Six-Run First Inning Powers Bulldogs To Saturday Victory

Saturday, May 1

Columbia, S.C.

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

26-22, 2-15

South Carolina

25-21, 4-16

Mississippi State

South Carolina

Six-Run First Inning Powers Bulldogs To Saturday Victory

May 01, 2021 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A six-run first inning was all Mississippi State would need on Saturday, as the Bulldogs cruised to a 6-2 victory at South Carolina. Annie Willis tossed 4.0 shutout innings before yielding to the bullpen to pick up her 14^th win of the year.

"I thought the first inning really set the tone for the day," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Chloe [Malau'ulu] did a great job starting us off, finding her way on base to start the game. Fa [Leilua], Carter [Spexarth] and Mia [Davidson] kept the line going behind her. I though everyone, up and down the lineup, did a good job of not getting too big, trying to do too much, and making the pitcher come find the zone early one. Really good team at-bats, quality at-bats the first time through the order."

MSU (26-22, 2-15 SEC) sent 11 batters to the plate in the opening frame as South Carolina (25-21, 4-16 SEC) did not record an out until the nine-hole batter's at-bat. All nine Bulldogs reached base with the help of four walks, two hit-by-pitches and a fielder's choice as State's runners went station-to-station around the bases.

Six different hitters had RBIs, and four would collect hits on the day. Fa Leilua and Jackie McKenna had the only hits in the first inning with McKenna's driving in Addison Purvis.

From there, MSU's defense took over and did not allow a run until the fifth inning. MSU's outfielders picked up two assists, cutting down a runner trying to stretch a double and another trying to turn an RBI double into three bases.

State's pitchers allowed just two walks while the Gamecocks walked six batters. The Bulldogs have now taken 23 walks over their last four games. Purvis and Chloe Malau'ulu each drew a pair on Saturday.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Annie Willis:
"Annie did a great job of getting the shutdown inning right after we put up six in the first, and then continued to do a good job working around some baserunners here and there. I thought she looked in control the whole time and did a great job of getting us deep into the game. Then Kenley [Hawk] and Aspen [Wesley] getting to finish it and taking some innings off Annie was good to see."

Samantha Ricketts on State's two outfield assists:
"I thought the outfield really did a good job today after a couple of tough balls yesterday. They did a good job of picking each other up, backing each other up and being in positions to finish a play and make some throws."

Quick Hitters

Passing the Bat – All nine hitters reached base in the top of the first as MSU scored six runs … It was State's highest scoring first inning since plating seven runs against UAB on Feb. 28, 2020 in a 16-6 (5 inn.) win … The Bulldogs drew four walks and were hit by two pitches in that inning alone … Six different Bulldogs picked up an RBI.

Free Bases – MSU's six walks trailed only last night's game against the Gamecocks and Game 2 of the series with Texas A&M (7) for a season-high in league play … In total, State picked up eight free bases with the addition of hit-by-pitches.

Paige Cook – Picked up her fourth game-winning RBI and her third without a hit this season, bringing home a run with a hit-by-pitch.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Drew two walks and scored the game's first run … State is now 16-6 when she reaches base to open a game.

Annie Willis – Worked around six hits to throw 4.0 shutout innings.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
Chloe Malau'ulu drew a four-pitch walk to open the ballgame. Fa Leilua followed with a single on the 11^th pitch of her at-bat. Carter Spexarth, Mia Davidson and Addison Purvis drew three walks in succession to load the bases and plate two runs. Paige Cook and Madisyn Kennedy were both hit by pitches with the bases loaded, scoring two more. Jackie McKenna singled to score Purvis from third. Montana Davidson hit a ground ball to the shortstop, and the Gamecocks cut down Kennedy headed to third while Cook scored.
Mississippi State 6, South Carolina 0

Bottom 5
With one out, Mackenzie Boesel drew a walk. She took second and third on wild pitches. Kassidy Krupit hit a two-out double to score Boesel and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple to end the inning.
Mississippi State 6, South Carolina 1

Bottom 7
Kenzie Maguire hit a two-out double off the right field wall. She scored on a base hit from Boesel.
Mississippi State 6, South Carolina 2

On Deck

The Bulldogs and Gamecocks continue the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally on SEC Network.

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