Bulldogs Drop Sunday Matinee To Georgia Tech

Sunday, February 20

Starkville

11:00 AM

Mississippi State

5-6

Georgia Tech

8-2

Georgia Tech

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Bulldogs Drop Sunday Matinee To Georgia Tech

February 20, 2022 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Free bases downed Mississippi State softball on Sunday as the Bulldogs fell to Georgia Tech, 4-1. The Yellow Jackets scored three runs on bases-loaded walks or hit-by-pitches.

Chloe Malau'ulu provided the offensive spark for Mississippi State (5-6) with a solo home run to open the sixth inning.

"We are a lot better than we have been showing," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We knew going into this season that we scheduled tough opponents to start with for a reason. I think we are feeling the bumps and bruises of it right now, but if we can learn from these first two weeks and move forward, I think it could help set us up for SEC play down the stretch. We need to make some adjustments and not make the same mistakes moving forward."

The ballgame was a classic pitcher's duel through three innings with both teams claiming a single hit and a combined nine strikeouts between them. Georgia Tech (8-2) manufactured the game's first run in the fourth. Following a single, the Yellow Jackets moved the runner to third with a pair of ground outs before a single off the pitcher broke the tie.

A dropped pop up in the fifth put a runner on second base who later scored on a bases-loaded walk. A bases-loaded walk and a hit-by-pitch with two outs in the sixth scored the Yellow Jackets' final runs.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on playing Power 5 opponents…
"It's always good to play another Power 5 team, especially early on. We have gotten a couple now right off the bat, but credit to [Georgia Tech], they play a great game. That pitcher does a really good job for them, and she was attacking the zone. We weren't. I think we had a classic pitcher's duel to start off, and they made adjustments sooner than we did."

Chloe Malau'ulu on Georgia Tech pitcher Blake Neleman...
"Yeah, she was ready for us, but it was just the way the cookie crumbled. We were trying to attack, and we were doing too much, just thinking about it too much in the box. Her pitches did look good, so she came out here, and she did what she had to do."

Chloe Malau'ulu on what the team can take from this weekend...
"I just think that it is the only the second week we have really been out here playing, so it does expose a lot of things that we need to work on as a team. However, we have the energy. We have the drive and the will to win. It is just about cleaning up a few things defensively and just attacking early in the batter's box. Those things are the keys for us."

Quick Hitters

Mia Davidson – Caught a runner stealing after blocking a ball in the dirt.

Kiki Edwards – Was hit by a pitch in a pinch-hitting appearance.

Grace Fagan – Went 5.0 innings, allowing two runs with only one earned … struck out two.

Riley Hull – Went 1-for-2 with a walk … 5-for-11 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs in the Bulldog Kickoff Classic.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Homered to open the sixth inning.

Jackie McKenna – Went 1-for-3 with the Bulldogs' first hit of the day.

Scoring Recap

Top 4
Tricia Awald led off with a single to the centerfield wall. Madison Dobbins pinch ran at first base. She advanced to second and third on a pair of ground outs then scored on a single off the pitcher.
Georgia Tech 1, Mississippi State 0

Top 5
Jin Sileno reached on a dropped pop up and made it all the way to second base. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases before Mallorie Black also walked to score Sileo.
Georgia Tech 2, Mississippi State 0

Top 6
Emma Minghini walked, and Ariella Jackson pinch ran at first base. Grace Connelly singled to left to put two on. Jin Sileo reached safely on a fielder's choice that saw Jackson retired at third. A ground out moved Connelly to third and Sileo to second. Ella Edgmon walked to load the bases, and Emma Kauf walked to force home a run. Awald was then hit by a pitch to bring in a second run
Georgia Tech 4, Mississippi State 0

Bottom 6
Chloe Malau'ulu led off the inning with a home run to center field.
Georgia Tech 4, Mississippi State 1

On Deck

The Bulldogs head on the road next week for a neutral site matchup with UT Martin in Lexington, Tennessee. State will meet the Skyhawks at 5:30 p.m. CT on Feb. 23. Following the midweek, State returns home to host The Snowman on Feb. 25-27.

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