Saturday, February 19
Starkville
12:30 PM
Mississippi State
5-4
11
vs
3
Georgia Tech
7-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Georgia Tech
0
0
0
1
2
0
3
4
0
Mississippi State
0
3
2
0
5
1
11
12
0
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
State Collects Six Extra-Base Hits In Saturday Split
February 19, 2022 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's offense was on full display against Georgia Tech on Saturday as the Bulldogs claimed an 11-3 victory in six innings. However, in their second game, the Bulldogs dropped a 5-3 decision to Central Arkansas.
State (5-5) collected six extra-base hits on the day, including three home runs. Madisyn Kennedy, Matalasi Faapito and Jackie McKenna provided the long balls. Kennedy also had a three-run double against the Yellow Jackets, and Riley Hull drove in a run with a double.
"We need to bounce back tomorrow and find a balance of moving forward towards our next game and still learning lessons from the games we have played so far," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We have a lot of games left in front of us that we can learn these lessons and move forward with and compete."
Chloe Malau'ulu and Shea Moreno turned in multi-hit games against Georgia Tech (7-2). Aspen Wesley earned the win in relief after tossing 3.0 innings. Annie Willis pitched the entirety of the game against UCA, striking out six.
The Bears (3-5) scored all five of their runs in the third inning after the first three batters reached and Mary Kate Brown hit a grand slam. They added a fifth run when a throw back to the infield got away following a double.
Riley Hull – Went 2-2 with a double and a single sandwiching a walk against Georgia Tech … drove in three RBIs against the Yellow Jackets … 4-for-8 with two doubles and a triple in her last eight at-bats.
Matalasi Faapito – Hit a two-run homer against Central Arkansas.
Madisyn Kennedy – Hit a three-run double against Georgia Tech … homered against Central Arkansas.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Went 2-for-3 against Georgia Tech with two runs scored … also drew a walk.
Jackie McKenna – Hit a two-run home run against the Yellow Jackets … also scored after being hit by a pitch.
Shea Moreno – Went 2-for-2 against Georgia Tech.
Addison Purvis – Pinch hit and hit a walk-off single off the wall against Georgia Tech.
Matalasi Faapito drew a leadoff walk and was pinch ran for by Phoebe Florian. Florian stole second before Riley Hull doubled into the left-center gap. Jackie McKenna homered down the left-field line to score two.
Georgia Tech 0, Mississippi State 3
Bottom 3
Chloe Malau'ulu singled up the middle and took second on a wild pitch. Mia Davidson then doubled to center field to score her. Davidson took third on Faapito's foul out up the first base line and scored on a wild pitch.
Georgia Tech 0, Mississippi State 5
Top 4
Caroline Davis singled to open the frame. She was pinch run for by Madison Dobbins who took second on a wild pitch. Emma Minghini and Grace Connelly walked to load the bases. Jin Sileo also walked to bring home a run.
Georgia Tech 1, Mississippi State 5
Top 5
Tricia Awald led off with a single through the left side. With one out, Davis homered to left-center field.
Georgia Tech 3, Mississippi State 5
Bottom 5
Malau'ulu walked but was retired on a fielder's choice that allowed Davidson to reach. Paige Cook walked, and Faapito singled to load the bases. Riley Hull singled up the middle to score Cook and Davidson. Allison Florian pinch ran for Faapito at second base. McKenna was hit by a pitch to reload the bases before Madisyn Kennedy cleared them with a three-run double.
Georgia Tech 3, Mississippi State 10
Bottom 6
Malau'ulu led off with a single and moved to second when Davidson was intentionally walked. Cook reached on a fielder's choice, but Davidson was retired, setting up runners on the corners. Cook stole second before Addison Purvis came on to pinch hit. Purvis blasted a ball off the left field wall to score Malau'ulu and end the game in walk-off fashion.
Georgia Tech 3, Mississippi State 11
Reagan Sperling reached on a bunt single. Jenna Wildeman beat out a ground ball to third base, and Tremere Harris reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases. Mary Kate Brown hit a grand slam. Jaylee Engelkes was hit by a pitch and scored when Kristen Whitehouse doubled and the throw back to the infield got away.
Central Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 3
Madisyn Kennedy hit a solo home run with one out.
Central Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 1
Bottom 6
Mia Davidson drew a leadoff walk, and Matalasi Faapito followed with a two-run homer.
Central Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 3
State (5-5) collected six extra-base hits on the day, including three home runs. Madisyn Kennedy, Matalasi Faapito and Jackie McKenna provided the long balls. Kennedy also had a three-run double against the Yellow Jackets, and Riley Hull drove in a run with a double.
"We need to bounce back tomorrow and find a balance of moving forward towards our next game and still learning lessons from the games we have played so far," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We have a lot of games left in front of us that we can learn these lessons and move forward with and compete."
Chloe Malau'ulu and Shea Moreno turned in multi-hit games against Georgia Tech (7-2). Aspen Wesley earned the win in relief after tossing 3.0 innings. Annie Willis pitched the entirety of the game against UCA, striking out six.
The Bears (3-5) scored all five of their runs in the third inning after the first three batters reached and Mary Kate Brown hit a grand slam. They added a fifth run when a throw back to the infield got away following a double.
Quick Hitters
Mia Davidson – Doubled and was walked to score twice against Georgia Tech … reached in all three plate appearances against UCA, drawing a walk, being hit by a pitch and collecting a base hit … now has a team-best seven-game hitting streak ... surpassed Iyhia McMichael (2001-04) for second in program history with her 183rd career RBI.Riley Hull – Went 2-2 with a double and a single sandwiching a walk against Georgia Tech … drove in three RBIs against the Yellow Jackets … 4-for-8 with two doubles and a triple in her last eight at-bats.
Matalasi Faapito – Hit a two-run homer against Central Arkansas.
Madisyn Kennedy – Hit a three-run double against Georgia Tech … homered against Central Arkansas.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Went 2-for-3 against Georgia Tech with two runs scored … also drew a walk.
Jackie McKenna – Hit a two-run home run against the Yellow Jackets … also scored after being hit by a pitch.
Shea Moreno – Went 2-for-2 against Georgia Tech.
Addison Purvis – Pinch hit and hit a walk-off single off the wall against Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech Scoring Recap
Bottom 2Matalasi Faapito drew a leadoff walk and was pinch ran for by Phoebe Florian. Florian stole second before Riley Hull doubled into the left-center gap. Jackie McKenna homered down the left-field line to score two.
Georgia Tech 0, Mississippi State 3
Bottom 3
Chloe Malau'ulu singled up the middle and took second on a wild pitch. Mia Davidson then doubled to center field to score her. Davidson took third on Faapito's foul out up the first base line and scored on a wild pitch.
Georgia Tech 0, Mississippi State 5
Top 4
Caroline Davis singled to open the frame. She was pinch run for by Madison Dobbins who took second on a wild pitch. Emma Minghini and Grace Connelly walked to load the bases. Jin Sileo also walked to bring home a run.
Georgia Tech 1, Mississippi State 5
Top 5
Tricia Awald led off with a single through the left side. With one out, Davis homered to left-center field.
Georgia Tech 3, Mississippi State 5
Bottom 5
Malau'ulu walked but was retired on a fielder's choice that allowed Davidson to reach. Paige Cook walked, and Faapito singled to load the bases. Riley Hull singled up the middle to score Cook and Davidson. Allison Florian pinch ran for Faapito at second base. McKenna was hit by a pitch to reload the bases before Madisyn Kennedy cleared them with a three-run double.
Georgia Tech 3, Mississippi State 10
Bottom 6
Malau'ulu led off with a single and moved to second when Davidson was intentionally walked. Cook reached on a fielder's choice, but Davidson was retired, setting up runners on the corners. Cook stole second before Addison Purvis came on to pinch hit. Purvis blasted a ball off the left field wall to score Malau'ulu and end the game in walk-off fashion.
Georgia Tech 3, Mississippi State 11
Central Arkansas Scoring Recap
Top 3Reagan Sperling reached on a bunt single. Jenna Wildeman beat out a ground ball to third base, and Tremere Harris reached on an error by the shortstop to load the bases. Mary Kate Brown hit a grand slam. Jaylee Engelkes was hit by a pitch and scored when Kristen Whitehouse doubled and the throw back to the infield got away.
Central Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 3
Madisyn Kennedy hit a solo home run with one out.
Central Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 1
Bottom 6
Mia Davidson drew a leadoff walk, and Matalasi Faapito followed with a two-run homer.
Central Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 3
On Deck
Mississippi State will play the final game of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday against Georgia Tech. The game will now air on SEC Network+.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wesley, Aspen (2-1)
L: Chandler Dennis (2-1)
Batting:
HR: Caroline Davis 1
RBI: Caroline Davis 2 ; Jin Sileo 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tricia Awald 1 ; Caroline Davis 1 ; Madison Dobbins 1
Batting:
2B: Davidson, Mia 1 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1
HR: McKenna, Jackie 1
RBI: Davidson, Mia 1 ; Purvis, Addison 1 ; Hull, Riley 3 ; McKenna, Jackie 2 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Malau'ulu, Chloe 2 ; Davidson, Mia 2 ; Cook, Paige 1 ; Florian, Phoebe 1 ; Hull, Riley 2 ; McKenna, Jackie 2 ; Daniel, Saleyna 1
SB: Cook, Paige 1 ; Florian, Phoebe 1 ; Moreno, Shea 1
HBP: McKenna, Jackie 1
PO: Moreno, Shea 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16