Solo Homer Downs Bulldogs In Series Opener Against No. 5 Florida

Friday, March 19

Starkville

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

15-9, 0-4

#5 Florida

19-2, 3-1

Florida

Mississippi State

Solo Homer Downs Bulldogs In Series Opener Against No. 5 Florida

March 19, 2021 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – A home run from Florida's Kinsey Goelz provided the only scoring as Mississippi State fell to the No. 5 Gators, 1-0, in the series opener.

The Bulldogs (15-9, 0-4 SEC) scattered six hits and left the tying run stranded on second in the bottom of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

"I thought we played a clean game," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Good defense. They capitalized on Annie [Willis'] mistake, but I liked her bounce back in the first inning and the rest of the game on from there. I just think it comes down to execution and picking up some of those runs that we left out there on the bases for a couple of innings."

Florida's (19-2, 3-1 SEC) first three batters reached to open the game, but the Bulldogs worked out of the bases-loaded jam with no outs without allowing a run. Paige Cook threw two runners out at the plate and Annie Willis got her first strikeout of the night to keep the game scoreless.

"I saw a lot of excitement and energy [in that inning] which is what we're asking for and really a lot of grit from Annie to dig deep," Ricketts said. "That's a tough situation to be in, and the numbers say that it's very likely that you give up a run when you get runners on third and bases loaded with no outs. I really liked how she dug down deep and for the defense to play behind her and not speed themselves up in a pressure situation. It was a good sign for us."

That score held until the fourth inning when Goelz hit a solo shot over the wall in left with two outs. State had chances to respond in every inning following the homer. In the bottom of the fourth, Mia Davidson led off with a double and advanced to third on a base hit from Fa Leilua, but the next three Bulldog batters went down in order.

In the bottom of the fifth, Cook led off with a single and was bunted over to second before being left stranded. In the sixth, Leilua drew a one-out walk, and Carter Spexarth singled. Two pop ups ended the inning. Cook again led off with a single in the seventh and was bunted to second, but State could not bring her home.

Quotables

Annie Willis on getting out of the first inning without allowing a run:
"Honestly, I just trusted the defense behind me. We've been working all week, honestly, on it, and that was the calmest I've felt our team as a whole. I just trusted my pitches. I trusted Mia [Davidson] behind the plate. I trusted Coach Josh [Johnson's] calls, and we just worked together as a team to get it done."

Mia Davidson on the strikeout and caught stealing double play:
"I honestly didn't see the runner going until the last second. I knew there was a fast runner on, so I was like, 'If [Emily Williams] does a change up, just be ready for anything.' She went and she threw it. Madi [Kennedy] made a great tag on it, and it was just bang-bang. It was just a great setup."

Quick Hitters

Bulldog Bats – State is one of just three teams this season (Florida State and Kentucky) to record five or more hits against the Gators.

Paige Cook – Singled twice for her seventh multi-hit game of the year, which is tied for the team lead … Threw two runners out at the plate in the first inning.

Mia Davidson – Tagged out two runners at the plate in the first inning … Caught a runner stealing for a strike-them-out-throw-them-out double play with Madisyn Kennedy.

Fa Leilua – Drew her SEC-leading 22^nd walk … Added a single.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Saw her reached-base streak end at 28 games, the seventh-longest streak in school history … She is one of three players to reach base in each of the first 23 games of a season … No Bulldog has ever done so in the first 24.

Carter Spexarth – Picked up a pair of singles for her seventh multi-hit game of the year, which is tied for the team lead.

Annie Willis – Struck out eight in 6.0 innings of work … Worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first without allowing a run … Took her first loss of the year (7-1).

Scoring Recap

Top 1
Kinsey Goelz homered to left field.
Florida 1, Mississippi State 0

On Deck

The second game of the series will be played at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday and air on SEC Network+. Both teams will wear teal uniforms or accents as part of the SEC's All For Alex weekend to honor former Bulldog Alex Wilcox.

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