No. 18 Softball Advances To Championship Game With Two Wins Saturday

Saturday, March 6

Starkville

12:30 PM

Mississippi State

11-5

Western Kentucky

8-2

Western Kentucky

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

No. 18 Softball Advances To Championship Game With Two Wins Saturday

March 06, 2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Western Kentucky Box Score (PDF)Alcorn State Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – With a pair of victories Saturday, No. 18 Mississippi State advanced to the championship game of the Bulldog Invitational at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

MSU opened the day with a shutout victory over Western Kentucky, winning 10-0 in five innings. The Bulldogs (12-5) then won in walk-off fashion against Alcorn State, 6-5.

"We definitely knew that that road trip, we could take a lot from and learn, playing some tough teams last weekend," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "But the game doesn't know who's supposed to win, and we have to make sure that we're ready to go every single game. It's going to take our best effort every time we're out there, and a whole effort – pitching, hitting and defense. That's something we're continuing to talk about and to work on."

Fa Leilua hit the walk-off homer in the eighth to cap a 4-for-8 day at the plate. The Bulldogs also got home runs from Madisyn Kennedy against the Hilltoppers (8-2) and Carter Spexarth against the Lady Braves (2-8).

Annie Willis pitched 6.0 shutout innings in relief against Alcorn State, allowing just one hit while striking out nine. In the first game of the day, Emily Williams tossed 4.0 shutout innings before Alyssa Loza came on to close the game.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Chloe Malau'ulu:
"Chloe had a great day. She did exactly what you want her to do out of the leadoff. She was finding ways to get on base, hits, taking walks and driving in some runs when she had runners on base in front of her. I really like the way she stays calm under pressure and can see pitches and find ways to be a table-setter at the top of the lineup."

Samantha Ricketts on Annie Willis and Emily Williams:
"I thought Annie and E-Dub did a great job commanding from the moment they came in. Annie, especially, was just attacking the zone, no walks. Even E-Dub, when she got behind or got in a little bit of trouble, really did a great job of mixing speeds to leave them scoreless over and over."

Samantha Ricketts on Madisyn Kennedy:
"I think she very relieved to get that first one [hit] out of the way. We have so much confidence in her at the plate just like we do on defense. It was good to see her get going and get some confidence at the plate just like she's been doing on defense."

Quick Hitters

10-Run Ballgames – The Bulldogs have now scored 10 or more runs in six ballgames … State did so in just four games a year ago and eight times in 2019.

Madisyn Kennedy – Recorded her first hit of the year with a double down the left-field line against Western Kentucky … Hit a three-run home run in her next at-bat … Went 4-for-6 with three runs scored on the day.

Fa Leilua – Hit a walk-off home run against Alcorn State … Also rounded the bases on an error following a single against the Lady Braves … Went 3-for-5 at the plate against Alcorn State.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Reached base on all four plate appearances against Western Kentucky … Hit a triple and a double to go 2-for-4 against Alcorn State … Has now reached base safely in a career-high 22 straight games … Went 5-for-7 on the day with two RBIs.

Carter Spexarth – Went 3-for-6 with four RBIs … Hit her third home run of the year and second of the weekend.

Emily Williams – Threw 4.0 scoreless innings against Western Kentucky … Has not allowed a run in 12.1 consecutive innings.

Annie Willis – Struck out nine in 6.0 scoreless inning of relief while allowing a hit.

vs. Western Kentucky Scoring Recap

Bottom 1
Chloe Malau'ulu singled to the pitcher then advanced to second on a Fa Leilua walk. Carter Spexarth singled to center field scoring Malau'ulu and advancing Leilua to third.
Western Kentucky 0, Mississippi State 1

Bottom 2
Madisyn Kennedy doubled down the left field line to open the inning. With one out, Malau'ulu singled to right field, advancing Kennedy third. Kennedy scored on a wild pitch that allowed Malau'ulu to take second. Mia Davidson walked followed by a single to center field from Leilua. Malau'ulu scored, and Leilua advanced to second when the Hilltoppers tried to throw out Mia Davidson, who slid safely into third. Carter Spexarth singled to center field scoring both runners. With Allison Florian in to pinch run for Spexarth, Montana Davison singled up the middle to put two runners on. Segars singled to load the bases. Paige Cook walked, scoring Florian. Kennedy then hit a three-run homer to left field.
Western Kentucky 0, Mississippi State 9

Bottom 3
Malau'ulu led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She scored on a Mia Davidson double down the left field line.
Western Kentucky 0, Mississippi State 10

vs. Alcorn State Scoring Recap

Top 1
Brittney Triplett walked then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Amari Ramsey doubled off the diving shortstop and sent Triplett in to score. Kiri Parker was hit by a pitch. Marsha Hunt hit a single up the middle, scoring Ramsey. She advanced to second, and Parker took third on the throw. Parker then scored, and Hunt advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alexsis Ramirez hit a single to the pitcher scoring Hunt.
Alcorn State 4, Mississippi State 0

Top 2
Desirea Lindsey walked and advance to second on a wild pitch. Triplett singled up the middle advancing Lindsey to third. Lindsey scored on double to right center from Chloey Morgan.
Alcorn State 5, Mississippi State 0

Bottom 3
Leilua singled off the diving third baseman. When she rounded the bag toward second, the third baseman threw to the base, but the throw sailed into right field allowing Leilua to race home.
Alcorn State 5, Mississippi State 1

Bottom 5
Carter Spexarth hit a leadoff home run.
Alcorn State 5, Mississippi State 2

Bottom 6
Madisyn Kennedy singled to left field then advanced to third on a single from Christian Quinn. Chloe Malau'ulu doubled to left center, which scored both Kennedy and Quinn.
Alcorn State 5, Mississippi State 4

Bottom 7
With one out, Paige Cook reached on an error. Kennedy singled down the left field line advancing to second on the throw when Cook took third. Allison Florian pinch ran for Kennedy. Quinn grounded out to second base, scoring Cook to tie the game.
Alcorn State 5, Mississippi State 5

Bottom 8
Leilua hit a one-out home run down the left field line.
Alcorn State 5, Mississippi State 6

On Deck

The Bulldogs will play the winner of Western Kentucky and Ball State at 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday in the championship game of the Bulldog Invitational.

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