Friday, February 25
Starkville
3:00 PM
Mississippi State
6-6
14
vs
0
Longwood
4-8
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Longwood
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
Mississippi State
1
2
2
9
X
14
12
0
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Davidson Lifts State To Pair Of Run-Rule Victories
February 25, 2022 | Softball
STARKVILLE – A career day for Mia Davidson propelled Mississippi State to a pair of run-rule victories on the opening day of The Snowman. The Bulldogs defeated Longwood, 14-0, in five innings and Belmont, 8-0, in six innings.
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Davidson hit four home runs on the day, going 5-for-6 with eight total RBIs. She reached base safely in seven of her eight plate appearances. She was only retired on a strikeout after her contact lens fell out on the previous pitch.
""I thought we looked a little more comfortable than we have in the past few weekends, and just started playing Mississippi State softball, and not worrying about things we can't control," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I thought the pitchers really did a good job of setting the tone for us, stayed in control really well in both games, and then the offense just did what we know we're capable of doing and that's production up and down the lineup. We were aggressive on the basepaths. I thought we had some good plays out there as well. I just really like the display of the power, speed, a good approach and combination of everything, which is really the goal for us along with some good defense."
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Chloe Malau'ulu also homered against Longwood to go along with three of Davidson's blasts. Riley Hull doubled home a run, and Addison Purvis brought one home with a pinch-hit single. Kenley Hawk struck out seven of the 16 batters she faced while earning the win.
Against Belmont (3-4), Aspen Wesley carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, retiring the first 14 hitters she faced. Davidson again did damage with the home run ball, and she was joined by Jackie McKenna, who hit a two-run shot. State had six extra-base hits in the game.
"Yeah, my contact fell out and I didn't have time to put it back in, so I just went, and then I whiffed. But I got it back in the second at bat, so it worked."
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Mia Davidson on the past week of practice…
"We just made practice very competitive and made sure we stayed relaxed and had fun. It showed on the field, which was really nice. We just came in ready to go. In practice all week, we were just focusing on us and not anybody else, and we just made sure that we were ready to be competitive and get at it from the get-go. That's what we did today."
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Aspen Wesley on how the run support helps her approach…
"That helped a lot. It really helps all of us relax, to breathe. It takes the pressure off of us, so we can kind of move around and joke around and stuff. And it helps when I can trust my defense. It does help me relax more. It helps my pitches, and if it does get hit, then fine, it's hit. But I know that my defense will back me up, because I have them just like they have me."
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Mia Davidson – Tied her career-high and the MSU single-game record with three home runs against Longwood, including a grand slam … collected a career-high six RBIs against the Lancers while going 4-for-4 … six RBIs are tied for the third most in MSU single-game history and the most since Kat Moore had six against Alabama (March 31, 2019) … grand slam was the third of her career, which ties the MSU career record … one of four Bulldogs with three career grand slams … added a fourth home run against Belmont … reached base in seven of her eight plate appearances on the day.
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Matalasi Faapito – Drew a career-high three walks against the Lancers … went 2-for-3 against Belmont with a double.
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Phoebe Florian – First career hit was a triple to right field.
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Kenley Hawk – Struck out seven in 4.0 innings to earn the win against Longwood … faced 16 batters and has now struck out 39 percent of hitters she's faced this season (31 of 79).
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Riley Hull – Doubled and drew two walks against Longwood … went 2-for-3 with a double against Belmont.
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Chloe Malau'ulu – Went 2-for-3 against Longwood with her eighth career home run … long ball was her third of the season, which matches her single-season career high set in the shortened 2020 season.
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Jackie McKenna – Hit her second home run of the year.
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Brylie St. Clair – Doubled and scored against Belmont.
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Aspen Wesley – Retired the first 14 straight batters she faced before surrendering a hit.
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Mia Davidson homered on the second pitch she saw with one out in the inning.
Longwood 0, Mississippi State 1
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Bottom 2
Brylie St. Clair led off with a bunt single. With two outs, Jackie McKenna singled to push St. Clair to third. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Chloe Malau'ulu beat out an infield single scoring St. Clair. The shortstop's throw was wild, allowing McKenna to also come home on the play.
Longwood 0, Mississippi State 3
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Bottom 3
Riley Hull drew a walk before Madisyn Kennedy reached on an error to open the inning. The runners advanced to second and third when St. Clair grounded out to first base. Paige Cook then singled through the left side to score Hull. Kennedy went to third, and Cook took second on the throw. McKenna hit a sacrifice fly to score Kennedy.
Longwood 0, Mississippi State 5
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Bottom 4
Malau'ulu and Davidson led off the inning with back-to-back home runs. Matalasi Faapito walked, and Phoebe Florian pinch ran at first base. Phoebe Florian stole second and scored on a double from Hull. Addison Purvis pinch hit and singled to score Hull. Allison Florian pinch ran for Purvis. St. Clair and Cook walked to load the bases. Kiki Edwards pinch hit and reached on a fielder's choice as Cook was retired at third. St. Clair scored on the play. Saleyna Daniel drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases. Davidson hit a grand slam.
Longwood 0, Mississippi State 14
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With one out, Paige Cook walked. Jackie McKenna singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. Saleyna Daniel popped out to the second baseman, and Cook tagged and went to third. When the throw to third got away, Cook scored and McKenna moved to second. Chloe Malau'ulu singled up the middle to score McKenna. She took second on the throw. Mia Davidson hit a two-run home run to righ field.
Belmont 0, Mississippi State 4
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Bottom 3
With one out, Brylie St. Clair doubled. She scored on a double off the shortstop's glove from Cook. Cook advanced to third on a throwing error from the shortstop. McKenna then hit a two-run homer down the left-field line.
Belmont 0, Mississippi State 7
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Bottom 6
With two outs, Phoebe Florian tripled to right field. She scored on a walk-off single from Cook.
Belmont 0, Mississippi State 8
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Davidson hit four home runs on the day, going 5-for-6 with eight total RBIs. She reached base safely in seven of her eight plate appearances. She was only retired on a strikeout after her contact lens fell out on the previous pitch.
""I thought we looked a little more comfortable than we have in the past few weekends, and just started playing Mississippi State softball, and not worrying about things we can't control," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I thought the pitchers really did a good job of setting the tone for us, stayed in control really well in both games, and then the offense just did what we know we're capable of doing and that's production up and down the lineup. We were aggressive on the basepaths. I thought we had some good plays out there as well. I just really like the display of the power, speed, a good approach and combination of everything, which is really the goal for us along with some good defense."
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Chloe Malau'ulu also homered against Longwood to go along with three of Davidson's blasts. Riley Hull doubled home a run, and Addison Purvis brought one home with a pinch-hit single. Kenley Hawk struck out seven of the 16 batters she faced while earning the win.
Against Belmont (3-4), Aspen Wesley carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, retiring the first 14 hitters she faced. Davidson again did damage with the home run ball, and she was joined by Jackie McKenna, who hit a two-run shot. State had six extra-base hits in the game.
Quotables
Mia Davidson on her contact lens falling out…"Yeah, my contact fell out and I didn't have time to put it back in, so I just went, and then I whiffed. But I got it back in the second at bat, so it worked."
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Mia Davidson on the past week of practice…
"We just made practice very competitive and made sure we stayed relaxed and had fun. It showed on the field, which was really nice. We just came in ready to go. In practice all week, we were just focusing on us and not anybody else, and we just made sure that we were ready to be competitive and get at it from the get-go. That's what we did today."
Â
Aspen Wesley on how the run support helps her approach…
"That helped a lot. It really helps all of us relax, to breathe. It takes the pressure off of us, so we can kind of move around and joke around and stuff. And it helps when I can trust my defense. It does help me relax more. It helps my pitches, and if it does get hit, then fine, it's hit. But I know that my defense will back me up, because I have them just like they have me."
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Quick Hitters
Paige Cook – Doubled, scored and drove in two runs against Belmont.Â
Mia Davidson – Tied her career-high and the MSU single-game record with three home runs against Longwood, including a grand slam … collected a career-high six RBIs against the Lancers while going 4-for-4 … six RBIs are tied for the third most in MSU single-game history and the most since Kat Moore had six against Alabama (March 31, 2019) … grand slam was the third of her career, which ties the MSU career record … one of four Bulldogs with three career grand slams … added a fourth home run against Belmont … reached base in seven of her eight plate appearances on the day.
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Matalasi Faapito – Drew a career-high three walks against the Lancers … went 2-for-3 against Belmont with a double.
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Phoebe Florian – First career hit was a triple to right field.
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Kenley Hawk – Struck out seven in 4.0 innings to earn the win against Longwood … faced 16 batters and has now struck out 39 percent of hitters she's faced this season (31 of 79).
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Riley Hull – Doubled and drew two walks against Longwood … went 2-for-3 with a double against Belmont.
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Chloe Malau'ulu – Went 2-for-3 against Longwood with her eighth career home run … long ball was her third of the season, which matches her single-season career high set in the shortened 2020 season.
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Jackie McKenna – Hit her second home run of the year.
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Brylie St. Clair – Doubled and scored against Belmont.
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Aspen Wesley – Retired the first 14 straight batters she faced before surrendering a hit.
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Longwood Scoring Recap
Bottom 1Mia Davidson homered on the second pitch she saw with one out in the inning.
Longwood 0, Mississippi State 1
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Bottom 2
Brylie St. Clair led off with a bunt single. With two outs, Jackie McKenna singled to push St. Clair to third. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Chloe Malau'ulu beat out an infield single scoring St. Clair. The shortstop's throw was wild, allowing McKenna to also come home on the play.
Longwood 0, Mississippi State 3
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Bottom 3
Riley Hull drew a walk before Madisyn Kennedy reached on an error to open the inning. The runners advanced to second and third when St. Clair grounded out to first base. Paige Cook then singled through the left side to score Hull. Kennedy went to third, and Cook took second on the throw. McKenna hit a sacrifice fly to score Kennedy.
Longwood 0, Mississippi State 5
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Bottom 4
Malau'ulu and Davidson led off the inning with back-to-back home runs. Matalasi Faapito walked, and Phoebe Florian pinch ran at first base. Phoebe Florian stole second and scored on a double from Hull. Addison Purvis pinch hit and singled to score Hull. Allison Florian pinch ran for Purvis. St. Clair and Cook walked to load the bases. Kiki Edwards pinch hit and reached on a fielder's choice as Cook was retired at third. St. Clair scored on the play. Saleyna Daniel drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases. Davidson hit a grand slam.
Longwood 0, Mississippi State 14
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Belmont Scoring Recap
Bottom 2With one out, Paige Cook walked. Jackie McKenna singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. Saleyna Daniel popped out to the second baseman, and Cook tagged and went to third. When the throw to third got away, Cook scored and McKenna moved to second. Chloe Malau'ulu singled up the middle to score McKenna. She took second on the throw. Mia Davidson hit a two-run home run to righ field.
Belmont 0, Mississippi State 4
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Bottom 3
With one out, Brylie St. Clair doubled. She scored on a double off the shortstop's glove from Cook. Cook advanced to third on a throwing error from the shortstop. McKenna then hit a two-run homer down the left-field line.
Belmont 0, Mississippi State 7
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Bottom 6
With two outs, Phoebe Florian tripled to right field. She scored on a walk-off single from Cook.
Belmont 0, Mississippi State 8
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On Deck
Mississippi State will play Belmont again at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 26 in The Snowman. Following that game, MSU meets South Alabama at 5:30 p.m. The late Alex Wilcox's sister, Kassidy, play for South Alabama, and their mother LeAnn will throw the first pitch before that game.Â
Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hawk, Kenley (3-0)
L: KANAGAWA, Reagan (1-4)
Base Running:
HBP: BLAIR, Madison 1
Batting:
2B: Hull, Riley 1
HR: Malau'ulu, Chloe 1 ; Davidson, Mia 3
RBI: Malau'ulu, Chloe 2 ; Davidson, Mia 6 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Purvis, Addison 1 ; Cook, Paige 1 ; McKenna, Jackie 1 ; Edwards, Kiki 1
SF: McKenna, Jackie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Malau'ulu, Chloe 1 ; Daniel, Saleyna 1 ; Davidson, Mia 3 ; Florian, Phoebe 1 ; Hull, Riley 2 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1 ; St. Clair, Brylie 2 ; Moreno, Shea 1 ; McKenna, Jackie 1 ; Edwards, Kiki 1
SB: Florian, Phoebe 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
4
RBI
6
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC/INF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
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