Bulldog Rally Falls Short At No. 3 Florida

Saturday, March 12

Gainesville, Fla.

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

15-9, 0-1

#4 Florida

22-1, 1-0

Mississippi State

Florida

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Bulldog Rally Falls Short At No. 3 Florida

March 12, 2022 | Softball

Box Score

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mississippi State sent the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, but the Bulldogs' rally fell short in an 8-4 loss at No. 3 Florida on Saturday.

State controlled the game for the first four innings, scoring first and taking a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Riley Hull along with junior transfers Shea Moreno and Matalasi Faapito all collected their first career SEC hits in a two-run fourth inning to build the Bulldog lead.

"I thought overall as a team we came out ready to compete all the way through the last inning," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "That was something that's been a big emphasis and the reason we played a particularly tough schedule early on to get us ready to face another quality, top-five opponent. If we can limit the damage and the big innings, it's a closer score. Ultimately, that's the goal, to compete in all three phases of the game."

In the top of the third, Mia Davidson singled to lead off an inning that saw MSU (15-9, 0-1 SEC) load the bases. Davidson would later score on a wild pitch. In the fourth, Moreno, Hull and Faapito rallied for State. Moreno singled to open the inning and later scored on a single up the middle from Hull. Hull also scored on a grounder up the middle from Faapito.

Florida (22-1, 1-0 SEC) got two runs back in the bottom of the fourth and scored a pair of runs in the fifth before a dropped fly ball with two outs turned into a rally-sparking triple. The Gators would score four more times for a six-run fifth, taking an 8-3 lead.

In the top of the seventh, the first three Bulldogs reached safely to load the bases before Madisyn Kennedy walked to bring home a run. With the tying run at the plate, a foul out and a double play ball would eventually end the game.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Kenley Hawk on getting out of the bases-loaded jam in the second…
"That was a huge spot, and I think the momentum from her getting out of the nobody-out, bases-loaded situation carried us into scoring first in the top of the third. I think today was just little moments building on confidence for everyone, the pitching staff and the offense."

Samantha Ricketts on Riley Hull, Matalasi Faapito and Shea Moreno's first SEC game…
"It was good to get them introduced into the conference and to see them not be too overwhelmed by the big stage."

Quick Hitters

Mia Davidson – Caught a runner stealing for the 38th time in her career, which is fifth in MSU history … also scored on a wild pitch.

Matalasi Faapito – Went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Riley Hull – Singled home a run for her first career SEC hit and came around to score.

Madisyn Kennedy – Drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in a run.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Drew three walks, which is tied for second-most in a single game in MSU history.

Shea Moreno – Singled and scored in a 1-for-3 day.

Aspen Wesley – Threw 1.1 innings in relief after entering with the bases loaded in the fifth … allowed two hits.

Scoring Recap

Top 3
Mia Davidson led off with a single off the second baseman's glove. She took second when Matalasi Faapito fouled out deep down the left field line. Chloe Malau'ulu then walked, and Paige Cook singled to third base to load the bases. Davidson scored from third on a wild pitch.
Mississippi State 1, Florida 0

Top 4
Shea Moreno singled to open the inning. She advanced to second when Brylie St. Clair grounded out to third. Riley Hull singled up the middle to score Moreno, and she advanced to second on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. With two outs, Faapito singled up the middle to score Hull from second.
Mississippi State 3, Florida 0

Bottom 4
Cheyenne Lindsey doubled to right center to open the frame, and Avery Goelz singled to push her to third. With one out, a wild pitch allowed Lindsey to score and moved Goelz to second. Goelz scored on a single down the left field line from Kendra Falby.
Mississippi State 3, Florida 2

Bottom 5
Skylar Wallace led off with a single to second base. She scored when Charla Echols doubled to right-center field. With one out, Lindsey singled up the middle to score Echols and advanced to second on an error. With two outs, Sam Roe hit a high fly ball to right-center field that blew in the swirling wind and tipped off a glove for a triple. That allowed Lindsey to score and extending the inning. Katie Kistler then doubled to score Roe. Falby walked, and Hannah Adams reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Wallace singled again to score Kistler and Falby.
Mississippi State 3, Florida 8

On Deck

The series continues at 3 p.m. CT on Sunday on the SEC Network. The Bulldogs and Gators will conclude their series with a Monday night finale set for 6 p.m.

Follow the Bulldogs

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."