Saturday, February 25
Mobile, Ala.
12:30 PM
Mississippi State
9-4
8
vs
4
Louisiana Tech
8-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Louisiana Tech
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
4
7
0
Mississippi State
3
0
2
0
1
2
X
8
16
1
Daniel’s Walk-Off Wins Marathon As State Takes Two Saturday
February 25, 2023 | Softball
MOBILE, Ala. – The Bulldogs needed everyone on Saturday as Mississippi State won a pair of games to improve to 4-0 at the South Alabama Invitational. Head coach Samantha Ricketts used 16 players in the day's second game alone.
MSU downed Louisiana Tech, 8-4, to open the day with eight of its nine batters recording a hit. The nightcap was a back-and-forth affair with Furman before the Bulldogs walked it off with a 6-5 victory in extra innings on a solo homer from Saleyna Daniel, who earlier in the game had been doubled off as a potential winning run.
"We talk a lot about being ready. You never know when your number's going to be called," Ricketts said. "Silk's really been swinging well in practice. It was good to see her come through with a big opportunity. Another thing we talk about is being able to bounce back and not taking your at-bat or something on the bases forward into your next moment. I thought she stayed composed, stayed in her plan, and came up big on a pitch she knows she can drive."
State (10-4) tied the ballgame at 3-3 in the fifth against the Paladins (4-8) and took a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth. Furman, who had led the entire game up until that point, would not give in. The Paladins tied the game in the top of the seventh, off Matalasi Faapito, who had entered in the sixth. Faapito then proceeded to toss the remainder of the game (5.0 additional innings) while allowing just one more hit.
"Mata was huge for us there," Ricketts added. "She just absolutely did not blink, shut them down. She came in and competed, which is what we needed in a game like that. I loved her fight. I loved her composure, and she just got us back in the dugout over and over again to have a chance to win that game."
Aspen Wesley picked up the win against the Lady Techsters (8-4), tossing 1.2 innings as a bridge in relief. Josey Marron took over in the top of the sixth in a 6-4 ballgame and struck out five of the eight batters she faced to earn her first career save.
Offensively, the Bulldogs recorded a season-high 16 hits. Nadia Barbary led the way with two RBIs, and Kat Wallace and Kiersten Landers each collected a career-high three hits.
"After that first inning, once I knew that they weren't hitting the pitches, I knew that I was rolling. I was in a good groove, and I just had to keep going. I believed in the team, that we were going to come back. It was just a matter of time. I just needed to lock in. My mentality was just head down, keep going."
Saleyna Daniel on making up for her baserunning mistake with a homer…
"Definitely from teammates picking me up after it, that really helped me to just stay focused on the present. Coming back to hit, Ricketts told me to be present, focus on this at-bat, and that's what I did. It feels amazing. It was great. I loved it."
Aquana Brownlee – Finished 3-for-6 with three RBIs against Furman and was just a homer shy of the cycle ... now has three multi-RBI games.
Nadia Barbary – Drove in two runs against Louisiana Tech for her second career multi-RBI game … finished 2-for-4.
Paige Cook – Went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI against Louisiana Tech … also collected two hits and an RBI against Furman … stole a base against the Paladins.
Matalasi Faapito – Threw 7.0 innings in relief, striking out eight and allowing just three hits … went 5.0 innings with one hit allowed and six strikeouts in the extra frames.
Riley Hull – Drew her team-leading 10th walk of the season, which ranks seventh in the SEC entering the day, against Furman … also singled.
Kiersten Landers – Went 3-for-4 against Louisiana Tech and 2-for-3 against Furman … picked up two infield singles in both games … now has eight infield hit on the year and seven this weekend.
Josey Marron – Earned her first career save, throwing the final 2.0 innings against Louisiana Tech … struck out the side in the sixth.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Went 2-for-3 against Louisiana Tech for her team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the year … drove in a run with a double in the first … also drew a walk.
Shea Moreno – Singled and doubled in her first two trips against Louisiana Tech, driving in a run.
Brylie St. Clair – Matched her career high with two walks against Louisiana Tech … first two-walk game came on Friday against Tulsa.
Kat Wallace – Collected her first career hit against Louisiana Tech … went 3-for-3 for her first multi-hit game.
Sierra Sacco singled up the middle before Caroline Easom beat out a bunt single. Kylie Neel walked to load the bases, and Brooke Diaz brought home two runs with a double down the left field line.
Louisiana Tech 2, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 1
Brylie St. Clair drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She scored on Chloe Malau'ulu's double into right-center field. Malau'ulu then scored on a base hit up the middle from Kiersten Landers. Landers took second on the throw home and then third on a foul out by Aquana Brownlee. Shea Moreno drove a liner over third base to score Landers.
Louisiana Tech 2, Mississippi State 3
Bottom 3
With one out, Brownlee singled into right field. Moreno doubled off the wall to put runners on second and third. Nadia Barbary hammered the first pitch she saw over the third baseman's head to score both runners.
Louisiana Tech 2, Mississippi State 5
Top 4
Jordan Manning hit a leadoff home run off the left field foul pole. With two outs, Easom doubled into right center. She scored when Kylie Neel reached on a throwing error by the second baseman.
Louisiana Tech 4, Mississippi State 5
Bottom 5
With two outs, Kat Wallace singled through the right side. She scored from first when Jackie McKenna's bloop single fell in in shallow center field.
Louisiana Tech 4, Mississippi State 6
Bottom 6
Malau'ulu drew a leadoff walk, and Landers beat out a bunt single to the pitcher. Malau'ulu scored and Landers went to third on Paige Cook's single into right center. Landers came home on Brownlee's ground out to the pitcher.
Louisiana Tech 4, Mississippi State 8
Ashlee Lykins singled off the pitcher's glove to open the game. She then stole second. Lykins advanced to third on Ainsley Yoshizumi's ground out to first base. With two outs, Kiley Perry singled into left to score Lykins.
Furman 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 1
Chloe Malau'ulu singled with one out. Kiersten Landers then hit a ball to the pitcher, who tried to throw out Malau'ulu at second but threw the ball away. Paige Cook singled into center to score Malau'ulu.
Furman 1, Mississippi State 1
Top 3
With one out, Yoshizumi singled into center field. She took second on a wild pitch before Riley Ludlam walked. Perry hit a ground ball to the pitcher, and the throw went to third to retire Yoshizumi. Ludlam then came home to score when Hana Hashioka blooped a double over the diving shortstop in shallow left field.
Furman 2, Mississippi State 1
Top 5
Lykins led off with a walk. Yoshizumi then singled and went to second as the throw nearly got Lykins on her way to third. With one out, Perry hit a deep fly ball into foul ground on the third base side. That ball was caught for an out, but it was deep enough to score Lykins from third.
Furman 3, Mississippi State 1
Bottom 5
Landers legged out an infield single to open the inning. She was replaced at first base by Saleyna Daniel. Daniel took second on a wild pitch with one out before Brownlee's double into left center scored her. Kiarra Sells then pinch ran for Brownlee. With two outs, Nadia Barbary drew a walk, so State brought pinch hitter Jackie McKenna into the game with runners on first and second. McKenna singled up the middle to score Sells and tie the game.
Furman 3, Mississippi State 3
Bottom 6
With two outs, Daniel singled through the left side, and Cook walked. Brownlee then hit a two-run triple past the diving right fielder.
Furman 3, Mississippi State 5
Top 7
Caitlin Goldwait reached on a throwing error by the shortstop to open the frame. Lykins then singled on a bunt, and Goldwait advanced to third. Lykins stole second. With one out, Ludlam singled into left to score Goldwait, and Lykins reached third. Ludlam then stole second. Perry walked to load the bases, and Hashioka was hit by a pitch to tie the game.
Furman 5, Mississippi State 5
Bottom 12
Daniel hit a solo homer with one out.
Furman 5, Mississippi State 6
MSU downed Louisiana Tech, 8-4, to open the day with eight of its nine batters recording a hit. The nightcap was a back-and-forth affair with Furman before the Bulldogs walked it off with a 6-5 victory in extra innings on a solo homer from Saleyna Daniel, who earlier in the game had been doubled off as a potential winning run.
"We talk a lot about being ready. You never know when your number's going to be called," Ricketts said. "Silk's really been swinging well in practice. It was good to see her come through with a big opportunity. Another thing we talk about is being able to bounce back and not taking your at-bat or something on the bases forward into your next moment. I thought she stayed composed, stayed in her plan, and came up big on a pitch she knows she can drive."
State (10-4) tied the ballgame at 3-3 in the fifth against the Paladins (4-8) and took a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth. Furman, who had led the entire game up until that point, would not give in. The Paladins tied the game in the top of the seventh, off Matalasi Faapito, who had entered in the sixth. Faapito then proceeded to toss the remainder of the game (5.0 additional innings) while allowing just one more hit.
"Mata was huge for us there," Ricketts added. "She just absolutely did not blink, shut them down. She came in and competed, which is what we needed in a game like that. I loved her fight. I loved her composure, and she just got us back in the dugout over and over again to have a chance to win that game."
Aspen Wesley picked up the win against the Lady Techsters (8-4), tossing 1.2 innings as a bridge in relief. Josey Marron took over in the top of the sixth in a 6-4 ballgame and struck out five of the eight batters she faced to earn her first career save.
Offensively, the Bulldogs recorded a season-high 16 hits. Nadia Barbary led the way with two RBIs, and Kat Wallace and Kiersten Landers each collected a career-high three hits.
Quotables
Matalasi Faapito on how she recovered once the game was tied…"After that first inning, once I knew that they weren't hitting the pitches, I knew that I was rolling. I was in a good groove, and I just had to keep going. I believed in the team, that we were going to come back. It was just a matter of time. I just needed to lock in. My mentality was just head down, keep going."
Saleyna Daniel on making up for her baserunning mistake with a homer…
"Definitely from teammates picking me up after it, that really helped me to just stay focused on the present. Coming back to hit, Ricketts told me to be present, focus on this at-bat, and that's what I did. It feels amazing. It was great. I loved it."
Quick Hitters
Hit Parade – Eight of nine Bulldogs had a hit against Louisiana Tech with six posting multi-hit games … MSU's 16 hits are a season high and the most since State collected 17 at Middle Tennessee (March 30, 2022) … 16 hits is tied for 10th in MSU history.Aquana Brownlee – Finished 3-for-6 with three RBIs against Furman and was just a homer shy of the cycle ... now has three multi-RBI games.
Nadia Barbary – Drove in two runs against Louisiana Tech for her second career multi-RBI game … finished 2-for-4.
Paige Cook – Went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI against Louisiana Tech … also collected two hits and an RBI against Furman … stole a base against the Paladins.
Matalasi Faapito – Threw 7.0 innings in relief, striking out eight and allowing just three hits … went 5.0 innings with one hit allowed and six strikeouts in the extra frames.
Riley Hull – Drew her team-leading 10th walk of the season, which ranks seventh in the SEC entering the day, against Furman … also singled.
Kiersten Landers – Went 3-for-4 against Louisiana Tech and 2-for-3 against Furman … picked up two infield singles in both games … now has eight infield hit on the year and seven this weekend.
Josey Marron – Earned her first career save, throwing the final 2.0 innings against Louisiana Tech … struck out the side in the sixth.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Went 2-for-3 against Louisiana Tech for her team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the year … drove in a run with a double in the first … also drew a walk.
Shea Moreno – Singled and doubled in her first two trips against Louisiana Tech, driving in a run.
Brylie St. Clair – Matched her career high with two walks against Louisiana Tech … first two-walk game came on Friday against Tulsa.
Kat Wallace – Collected her first career hit against Louisiana Tech … went 3-for-3 for her first multi-hit game.
Louisiana Tech Scoring Recap
Top 1Sierra Sacco singled up the middle before Caroline Easom beat out a bunt single. Kylie Neel walked to load the bases, and Brooke Diaz brought home two runs with a double down the left field line.
Louisiana Tech 2, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 1
Brylie St. Clair drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She scored on Chloe Malau'ulu's double into right-center field. Malau'ulu then scored on a base hit up the middle from Kiersten Landers. Landers took second on the throw home and then third on a foul out by Aquana Brownlee. Shea Moreno drove a liner over third base to score Landers.
Louisiana Tech 2, Mississippi State 3
Bottom 3
With one out, Brownlee singled into right field. Moreno doubled off the wall to put runners on second and third. Nadia Barbary hammered the first pitch she saw over the third baseman's head to score both runners.
Louisiana Tech 2, Mississippi State 5
Top 4
Jordan Manning hit a leadoff home run off the left field foul pole. With two outs, Easom doubled into right center. She scored when Kylie Neel reached on a throwing error by the second baseman.
Louisiana Tech 4, Mississippi State 5
Bottom 5
With two outs, Kat Wallace singled through the right side. She scored from first when Jackie McKenna's bloop single fell in in shallow center field.
Louisiana Tech 4, Mississippi State 6
Bottom 6
Malau'ulu drew a leadoff walk, and Landers beat out a bunt single to the pitcher. Malau'ulu scored and Landers went to third on Paige Cook's single into right center. Landers came home on Brownlee's ground out to the pitcher.
Louisiana Tech 4, Mississippi State 8
Furman Scoring Recap
Top 1Ashlee Lykins singled off the pitcher's glove to open the game. She then stole second. Lykins advanced to third on Ainsley Yoshizumi's ground out to first base. With two outs, Kiley Perry singled into left to score Lykins.
Furman 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom 1
Chloe Malau'ulu singled with one out. Kiersten Landers then hit a ball to the pitcher, who tried to throw out Malau'ulu at second but threw the ball away. Paige Cook singled into center to score Malau'ulu.
Furman 1, Mississippi State 1
Top 3
With one out, Yoshizumi singled into center field. She took second on a wild pitch before Riley Ludlam walked. Perry hit a ground ball to the pitcher, and the throw went to third to retire Yoshizumi. Ludlam then came home to score when Hana Hashioka blooped a double over the diving shortstop in shallow left field.
Furman 2, Mississippi State 1
Top 5
Lykins led off with a walk. Yoshizumi then singled and went to second as the throw nearly got Lykins on her way to third. With one out, Perry hit a deep fly ball into foul ground on the third base side. That ball was caught for an out, but it was deep enough to score Lykins from third.
Furman 3, Mississippi State 1
Bottom 5
Landers legged out an infield single to open the inning. She was replaced at first base by Saleyna Daniel. Daniel took second on a wild pitch with one out before Brownlee's double into left center scored her. Kiarra Sells then pinch ran for Brownlee. With two outs, Nadia Barbary drew a walk, so State brought pinch hitter Jackie McKenna into the game with runners on first and second. McKenna singled up the middle to score Sells and tie the game.
Furman 3, Mississippi State 3
Bottom 6
With two outs, Daniel singled through the left side, and Cook walked. Brownlee then hit a two-run triple past the diving right fielder.
Furman 3, Mississippi State 5
Top 7
Caitlin Goldwait reached on a throwing error by the shortstop to open the frame. Lykins then singled on a bunt, and Goldwait advanced to third. Lykins stole second. With one out, Ludlam singled into left to score Goldwait, and Lykins reached third. Ludlam then stole second. Perry walked to load the bases, and Hashioka was hit by a pitch to tie the game.
Furman 5, Mississippi State 5
Bottom 12
Daniel hit a solo homer with one out.
Furman 5, Mississippi State 6
On Deck
The Bulldogs will have a rematch with Furman to close out the South Alabama Invitational. The teams are set to square off at 11:15 a.m. CT on Sunday.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wesley, Aspen (3-1)
L: MELNYCHUK, Brook (1-2)
S: Marron, Josey (1)
Batting:
2B: EASOM, Caroline 1 ; DIAZ, Brooke 1
HR: MANNING, Jordyn 1
RBI: DIAZ, Brooke 2 ; MANNING, Jordyn 1
SH: GONZALEZ, Amanda 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SACCO, Sierra 1 ; EASOM, Caroline 2 ; MANNING, Jordyn 1
HBP: DIAZ, Brooke 1
Batting:
2B: Malau'ulu, Chloe 1 ; Moreno, Shea 1
3B: Cook, Paige 1
RBI: Malau'ulu, Chloe 1 ; Landers, Kiersten 1 ; Cook, Paige 1 ; Brownlee, Aquana 1 ; Moreno, Shea 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 2 ; McKenna, Jackie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: St. Clair, Brylie 1 ; Malau'ulu, Chloe 2 ; Landers, Kiersten 2 ; Brownlee, Aquana 1 ; Moreno, Shea 1 ; Wallace, Kat 1
CS: Landers, Kiersten 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
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