair, Brylie 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1 ; Brownlee, Aquana 2 ; Quinn, Christian 1
Game Leaders
rf/dp
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballP/UTL
/ SoftballSS/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF/1B
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
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