Four-Run First Sparks Series-Clinching Victory

Saturday, March 19

Starkville

4:30 PM

Mississippi State

18-10, 3-2

Ole Miss

21-6, 0-2

Ole Miss

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Four-Run First Sparks Series-Clinching Victory

March 19, 2022 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State scored four runs with the help of three hit-by-pitches in the first inning, and that would prove to be enough as the Bulldogs took the series with a 7-3 win against rival Ole Miss on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (18-10, 3-2 SEC) added two runs on a Matalasi Faapito homer in the second and pushed across their seventh on a Shea Moreno double in the fifth. Faapito came on to pitch in relief in the fourth and threw 4.0 shutout innings to earn the win.

"It was definitely huge for us, with so many returning players and the start to conference play last year, it's been a big emphasis," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It's why we started the season with a tougher schedule to make sure that we were ready to go this time around. It's fun to see them relax and really just play our game and not be so worried about who is in the other dugout. Can we go out there and can we compete? Can we work together and win together? That's been the emphasis, going all in on us, and it's fun to watch them go out there and play their game."

State started the scoring in the first after Riley Hull singled and Mia Davidson was hit by a pitch. Chloe Malau'ulu singled to load the bases before Paige Cook and Jackie McKenna were hit by pitches to bring home runs. Brylie St. Clair singled home two more runners as State sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning.

Ole Miss (21-6, 0-2 SEC) picked up three runs in the third with one scoring on a throwing error. St. Clair picked up an outfield assist, throwing out a runner at third. The Bulldog defense turned its second double play of the conference season to end the ballgame.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on the importance of scoring first…
"Yeah definitely, that's also an emphasis and something we talk about, the little things that we do that can set us up for success. One of them is to score first as often as possible. We try to come out there and attack and stay within our game plan. We had a good idea that we would see [Brooke] Vestal after yesterday's outing. They have a good staff. They have a lot of different pitchers that can do a lot of different things, mix speeds and locations. It's an adjustment. It's staying disciplined because they are going to come out and attack in different ways, and we have to able to adjust right back every time. It's going to be the same tomorrow. They are going to be ready to go. They have some pitchers they haven't thrown yet either so being ready to make some adjustments and just to compete."

Samantha Ricketts on the importance of the bottom of her lineup…
"It's huge, when we can turn over the lineup and be tough top to bottom. It makes everyone want to tough it out. When someone in the middle of the lineup doesn't pick up an RBI, it's good to know you have some pop in the eight and nine. Good quality at bats for them, and not getting too sped up. They both had a strikeout their second at bat, and they came right back and had great at bats late in the game. It's a mature approach and something we are looking for out of both of them."

Brylie St. Clair on her outfield assist…
"It felt good to get an out right there. I feel like that was a ball I could've caught in the air, but being able to make up for not reading the ball correctly felt really good."

Matalasi Faapito on pitching and hitting…
"It felt good to get the opportunity. I just wanted to make a statement today since I'm starting my first year of SEC play. I love being able to pitch and hit at the same time. With me going up to hit, and then go right back into the circle, it doesn't really give me any time to think between innings."

Quick Hitters

Packing the Park – Today's attendance of 1,020 is the No. 15 crowd in program history … it is the Bulldogs' largest home crowd since May 6, 2018, against Tennessee (1,052, No. 14).

Paige Cook – Brought home a run with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the first inning.

Mia Davidson – Reached base three times with just one official at-bat … was hit by two pitches and drew a walk … scored twice.

Matalasi Faapito – Hit a two-run homer in the second inning … pitched in 4.0 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Turned in her team-leading ninth multi-hit game … has five hits in the series.

Jackie McKenna – Brought home a run with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the first inning.

Shea Moreno – Doubled home a run … now 5-for-15 (.333) with three doubles in SEC play.

Brylie St. Clair – Drove in two runs with a single in the first … went 2-for-3 for her fifth multi-hit game of the year … has five hits in her last seven at-bats with three runs scored.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 1
Riley Hull singled, and Mia Davidson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Following a strikeout, Chloe Malau'ulu singled to load the bases. Paige Cook was then hit by a pitch to bring Hull home. With two outs, Jackie McKenna was also hit by a pitch to score Davidson. Brylie St. Clair singled up the middle to score Malau'ulu and Cook.
Ole Miss 0, Mississippi State 4

Bottom 2
With one out, Davidson walked, and Matalasi Faapito hit a two-run homer.
Ole Miss 0, Mississippi State 6

Top 3
Nyomi Jones and Tate Whitley led off with back-to-back infield singles. Bre Roper hit a blooper into centerfield, but Jones was thrown out at third on the play. Paige Smith then singled into center field, and the centerfielder's throw to the plate was wild. That allowed Whitley to score and pushed Roper to third. Smith reached second on the play. Abbey Latham fouled out deep down the left-field line, which scored Roper and allowed Smith to advance to third. Sydney Gutierrez singled to score Smith.
Ole Miss 3, Mississippi State 6

Bottom 5
With two outs, St. Clair singled off the third baseman. She scored from first on a Shea Moreno double.
Ole Miss 3, Mississippi State 7

On Deck

The final game of the series is set for 12 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs and Rebels will be available on SEC Network+.

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