Saturday, March 26
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
21-10
2
vs
1
Samford
15-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Samford
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
Mississippi State
0
1
0
0
0
1
X
2
6
2
Purvis Shines As State Sweeps Samford Doubleheader
March 26, 2022 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Addison Purvis hadn't hit a double in 2022 entering Saturday's doubleheader with Samford, but she drove three on the day to lift Mississippi State to a pair of 2-1 victories.
Purvis had a hand in all of MSU's scoring across the two games. In Game 1, it was her hits before being replaced by pinch runners that scored, and in Game 2 she delivered a two-RBI double in the bottom of the sixth.
"At the end of the day, it was good for us to feel some pressure," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We haven't had a lot of come from behind victories, so to be able to do that and stay composed in the late innings was big. Especially, Addison Purvis, she had a great day and a great week for us at the plate. I loved her approach all game long."
Samford (15-14, 0-0 SoCon) scored first in both ballgames. In the first game of the day, the visiting Bulldogs scored an unearned run in the first. An error allowed the leadoff batter to reach, and a second error later in the frame allowed her to score. In Game 2, it was a solo homer to lead off the top of the fourth that put them in front.
Mississippi State (22-10, 4-2 SEC) responded well in both contests. In Game 1, Purvis doubled, and Phoebe Florian pinch ran at second. Madisyn Kennedy drove her in with a single one batter later. Then in the fifth, things were oddly familiar as Purvis singled and was replaced on the bases by Aquana Brownlee. Brownlee scored the winning run on a double from Kennedy.
The second game of the day was won after Chloe Malau'ulu and Paige Cook were walked and hit by a pitch in front of Purvis' third double of the day.
Two relievers took home wins for State. Annie Willis struck out eight of the 11 batters she faced across the final 3.0 innings of Game 1. After Kenley Hawk struck out seven batters in 5.0 innings, Aspen Wesley earned the win with 2.0 perfect innings in relief.
"Addison Purvis had a great day and a great week for us at the plate, and I loved her approach all game long. She's definitely earned her opportunity. She has a lot of great pinch hits for us, and I have to find ways to get her in the lineup. It works well when Matalasi Faapito is the starting pitcher because she can be the designated player."
Addison Purvis on her at-bats…
"I was just staying calm in the box and just doing it for my team. I was trying to get on base and then seeing what they could do behind me. I'm just there to get RBIs and do what I'm supposed to do in the box. It's very high pressure for us, but we stay relaxed, and we're just here to do what we do. We know that we can do it. I'm finally getting the hang of it. It's coming along very well."
Madisyn Kennedy on Addison Purvis…
"Addie had a really good day, and she was getting on base every time. Just being behind her when we needed to get a run, I was just trying to do whatever I could to get her home."
Madisyn Kennedy on the state of the team…
"I think we're playing well. It feels a lot different, and it definitely feels like we're a lot more confident. I think we know that each player on the team, whether they're in front of us or behind us, is going to get it done, no matter what. I think there's a lot of confidence coming from everybody."
Mixing and Matching – The Bulldogs used their 24th batting order of the season for both games along with their 18th and 19th different starting fielding alignment … MSU used a different defensive alignment in each of the final three innings of Game 1 … Samantha Ricketts used 15 players in Game 1.
Mia Davidson – Beat out an infield single to the shortstop in Game 1 … added a single in Game 2.
Kenley Hawk – Struck out seven in 5.0 innings of work … allowed one run.
Madisyn Kennedy – Drove in both of State's runs in Game 1 with an RBI single and double … picked up a single in Game 2.
Addison Purvis – Went 4-for-6 on the day with three doubles … doubled for the first hit of Game 1, which led to MSU's first run … later singled, which would lead to the winning run in that game … two-run double provided all of State's scoring in Game 2 … entered the day without a double this season.
Aspen Wesley – Earned the win in Game 2, pitching the final 2.0 innings without allowing a base runner.
Annie Willis – Struck out the first five batters she faced, all swinging … finished the opening game with eight strikeouts of 11 batters faced … earned the win.
Sarah Squillace reached first on an error by the second baseman. M.K. Tedder walked, advancing Squillace to second. Gwynnie Hornibrook also reached base on an error by the third baseman, and Squillace scored from second on the play.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 2
With two outs, Addison Purvis doubled to right center, and Phoebe Florian pinch ran for her. Madisyn Kennedy hit a single to right field to bring Florian home.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 1
Bottom 6
With two outs, Purvis singled up the middle, and Aquana Brownlee pinch ran for her. Kennedy doubled down the left field line to bring Brownlee home.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 2
Timberlyn Shurbutt led off with a solo home run.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 6
With one out, Chloe Malau'ulu walked, and Paige Cook was hit by a pitch. Addison Purvis doubled to left field, bringing both Malau'ulu and Cook home.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 2
Purvis had a hand in all of MSU's scoring across the two games. In Game 1, it was her hits before being replaced by pinch runners that scored, and in Game 2 she delivered a two-RBI double in the bottom of the sixth.
"At the end of the day, it was good for us to feel some pressure," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We haven't had a lot of come from behind victories, so to be able to do that and stay composed in the late innings was big. Especially, Addison Purvis, she had a great day and a great week for us at the plate. I loved her approach all game long."
Samford (15-14, 0-0 SoCon) scored first in both ballgames. In the first game of the day, the visiting Bulldogs scored an unearned run in the first. An error allowed the leadoff batter to reach, and a second error later in the frame allowed her to score. In Game 2, it was a solo homer to lead off the top of the fourth that put them in front.
Mississippi State (22-10, 4-2 SEC) responded well in both contests. In Game 1, Purvis doubled, and Phoebe Florian pinch ran at second. Madisyn Kennedy drove her in with a single one batter later. Then in the fifth, things were oddly familiar as Purvis singled and was replaced on the bases by Aquana Brownlee. Brownlee scored the winning run on a double from Kennedy.
The second game of the day was won after Chloe Malau'ulu and Paige Cook were walked and hit by a pitch in front of Purvis' third double of the day.
Two relievers took home wins for State. Annie Willis struck out eight of the 11 batters she faced across the final 3.0 innings of Game 1. After Kenley Hawk struck out seven batters in 5.0 innings, Aspen Wesley earned the win with 2.0 perfect innings in relief.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Matalasi Faapito's trend of homering when she also pitches…"Addison Purvis had a great day and a great week for us at the plate, and I loved her approach all game long. She's definitely earned her opportunity. She has a lot of great pinch hits for us, and I have to find ways to get her in the lineup. It works well when Matalasi Faapito is the starting pitcher because she can be the designated player."
Addison Purvis on her at-bats…
"I was just staying calm in the box and just doing it for my team. I was trying to get on base and then seeing what they could do behind me. I'm just there to get RBIs and do what I'm supposed to do in the box. It's very high pressure for us, but we stay relaxed, and we're just here to do what we do. We know that we can do it. I'm finally getting the hang of it. It's coming along very well."
Madisyn Kennedy on Addison Purvis…
"Addie had a really good day, and she was getting on base every time. Just being behind her when we needed to get a run, I was just trying to do whatever I could to get her home."
Madisyn Kennedy on the state of the team…
"I think we're playing well. It feels a lot different, and it definitely feels like we're a lot more confident. I think we know that each player on the team, whether they're in front of us or behind us, is going to get it done, no matter what. I think there's a lot of confidence coming from everybody."
Quick Hitters
Shutting Down Samford – Allowed just five total hits … Samford's only run in Game 1 reached on an error and later scored on a second error … MSU struck out 12 Samford hitters in Game 1.Mixing and Matching – The Bulldogs used their 24th batting order of the season for both games along with their 18th and 19th different starting fielding alignment … MSU used a different defensive alignment in each of the final three innings of Game 1 … Samantha Ricketts used 15 players in Game 1.
Mia Davidson – Beat out an infield single to the shortstop in Game 1 … added a single in Game 2.
Kenley Hawk – Struck out seven in 5.0 innings of work … allowed one run.
Madisyn Kennedy – Drove in both of State's runs in Game 1 with an RBI single and double … picked up a single in Game 2.
Addison Purvis – Went 4-for-6 on the day with three doubles … doubled for the first hit of Game 1, which led to MSU's first run … later singled, which would lead to the winning run in that game … two-run double provided all of State's scoring in Game 2 … entered the day without a double this season.
Aspen Wesley – Earned the win in Game 2, pitching the final 2.0 innings without allowing a base runner.
Annie Willis – Struck out the first five batters she faced, all swinging … finished the opening game with eight strikeouts of 11 batters faced … earned the win.
Game 1 Scoring Recap
Top 1Sarah Squillace reached first on an error by the second baseman. M.K. Tedder walked, advancing Squillace to second. Gwynnie Hornibrook also reached base on an error by the third baseman, and Squillace scored from second on the play.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 2
With two outs, Addison Purvis doubled to right center, and Phoebe Florian pinch ran for her. Madisyn Kennedy hit a single to right field to bring Florian home.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 1
Bottom 6
With two outs, Purvis singled up the middle, and Aquana Brownlee pinch ran for her. Kennedy doubled down the left field line to bring Brownlee home.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 2
Game 2 Scoring Recap
Top 4Timberlyn Shurbutt led off with a solo home run.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 6
With one out, Chloe Malau'ulu walked, and Paige Cook was hit by a pitch. Addison Purvis doubled to left field, bringing both Malau'ulu and Cook home.
Samford 1, Mississippi State 2
On Deck
Mississippi State hits the road for a long trip next week. The Bulldogs will spend five days in the state of Tennessee beginning with a midweek matchup at Middle Tennessee on Wednesday, March 30 at 6 p.m. CT. That game will air on C-USA.tv. The Bulldogs then resume conference play at No. 14 Tennessee on April 1-3.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Willis, Annie (3-2)
L: McKenzie Newcomb (10-7)
Base Running:
RUNS: Sarah Squillace 1
Batting:
2B: Purvis, Addison 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1
RBI: Kennedy, Madisyn 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Brownlee, Aquana 1 ; Florian, Phoebe 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
dp/1b
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
c/1b
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
1b/c
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
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