State Drops Opening Game With No. 17 Georgia

Friday, March 24

Athens, Ga.

5:30 PM

Mississippi State

22-9, 3-1

#17 Georgia

26-6, 6-1

Mississippi State

Georgia

State Drops Opening Game With No. 17 Georgia

March 24, 2023 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

ATHENS, Ga. – Mississippi State dropped its series opener at No. 17 Georgia on Friday night, 3-0. All three of Georgia's runs were scored on balls that did not lead the infield.

The homestanding Bulldogs (26-6, 6-1 SEC) scored twice after loading the bases with no outs in the second inning. An error and an infield single brought runners home. Georgia's third run came in the fourth inning on a smashed ground ball that kicked off State's first baseman to the second baseman while a runner raced home from second.

"I think the biggest thing is that I'd like to see a little more fight early on, not wait until seventh," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We need to be making plays for our pitchers and just overall play a cleaner ballgame. Georgia's a great team. They're going to hit and hit the ball hard. We have to expect it and be ready to make some plays."

Offensively, State (22-9, 3-1 SEC) had opportunities in each of the first two frames. The Bulldogs were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position; however, stranding two in the first and leaving the bases loaded in the seventh.

Macy Graf and Brylie St. Clair both beat out bunt singles, and St. Clair added a double. Madisyn Kennedy also singled to start the seventh-inning rally.

Aspen Wesley got the start in the circle, going 1.1 innings before being relieved by Josey Marron. Marron needed one pitch to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the second with a double play. She threw 4.2 innings, allowing one run.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Josey Marron's relief performance…
"I thought Josey did a really good job of calming it down. It was good to see her bounce back. Last week, in her first SEC experience during our South Carolina series, she definitely had some freshman nerves. We just wanted to get her back out there again. We have a lot of confidence in her, in her ability and what she can do for us. She has been a big part of our staff this year and will continue to be. It was good to see her do what she does best – roll ground balls and be able to spin it. I thought she did a good job of settling in and giving us a chance there."

Samantha Ricketts on the message to her team postgame…
"I think the message overall was, we chose this league – all of these players, all of these coaches – for a reason. It's a grind. It's a gauntlet. That's what we chose to do, and that's why we love it. We need to come out expecting a fight, expecting something difficult and show a little more fight early on."

Quick Hitters

Bunting Bulldogs – With two bunt singles tonight, State is up to 44 infield singles on the year and is now 14-for-19 (.737) when bunting this season.

Macy Graf – Beat out a bunt single that rested on the chalk of the third base line … turned a double play on a bases-loaded line drive in the second ... recorded a career-high six assists.

Riley Hull – Walked in her first plate appearance … entered the game ranking fifth nationally in walk rate (27.6 percent).

Brylie St. Clair – Doubled in her first at-bat … also beat out a bunt single and is now 10-for-12 (.833) on the year when bunting.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 2
Lyndi Rae Davis led off with a single to right field. She advanced to third on a double from Sydney Chambley. Sydney Kuma then singled off the pitcher's mask, but the other two runners stayed put, loading the bases. Ellie Armistead reached on a fielding error by the shortstop that scored Davis. Dallis Goodnight's chopper to short could not be fielded in time and allowed Chambley to score from third.
Mississippi State 0, No. 17 Georgia 2

Bottom 4
With two outs, Goodnight beat out a bunt to the pitcher. She then stole second. Sara Mosley was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Jayda Kearney hit a hard grounder off the first baseman that was fielded by the second baseman. That fielder opted to throw home, trying to retire Goodnight who beat the tag to score from second.
Mississippi State 0, No. 17 Georgia 3

On Deck

The battle of the Bulldogs continues in a nationally-televised game on Saturday. First pitch from Jack Turner Softball Stadium is set for 11 a.m. CT on SEC Network.

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