Bulldogs Fall In Extras In Game 1 Of Super Regional

Friday, May 27

Starkville

11:00 AM

Mississippi State

37-26

Arizona

37-20

Arizona

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Bulldogs Fall In Extras In Game 1 Of Super Regional

May 27, 2022 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Annie Willis shined in the circle, and Mia Davidson and Matalasi Faapito both hit home runs for Mississippi State, but Arizona ultimately used a seventh-inning rally and eighth-inning homer to top MSU, 3-2, in Game 1 of the Starkville Super Regional.

It was the Bulldogs' fifth multi-homer game of the tournament, and along the way State (37-26) broke its single-season record with long balls No. 72 and 73 of the year.

"I thought it was a really hard-fought game on both ends," Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Arizona's pitcher, Hanah Bowen, did a great job. I thought she really mixed locations well, did a good job of keeping us off-balance and hit a lot of balls hard within the game plan, but I think we couldn't get enough to fall that we needed to. I look at the little things and what we track and what's important to us and how we work to win a game; if I looked at what we follow in our process at the end of the day, I think we can lay our heads down knowing that we competed in every phase that we were trying to do."

Davidson broke things open with a solo shot to center in the fifth. It was the same spot in the park where she was robbed of a homer by Arizona's Janelle Meoño in the first inning. But this one wasn't come back as it ricocheted off the top of the camera lift.

Madisyn Kennedy made her own highlight-reel play to rival Meoño's for play of the game in the fifth. With a runner on second, Kennedy dove to catch a liner behind second base and dove to tag the bag for a double play.

Arizona (37-20) answered Davidson with a leadoff homer in the top of the sixth, but Faapito also delivered a leadoff blast in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead.

A bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh tied the game. Once in extras, the Wildcats opened the eighth inning with a solo home run that proved to be the game-winner.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on playing with the threat of elimination…
"I think, for us, all year long it's been about learning from each weekend and each game, and I think we have a great example of it from last weekend down in Tallahassee that we can now look back on and learn. But at the same time, we talked about that was its own separate moment, and this weekend is a new moment. We can look back and learn but we need to refocus and be where our feet are in this moment. We like to be the underdogs. We like when people are counting us out, so I think being in the elimination game everybody's going to continue to do that. That's what we like. That's where we're comfortable, is when we can focus on each other and not the pressures of all the extra stuff on the outside."

Madisyn Kennedy on her double play…
"I think that everything is about momentum. When you have the opportunity to make a play and have your pitcher's back, it builds momentum for the team."

Mia Davidson on hosting a Super Regional and earning another game at home…
"It was a dream come true, just knowing how many people we had behind us today. Having all of those people in the stands and the outfield is just something that a little girl dreams of. That pumped us up and gave us momentum. We had zero dull moments with our crowd. It was just one of those things that you love to see."

Quick Hitters

Packing the Park – Today's attendance of 2,209 is a Nusz Park record and the largest collegiate softball crowd on record in the state of Mississippi.

Loving the Long Ball – MSU tied and broke its school record with home runs Nos. 72 and 73 of the year … all of State's 70-homer seasons have come since 2019 and since Samantha Ricketts was on staff with the Bulldogs … it was the Bulldogs' fifth multi-homer game in their NCAA Tournament history, and all five have come since 2018.

Mia Davidson – Hit career home run No. 92, which ties her for third in NCAA history … tied with former Arizona players Katiyana Mauga and Jessie Harper … Mauga served as MSU's volunteer assistant coach in 2020 … home run was the fifth of her career in the NCAA Tournament, extending her MSU career record in the tournament.

Matalasi Faapito – Went 2-for-3 with a solo home run … also drew an eighth-inning walk.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Drew walks in each of her first two plate appearances.

Madisyn Kennedy – Went 1-for-3 … turned a solo double play with a diving catch on a liner and dive bag to the bag to get the runner tagging up.

Annie Willis – Struck out five in 6.0-plus innings … left a 2-1 ballgame with two runners on base … only one run allowed was earned.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 5
Mia Davidson led off the inning with a solo home run to center field.
Arizona 0, Mississippi State 1

Top 6
Allie Skaggs led off for Arizona with a solo home run to right field.
Arizona 1, Mississippi State 1

Bottom 6
Matalasi Faapito opened the frame with a solo home run to right field.
Arizona 1, Mississippi State 2

Top 7
Blaise Biringer drew a walk, and Giulia Koutsoyanopu pinch ran at first. Sophia Carroll bunted Koutsoyanopu to second and was awarded first base upon review for obstruction. Allie Enright came in to pinch run for Carroll. Janelle Meoño singled to third to advance Koutsoyanopu and Enright. Koutsoyanopu scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Sharlize Palacios.
Arizona 2, Mississippi State 2

Top 8
Izzy Pacho led off with a solo home run down the left field line.
Arizona 3, Mississippi State 2

On Deck

Game 2 of the Super Regional is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 28. The Bulldogs and Wildcats can be seen on ESPNU, and a radio broadcast is available on HailState.com and the Hail State app.

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