State Claims Sixth Ranked Win At No. 11 Kentucky

Saturday, April 30

Lexington, Ky.

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

31-20, 9-11

#11 Kentucky

32-15, 10-10

Mississippi State

Kentucky

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

State Claims Sixth Ranked Win At No. 11 Kentucky

April 30, 2022 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mississippi State struck first and last in a 6-2 victory on the road against No. 11 Kentucky on Saturday. The win is MSU's sixth of the year against a ranked opponent and evens the series heading into Sunday's rubber match.

"We get the opportunity to play against top-10, top-15 ranked teams every weekend in the SEC, and that's why we're here. It's for the challenge and the competition," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We hope to be there as well. I'm proud of the bounce back, the fight and the turnaround and the determination to clean it up in all three phases. You can't give a team like that extra chances."

The Bulldogs (31-20, 9-11 SEC) opened the scoring on an RBI single from Brylie St. Clair in the second inning. She then stole second base, leading to another run scoring from third when the throw skipped into center field.

Matalasi Faapito extended the lead to three runs with a solo homer in the fifth, but Kentucky (32-15, 10-10 SEC) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. The SEC's home run queen, Mia Davidson, answered with a two-run homer in the sixth, and the Bulldogs added an insurance run on a Faapito single in the same inning.

Annie Willis threw 5.0 inning to earn the win and escaped bases-loaded jams twice. Grace Fagan threw 1.1 innings in relief, allowing one hit but erasing it on a double play ball. Kenley Hawk came in to close the game out in the seventh.

"I thought Annie gave us a great start, and then two great relief appearances to close the door from Grace and Kenley," Ricketts added. "Up and down the lineup, it was fun to get different people in for defensive replacements, pinch hits. I thought it was a good team effort and we got the dugout involved after they've really done a good job with their energy and their focus over the last few games."

Ricketts and Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson combined to use 35 total players in the game.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Brylie St. Clair…
"She was a huge spark for us in the bottom of the lineup. She really embraces just being another leadoff hitter and finding a way on base in front of the top. I thought she really embraced that well today, using her tools to drive the ball back up the middle, pick up RBIs, find a way to lead off an inning and spark it for us. I'm really proud of her effort, her focus and her maturity so far this weekend."

Brylie St. Clair on her three-hit day and adjustments…
"Just get in the box, have a clear mind and not focus on the negative. Acknowledge my negative thoughts, clear them and get in the box ready to hit focused on the positive."

Brylie St. Clair on taking today into tomorrow's series finale…
"Going into tomorrow, I think we have to go in with a clear mind, grittiness and knowing what we're capable of. We need to get in the box, string together some hits and work hard."

Quick Hitters

Toppling Top Teams – State won its sixth game of the year over an NFCA Top 25 team, which is tied for MSU's most ranked victories in a season since 2017.

Mia Davidson – Hit her 19th home run of the year … homer was No. 88 of her career, which moved her into sole possession of sixth in NCAA history … also broke the school record for career hit-by-pitches, getting plunked for the 53rd time in her first plate appearance.

Kiki Edwards – Scored a run as a pinch runner … remained in the game in right field and was later hit by a pitch.

Matalasi Faapito – Hit a solo homer and singled home a run in a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

Grace Fagan – Faced four hitters and allowed one hit … erased that hit by inducing a double play.

Jackie McKenna – Singled and scored the game's first run.

Brylie St. Clair – Went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI … drove in the game's first run with a base hit … stole a base … tied her career high in hits.

Annie Willis – Threw 5.0 innings and struck out five … stranded the bases loaded twice.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
Jackie McKenna led off with a base hit to left field. Addison Purvis then walked and was pinch ran for by Kiki Edwards. Madisyn Kennedy laid down a sacrifice bunt to push the runners to second and third. Brylie St. Clair's base hit into right field scored McKenna and moved Edwards to third. St. Clair stole second and the throw skipped into center field, allowing Edwards to come home.
Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 0

Top 5
Matalasi Faapito homered with one out.
Mississippi State 3, Kentucky 0

Bottom 5
With one out, three straight walks to Lauren Johnson, Meeko Harrison and Erin Coffel loaded the bases. Vanessa Nesby pinch ran for Harrison at second base. Renee Abernathy singled off the diving shortstop's glove to score Johnson and Nesby.
Mississippi State 3, Kentucky 2

Top 6
St. Clair doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a fly out from Moreno. Mia Davidson hit a two-run homer to center field. Chloe Malau'ulu then reached on a fielding error. She advanced to third on a single from Paige Cook and scored on a Faapito's base hit up the middle.
Mississippi State 6, Kentucky 2

On Deck

The series finale between MSU and Kentucky is set for noon CT on Sunday. The game can be seen on SEC Network+.

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