Friday, May 21
Stillwater, Okla.
3:30 PM
Mississippi State
3
vs
1
Boston University
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Bulldogs Advance To Winner’s Bracket In Stillwater Regional
May 21, 2021 | Softball
STILLWATER, Okla. – Playing in her first NCAA Tournament game, Madisyn Kennedy had herself a day to propel Mississippi State's softball team to a 3-1 victory over Boston University in its opening game of the NCAA Tournament.
Kennedy went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and three assists, including throwing a runner out at the plate. Mia Davidson and Montana Davidson drove in State's remaining runs with a groundout and a base hit, respectively.
"I thought we played a really clean game all around," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It took us a couple of innings to get going there offensively, but there was never any panic from the dugout. They knew to just stick with our game plan and get to her. She's a great pitcher who's had a great year, so we knew we were going to need to make some adjustments going forward. I thought some key plays were the relay to cut down their second run early in the game at the plate, and then the bottom of our lineup picking up runs and turning it over."
The Terriers (36-3) took an early lead on a double in the second inning, but Chloe Malau'ulu teamed up with Kennedy to cut down a second run at the plate on the play. State (34-23) immediately answered in the bottom half of the inning. After Jackie McKenna walked, Kennedy hit her double into left-center.
Mia Davidson's bases-loaded grounder to the shortstop scored a second run in the fifth, and Montana Davidson's sixth-inning single up the middle scored Christian Quinn from second.
Annie Willis tossed 6.0 innings without allowing a walk. She struck out six. Alyssa Loza came on for her sixth save of the year and retired all three batters she faced, striking out one.
"I think we did a good job of our preparation early this week. Starting from when we found out who we were playing, using a lot of film, a lot of scouting – Coach Josh [Johnson] kind of spearheads that for us from the scouting report side – and then attacking it in practice. I think the biggest thing is that we wanted to make sure the team didn't overlook her as a pitcher or Boston U as a team and what they've done this year. They're a No. 3-seed in this regional for a reason, so we wanted to make sure we came out one game at a time and one pitch and one inning."
Madisyn Kennedy on today's game:
"I think it went really well. I think we played as a team very well. Every at-bat, from every single player, there was a mindset that we were going to have a team at-bat and make something happen to get it done in the end."
Madisyn Kennedy on if she recognized the significance of her relay throw home:
"In the moment, no. I was really just playing softball, going with it and letting the game play itself. In the end, I guess you can say it was [significant], but I was just playing the game as it comes."
Madisyn Kennedy on her RBI double:
"I was sticking with the game plan we talked about and practiced. Seeing her pitches, seeing it out of her hand and sticking with my plan in that moment. My plan was to hit the drop ball, and she threw me a drop ball. I was like, 'Okay, here we go. I'll hit it.'"
Mia Davidson – Brought home the winning run with a ground ball to the shortstop … Fourth game-winning RBI of the year … Now tied for fifth in MSU's NCAA Tournament history with five career RBIs in the postseason.
Madisyn Kennedy – Doubled home a run in the second for her first career RBI in the NCAA Tournament … Added a single in the sixth for her eighth multi-hit game of the year.
Alyssa Loza – Earned her sixth save of the year … Is the first Bulldog with a save in the NCAA Tournament in school history ... Now the fourth Bulldog in school history with a six-save season … Has five saves in the month of May with a 1.58 ERA in 17.2 innings.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Threw out a runner at the plate for her sixth outfield assist of the year … Now tied for second in MSU single-season outfield assists and one shy of the school record (7, Iyhia McMichael, 2004) … Scored the game-winning run on a fielder's choice … Leads the team with 12 game-winning runs this year.
Annie Willis – Struck out the side, including two batters looking, in the fifth inning … Did not walk a batter.
With one out, Nicole Amodio and Jen Horita hit back-to-back singles. AJ Huerta-Leipner hit a double into left-center field, scoring Amodio, but Horita was thrown out at the plate.
Boston University 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 2
Jackie McKenna drew a one-out walk. Following a flyout, Madisyn Kennedy doubled to left-center field, and McKenna scored from first to tie the game.
Boston University 1, Mississippi State 1
Bottom 5
The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out. Chloe Malau'ulu reached on a throwing error by the shortstop before Fa Leilua and Carter Spexarth both singled. Allison Florian and Aquana Brownlee came on as pinch runners. Mia Davidson hit a ground ball to the shortstop, scoring Malau'ulu as Florian was retired on the way to third.
Boston University 1, Mississippi State 2
Bottom 6
With one out, Christian Quinn drew a walk. Kennedy followed with a single to advance Quinn to second. Montana Davidson singled up the middle to score Quinn.
Boston University 1, Mississippi State 3
Kennedy went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and three assists, including throwing a runner out at the plate. Mia Davidson and Montana Davidson drove in State's remaining runs with a groundout and a base hit, respectively.
"I thought we played a really clean game all around," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It took us a couple of innings to get going there offensively, but there was never any panic from the dugout. They knew to just stick with our game plan and get to her. She's a great pitcher who's had a great year, so we knew we were going to need to make some adjustments going forward. I thought some key plays were the relay to cut down their second run early in the game at the plate, and then the bottom of our lineup picking up runs and turning it over."
The Terriers (36-3) took an early lead on a double in the second inning, but Chloe Malau'ulu teamed up with Kennedy to cut down a second run at the plate on the play. State (34-23) immediately answered in the bottom half of the inning. After Jackie McKenna walked, Kennedy hit her double into left-center.
Mia Davidson's bases-loaded grounder to the shortstop scored a second run in the fifth, and Montana Davidson's sixth-inning single up the middle scored Christian Quinn from second.
Annie Willis tossed 6.0 innings without allowing a walk. She struck out six. Alyssa Loza came on for her sixth save of the year and retired all three batters she faced, striking out one.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on giving Boston University's Ali DuBois her first loss:"I think we did a good job of our preparation early this week. Starting from when we found out who we were playing, using a lot of film, a lot of scouting – Coach Josh [Johnson] kind of spearheads that for us from the scouting report side – and then attacking it in practice. I think the biggest thing is that we wanted to make sure the team didn't overlook her as a pitcher or Boston U as a team and what they've done this year. They're a No. 3-seed in this regional for a reason, so we wanted to make sure we came out one game at a time and one pitch and one inning."
Madisyn Kennedy on today's game:
"I think it went really well. I think we played as a team very well. Every at-bat, from every single player, there was a mindset that we were going to have a team at-bat and make something happen to get it done in the end."
Madisyn Kennedy on if she recognized the significance of her relay throw home:
"In the moment, no. I was really just playing softball, going with it and letting the game play itself. In the end, I guess you can say it was [significant], but I was just playing the game as it comes."
Madisyn Kennedy on her RBI double:
"I was sticking with the game plan we talked about and practiced. Seeing her pitches, seeing it out of her hand and sticking with my plan in that moment. My plan was to hit the drop ball, and she threw me a drop ball. I was like, 'Okay, here we go. I'll hit it.'"
Quick Hitters
Streak Snapped – Boston University entered on an 18-game winning streak, which was the second-longest active streak in the nation … Ali Dubois entered the game with a 25-0 record, and the Terriers had won 29 consecutive games that she pitched in … Dubois had not taken a loss since March 7, 2020, against San Diego State.Mia Davidson – Brought home the winning run with a ground ball to the shortstop … Fourth game-winning RBI of the year … Now tied for fifth in MSU's NCAA Tournament history with five career RBIs in the postseason.
Madisyn Kennedy – Doubled home a run in the second for her first career RBI in the NCAA Tournament … Added a single in the sixth for her eighth multi-hit game of the year.
Alyssa Loza – Earned her sixth save of the year … Is the first Bulldog with a save in the NCAA Tournament in school history ... Now the fourth Bulldog in school history with a six-save season … Has five saves in the month of May with a 1.58 ERA in 17.2 innings.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Threw out a runner at the plate for her sixth outfield assist of the year … Now tied for second in MSU single-season outfield assists and one shy of the school record (7, Iyhia McMichael, 2004) … Scored the game-winning run on a fielder's choice … Leads the team with 12 game-winning runs this year.
Annie Willis – Struck out the side, including two batters looking, in the fifth inning … Did not walk a batter.
Scoring Recap
Top 2With one out, Nicole Amodio and Jen Horita hit back-to-back singles. AJ Huerta-Leipner hit a double into left-center field, scoring Amodio, but Horita was thrown out at the plate.
Boston University 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 2
Jackie McKenna drew a one-out walk. Following a flyout, Madisyn Kennedy doubled to left-center field, and McKenna scored from first to tie the game.
Boston University 1, Mississippi State 1
Bottom 5
The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out. Chloe Malau'ulu reached on a throwing error by the shortstop before Fa Leilua and Carter Spexarth both singled. Allison Florian and Aquana Brownlee came on as pinch runners. Mia Davidson hit a ground ball to the shortstop, scoring Malau'ulu as Florian was retired on the way to third.
Boston University 1, Mississippi State 2
Bottom 6
With one out, Christian Quinn drew a walk. Kennedy followed with a single to advance Quinn to second. Montana Davidson singled up the middle to score Quinn.
Boston University 1, Mississippi State 3
On Deck
Mississippi State will meet No. 5 Oklahoma State on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN3. The winner of that game will advance to Sunday's Regional Championship matchup. The loser will return to the field at approximately 6 p.m. to play the winner of the Campbell-Boston University elimination game.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
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OF
/ Softball
C
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OF
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OF
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P
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