Dawgs Drop Pitcher's Duel On Tuesday

Tuesday, March 14

Starkville

4:00 PM

Mississippi State

18-8

North Dakota State

14-10

North Dakota St.

Mississippi State

Dawgs Drop Pitcher's Duel On Tuesday

March 14, 2023 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's pitching staff struck out 13 batters on Tuesday, but the Bulldog offense was held to one hit in a 2-0 loss to North Dakota State.

Matalasi Faapito struck out a career-high 10 batters in 5.2 innings of work. She walked just one, and was perfect her first time through the order.

"I think [Mata] did a really good job mixing her pitches and mixing her speeds," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She didn't really leave a lot over plate, which is a big credit to her as well. I thought she threw a great game, but I think we need to be a little more disciplined in our approach with a pitcher like that."

Aspen Wesley came in in relief, and threw the final 1.1 innings without allowing a baserunner. She struck out the side in the seventh, freezing to batters looking.

Madisyn Kennedy provided the Bulldogs' (18-8) only offense with a one-out double in the third. Riley Hull reached on an error in the second, but was also left stranded.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on the result of today's game…
"Yeah we talked about it all the time that you have to bring it everyday. It doesn't matter who your opponent is, and we definitely did not look prepared to play today. I think that showed. Mata [Faapito] started off strong, and then I thought she started to leave a little too much on the plate, especially with what he was giving her on the edges. She's got to be able to stay focused on the mound and at the plate. We didn't really give her much support, offensively and defensively today."

Samantha Ricketts on playing again tomorrow…
"That is the beauty of it. We play a lot of games, and we get another chance. I'm excited to see how they respond and come back after a not great showing today."

Matalasi Faapito on her career high in strikeouts…
"Pretty much all my pitches were working, but I just need to stay loose. Today, I wasn't myself. I wasn't feeling that great, but I told myself I'm here and I have a job to do."

Quick Hitters

Matalasi Faapito – Struck out a career-high 10 … sat down the first four batters she saw on strikes and struck out seven of the first nine … went 5.2 innings and took her first loss of the year.

Madisyn Kennedy – Doubled in the third.

Aspen Wesley – Threw the final 1.1 innings … retired all four batters she faced … struck out the side in the seventh, getting two batters looking.

Season-High Strikeouts – MSU's 13 strikeouts as a team were the Bulldogs' most in a seven-inning game this season … that total trails only a 12-inning game against Furman (14, Feb. 25).

Scoring Recap

Top 4
Emilee Buringa hit a leadoff single to right field. Aguilar-Beaucage grounded out to third, advancing Buringa to second. Buringa then advanced to third on a passed ball. Reanna Rudd hit a single up the middle and brought Buringa home.
NDSU 1, Mississippi State 0

Top 6
Buringa beat out an infield single to shortstop. Carly Goetschius bunted her to second. Aguilar-Beaucage reached on a fielder's choice that saw Buringa tagged out between second and third. Rudd walked, advancing Aguilar-Beaucage to second. Kaylee Moore singled to right field to score Aguilar-Beaucage.
NDSU 2, Mississippi State 0

On Deck

State will play Purdue on Wednesday, March 15 with first pitch set for approximately 5 p.m. CT. That game will follow Purdue and North Dakota State at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs' game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

Wednesday is First Responders Night with a postgame home run derby between the Starkville Police and Fire Departments.

Follow the Bulldogs

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