Bulldogs Drop One-Run Game At No. 2 Alabama

Thursday, April 14

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

26-15, 7-6

#3 Alabama

34-6, 11-5

Mississippi State

Alabama

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Bulldogs Drop One-Run Game At No. 2 Alabama

April 14, 2022 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

TUSCSLOOSA, Ala. – Mississippi State went toe-to-toe with No. 2 Alabama but dropped a 2-1 ballgame in the bottom of the seventh.

Aspen Wesley and Alabama's Montana Fouts were locked in a pitcher's duel through five scoreless innings. In the sixth, MSU (26-15, 7-6 SEC) opened the scoring after loading the bases with one out. Paige Cook hit a sacrifice fly to score Phoebe Florian who had come on as a pinch runner.

In the bottom half of the frame, Megan Bloodworth tied the game with a leadoff home run. Wesley retired two more batters before being replaced in the circle. She used her defense, allowing just two hits. Madisyn Kennedy was a huge part of that defensive effort. After committing an error on the Crimson Tide's first batter, she rebounded to record four putouts, five assists and turn two double plays.

"I thought we did a great job of going out there and competing and expecting to win the game," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We had every opportunity to as well. It's a great team and a great pitcher. I thought we competed in the box. I thought Aspen definitely gave us a quality start there. It's exactly what we needed from her, and she did a great job keeping them off balance. One bad pitch and they made us pay for it. Overall, I liked the response. I liked the response to the first inning error and the locked down defense after it. We have to be ready to come right back tomorrow."

Once the first two Alabama (34-5, 11-5 SEC) batters reached to put runners on the corners in the bottom of the seventh, a wild pitch allowed the winning run to come home.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Madisyn Kennedy's defense following her error…
"It's been a focus for the whole team. How do we come right back? Really, the response has been everybody around you to pick you up. Look to your teammates and not get so down on yourself immediately when you make the error. I thought everyone, including Aspen on the mound, did a great job of, 'Hey, you're got this. You're going to make the next play Madi. We've got you.' And she did that. She didn't let it bother her, and she just kept attacking balls like she knows how to do and made a lot of great plays for us."

Samantha Ricketts on Paige Cook's sacrifice fly at-bat…
"She did a great job of not trying to get too big, not trying to leave the park, but knowing that there are a lot of ways to score a run from third with one out. She did what she needed to do and got the ball out far enough to pick up a run for us and put us on the board first."

Quick Hitters

Dawg Defense – After the Alabama's first batter of the game reached on an error, State turned back-to-back inning-ending double plays in the first and second innings … Chloe Malau'ulu made a diving catch on the foul line to end the third inning … State entered with five double plays turned all season and turned two today.

Paige Cook – Hit a sacrifice fly to score State's first run in the sixth … also reached twice on an error and a walk.

Mia Davidson – Singled off the pitcher's leg in the first … was intentionally walked in the sixth.

Riley Hull – Led off the sixth inning with a single that eventually led to State's first run.

Madisyn Kennedy – Recorded four putouts, tying her career high, and five assists, one shy of her career high … turned two double plays.

Aspen Wesley – Threw 5.2 innings, allowing just two hits … allowed one run on a solo homer that tied the game.

Scoring Recap

Top 6
Riley Hull hit a leadoff single to left field. She was pinch ran for by Phoebe Florian. Shea Moreno laid down a sacrifice bunt to push Florian to second base. After Mia Davidson was intentionally walked, Chloe Malau'ulu singled up the middle to load the bases. Paige Cook hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Florian.
Mississippi State 1, Alabama 0

Bottom 6
Megan Bloodworth hit a leadoff home run to left field.
Mississippi State 1, Alabama 1

Bottom 7
Bailey Dowling led off with a single through the right side. Savannah Woodard pinch ran and went first to third on a single by Kaylee Tow. Woodard scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
Mississippi State 1, Alabama 2

On Deck

Mississippi State and Alabama continue the series on Friday, April 15 at 6 p.m. CT. The game will air on SEC Network+. The series finale will be played on Sunday at 4 p.m. CT and air on SEC Network.

Follow the Bulldogs

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