Bulldogs Down Loyola Marymount To Open 2022 Campaign

Friday, February 11

Irvine, Calif.

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

1-0

Loyola Marymount

0-1

Loyola Marymount

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Bulldogs Down Loyola Marymount To Open 2022 Campaign

February 11, 2022 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

IRVINE, Calif. – A two-run single from Paige Cook in the bottom of the sixth broke a tie ballgame and pushed Mississippi State to a 4-2 victory on Opening Day.

Matalasi Faapito provided the rest of State's (1-0) scoring with a two-run homer in her first Bulldog at-bat. Brylie St. Clair paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with a double, and Mia Davidson added a double in a 2-for-2 day.

Davidson also caught a runner stealing and picked one off first base. It was the 36th caught stealing of her career, which ranks fourth in school history, and her school-record 10th pickoff.

"I thought it was good to get out there and knock out some of the jitters," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We started out a little bit nervous but settled in. I think Opening Day always has a little bit of nerves with it, but we're just happy to be back on the field."

Aspen Wesley drew the Opening Day start and went six innings without allowing an earned run. She struck out seven before Annie Willis came on to pick up her second career save.

The Bulldogs have now won their season opener in every season since 2014 and is 21-10 overall in season openers.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on using Annie Willis as a closer…
"I thought, first of all, Aspen [Wesley] threw a great game. We had Annie ready to go in the bottom of the sixth with two out and one of their best hitters up to bat, and we decided to roll with Aspen to let her get herself out of the jam. I think the more pressure situations you put her in, the better it will be for her down the line. Then knowing we had Annie for the one-inning save, I think we just had a lot of confidence to send her out there to close it out the way she knows how."

Samantha Ricketts on Brylie St. Clair's contributions…
"Brylie's really looked great the last couple of months for us, especially lately. It's fun to see her bring it to the game. She's got a lot of tools. She can hit for power. She can hit for speed and has a lot of different ways to beat you. It was fun to try her out in the six-hole, and it really worked out. She's a second leadoff for us and able to get us going for the bottom of the lineup. I'm just really proud of her for her at-bats, the maturity she's been showing and really being a tough out in the middle of that lineup."

Quick Hitters

Mia Davidson – Went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored … extended her career-long reached-base streak to 21 games dating back to last season.

Matalasi Faapito – Hit a two-run homer in her first MSU at-bat.

Brylie St. Clair – Went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Aspen Wesley – Struck out seven in six innings without allowing an earned run.

Dawg Debuts – Four Bulldogs made their MSU debut, including one player making her collegiate debut … Faapito and Shea Moreno, both transfers, started at designated player and third base, respectively … freshman Saleyna Daniel and redshirt sophomore transfer Phoebe Florian came on as pinch runners.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 1
After Mia Davidson was hit by a pitch with one out, Matalasi Faapito homered in her first Bulldog at-bat.
Loyola Marymount 0, Mississippi State 2

Top 2
Georgia Blair singled to right field, and the ball got past the fielder allowing her to take second on the error. Madalie Gomez pinch ran at second base. Morgan DeBord attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher's throw sailed up the first base line allowing DeBord to take second and scoring Gomez.
Loyola Marymount 1, Mississippi State 2

Top 5
DeBord singled to right field before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Taylor Keinath pinch hit and popped a ball up in front of the pitcher. The catcher fielded the ball off the bounce, but her throw to first was wild and allowed DeBord to score.
Loyola Marymount 2, Mississippi State 2

Bottom 6
Madisyn Kennedy beat out an infield single to the diving shortstop. Saleyna Daniel pinch ran, making her MSU debut. Brylie St. Clair beat out another infield single to the shortstop, who then kicked the ball across the diamond, allowing Daniel to take third. Following a ground out, Paige Cook singled home both runners.
Loyola Marymount 2, Mississippi State 4

On Deck

The Bulldogs return to the field tonight to meet No. 1 Oklahoma at 8:30 p.m. CT. On Saturday, State plays No. 3 UCLA at 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast by FloSports.

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