Bulldogs Lose Late Battle To No. 25 Michigan

Saturday, February 18

Clearwater, Fla.

4:00 PM

Mississippi State

5-3

#25 Michigan

6-3

Michigan

Mississippi State

Bulldogs Lose Late Battle To No. 25 Michigan

February 18, 2023 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

CLEARWATER, Fla. – A back-and-forth ballgame ended in a loss for Mississippi State on Saturday evening as the Bulldogs fell to No. 25/RV Michigan, 5-4.

State jumped out to a lead thanks to a three-run homer from Chloe Malau'ulu, but Michigan immediately tied the game in the next half inning. The Wolverines took a lead in the fifth, but State loaded the bases before Jackie McKenna's walk tied the game in the sixth.

"I thought we picked up the energy a little bit. They knew we needed to get something going," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Nobody tried to do too much. We took marginal pitches, especially Jackie McKenna in a big moment. A walk is just as good as a base hit right there for us to tie it up. I'm proud of the fight and the battle back. We had some opportunities to finish on both sides of the ball that we didn't execute. That's why we're out at this tournament. It felt like a conference game, and it's going to prepare us for SEC play later."

An error and a hit-by-pitch put two runners on for Michigan in the top of the seventh, and a two-out base hit proved to be the difference in the game.

Matalasi Faapito joined Malau'ulu in producing a multi-hit game. Faapito had a double to go along with Malau'ulu's homer. Reis Beuerlein drew the start in the circle and went 3.0 innings before giving way to Kenley Hawk. Aspen Wesley threw the final 0.2 innings but allowed an inherited runner to score, tagging Hawk with the loss.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on how the tournament has been a measuring stick for her team…
"Through two days what I've really seen is that there's a lot more maturity, confidence and competitiveness. We have not looked scared. We have not backed down. We have never looked overmatched, which is exactly why we're out here. We're just going to continue to put ourselves in pressure situations, so that in the big moment, we've been there. We've felt it before. It's been good to see the fight and the battle, going out and competing no matter who the opponent is."

Samantha Ricketts on the play at the plate in the top of the fifth…
"It's a play we work on a lot, particularly with the obstruction rule written the way that it is. It's all about the setup for the catcher. We talked with Jackie about making sure she was staying home. She's a veteran. She knows. I thought she did a good job of adjusting from yesterday's throw. Brylie [St. Clair] did a good job of bouncing back from a bobble out there on an earlier play. She made a great throw, and Jackie stayed home and knew exactly where that runner is going. She put a great tag on her."

Quick Hitters

Bulldog Bombs – State has now hit seven home runs at the Clearwater Invitational.

Matalasi Faapito – Went 2-for-3 with a double for her first multi-hit game of the season … has reached base in all eight of MSU's games.

Macy Graf – Was hit by a pitch in her first plate appearance and has now reached base in 9-of-12 leadoff opportunities with six hits … has reached base in all eight of MSU's games.

Chloe Malau'ulu – Launched her second home run of the year, a three-run homer to open the scoring … now leads the team with three multi-RBI games in 2023 … also singled and scored the tying run in the bottom of the sixth.

Jackie McKenna – Drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth … tagged out what would have been the winning run at the plate in the top of the fifth.

Brylie St. Clair – Recorded her third career outfield assist, cutting down a runner at the plate.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 3
With one out, Nadia Barbary and Macy Graf both reached on back-to-back errors. Brylie St. Clair's ground outs allowed the runners to advance to second and third. Chloe Malau'ulu then hit a three-run home run to center field.
No. 25 Michigan 0, Mississippi State 3

Top 4
Keke Tholl hit a leadoff home run to left field. Melina Livingston singled to center field then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Maddie Erickson drew a walk to put runners on second and third. Livingston then took third on a wild pitch. Madi Ramey came on to run at first for Erickson and advanced to third on a ground out to the pitcher from Ryleigh Carricaburu. With two outs, Audrey LeClair singled up the middle to score both runners.
No. 25 Michigan 3, Mississippi State 3

Top 5
Ellie Mataya led off with a single to right field. Ellie Sieler then tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw went to second where Mataya beat it out. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. With one out, Livingston singled up the middle, scoring Mataya while Sieler was thrown out at the plate.
No. 25 Michigan 4, Mississippi State 3

Bottom 6
Malau'ulu and Faapito opened the inning with back-to-back singles. With one out, Aquana Brownlee grounded out to first to advance the runners. Riley Hull walked to load the bases, and Jackie McKenna brought home Malau'ulu with another walk.
No. 25 Michigan 4, Mississippi State 4

Top 7
Mataya reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. She was retired at second on Sieler's bunt attempt. Tholl was hit by a pitch, which also advanced Sieler to second. With one out, Erickson singled through the right side to score Sieler from second.
No. 25 Michigan 5 , Mississippi State 4

On Deck

The Bulldogs will play some of the final games of the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational on Sunday. State meets South Florida at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Later MSU is set to play No. 20/20 UCF in the event's final game in a nationally-televised contest at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Follow the Bulldogs

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