Softball Falls In Extras To No. 24 Missouri

Sunday, April 10

Starkville

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

26-14, 7-5

#24 Missouri

24-15, 4-7

Missouri

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Softball Falls In Extras To No. 24 Missouri

April 10, 2022 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – A wild ballgame in Starkville ended with Mississippi State dropping an 8-5 extra-inning contest to No. 24 Missouri. The game saw four reviews, a run taken off the board for improper substitution and another added back to the scoreboard for obstruction.

"It was a different game, and I like that we're disappointed in it," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We know that Missouri is a team we can compete with and beat, a ranked team that has gone far in the postseason before. That's the big picture we are looking at. We are looking at how far we have come from last year playing these teams and where we are at now, and not being satisfied and continuing to learn and grow."

Missouri (24-15, 4-7 SEC) scored in the first inning, but upon further review, the second run coming home was called out. State (26-14, 7-5 SEC) tied the game in the bottom of the second on a Riley Hull single and later took a 4-3 lead on Jackie McKenna's three-run homer in the third.

The Tigers chipped away and appeared to take a 5-4 lead in the sixth, but Missouri used the wrong pinch runner who had not been entered on the lineup card and the go-ahead run was taken off the board. In the next frame, however, Missouri did take a one-run lead.

Down her final strike with two-outs in the seventh, Addison Purvis dropped a single over the third baseman's head to score Chloe Malau'ulu and send the game to extra innings.

"I liked that we fought back at the end," Ricketts added. "It's huge. We know we are going to have tight games down the line in the season. To know that we are confident enough in our offense and anyone up and down the line up to be able to come through when we need it is reassuring."

Missouri hit a two-run homer to take a lead and added another on an inside-the-park home run after obstruction was called on review on the play at the plate.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on how much difference she sees from playing Missouri this year from last year…
"A huge difference. The mindset shift has been the biggest part of it. Also, having the confidence and the understanding that we are good enough to compete, but it is going to take a consistent effort everyday."

Samantha Ricketts on catching Missouri's illegal substitution…
"It was interesting. [The umpire] tried to give the change to the dugout when I was out talking to the defense, and the changes have to come to me. When I came in, one of our managers mentioned, 'She had a change, and I thought she said No. 0.' [The umpire] repeated the change, and we noticed it was the wrong number on the base. We waited a play to see what happened, and after she scored, that's when I asked [the umpire] to check it. She had written down No. 0 was the player entered, and it was No. 6 that had scored. By rule, that's an illegal substitution, and she's out."

Jackie McKenna on the team's more-balanced lineup…
"I think everyone is contributing. Everyone knows what their role is. We've been a lot more competitive in the box, and we've been working extremely hard for that."

Addison Purvis on her game-tying hit…
"I knew that I wasn't going to leave it up to the umpire. I was going to do it myself. I was hoping it was going to land. I saw it get over the third baseman, and I was really hoping it was fair. We just don't want to give up. We never give up, we're always fighting for what we know we have, and we know our roles."

Quick Hitters

Mia Davidson – Made her 246th career start and is now tied for eighth in school history with Jenny Hehnke (1997-00) … reached base on a hit-by-pitch, her 50th of her career and is now two shy of the school record (52) … has reached base safely in 20-straight games, which is the 20th 20-game reached-base streak in school history.

Riley Hull – Drove in State's first run with a single over the second baseman's head.

Madisyn Kennedy – Went 2-for-4 with a double … picked up her fifth multi-hit game of the year.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Recorded her 11th career outfield assist, cutting down a run at the plate for the final out in the top of the first … now fifth outright in outfield assists in MSU career history … went 3-for-5 with a career-high-tying two doubles for her team-leading 14th multi-hit game of the year … scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh.

Jackie McKenna – Hit a three-run homer for her sixth blast of the season and 10th of her career … turned in her seventh multi-RBI game of the season … also singled for her fifth multi-hit game of the season.

Addison Purvis – Drove in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and two strikes.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
Brooke Wilmes reached on a base hit to center field and advanced to third on a Cassidy Chaumont double. Kendyll Bailey drove in Wilmes with a two-out single, but Chaumont was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Missouri 1, Mississippi State 0

Bottom 2
Jackie McKenna led off with a single and reached second on a base hit from Matalasi Faapito. Saleyna Daniel pinch ran for McKenna at second before Riley Hull tied the game with a two-out single to right-center.
Missouri 1, Mississippi State 1

Top 3
Jenna Laird reached base on an error to open the inning and stole second. Wilmes then doubled, and Chaumont drew a walk. Chaumont was picked off at first base, but Laird came home on the throw.
Missouri 2, Mississippi State 1

Bottom 3
Chloe Malau'ulu doubled off the right-center wall, and Paige Cook reached first on an error. Jackie McKenna then took an 0-2 pitch out to center field for a three-run home run.
Missouri 2, Mississippi State 4

Top 5
Wilmes hit a one-out solo home run to right-center.
Missouri 3, Mississippi State 4

Top 6
With two outs, Honnold singled to center field. She scored when pinch hitter Riley Frizell's fly ball was lost in the sun and fell in for a single. Frizell advanced to second when the first baseman's throw home was wild. Maddie Snider came in to pinch run for Frizell and appeared to score on a base hit, but she was ruled out after it was determined that she was not legally entered into the game.
Missouri 4, Mississippi State 4

Top 7
With one out, Wilmes was hit by a pitch. Chaumont hit a ground ball to the pitcher and was safe when the throw went to second. The pitcher's throw hit off Wilmes' back, allowing her to advance to third and Chaumont to take second. Megan Moll then reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, and Wilmes scored when the throw home was wild.
Missouri 5, Mississippi State 4

Bottom 7
Malau'ulu led the inning off with a single down the left field line. After back-to-back outs, she advanced to second on a passed ball with Addison Purvis up to bat. Purvis then slapped a base hit just over the third baseman's head to score Malau'ulu.
Missouri 5, Mississippi State 5

Top 8
Crenshaw was hit by a pitch to open the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Emma Raabe. Gabi Deters hit a two-run homer to center field. Laird hit an inside-the-park home run after she was ruled safe on obstruction at the plate.
Missouri 8, Mississippi State 5

On Deck

The Bulldogs remain in conference play next week, traveling to No. 4 Alabama for a three-game set beginning Thursday, April 14 at 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network. The second game of the series is set for 6 p.m. on Friday with the finale also airing on SEC Network at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

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