Mississippi State
3-0
IUPUI
1-3
Faapito Throws Bulldogs’ Second Straight No-Hitter, State Improves To 4-0
February 10, 2024 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Matalasi Faapito had a career day on Saturday, throwing the second no-hitter of her career while matching her career high with nine strikeouts.
Mississippi State (4-0) defeated IUPUI in just five innings, providing 10 runs of support for Faapito's gem. The Bulldogs then downed UAB by a score of 6-2.
"It was definitely good to see a little pressure on them to see how they respond," head coach Samantha Ricketts said of the game with UAB. "Especially, having four freshmen out there for that last inning, it's definitely what the non-conference seasons is about and trying to calm everybody down. I think we got a little sped up, kind of forgot some things we've been working on, but it was good to work through it and gives us a chance to get some more practice on it."
Paige Cook led the offense, blasting a three-run homer against the Jaguars (1-3) and delivering a sacrifice fly against the Blazers (1-3). Cook is batting 1.000 on the year and has extended her hitting streak to six games with six extra-base hits, including four homers over the streak.
State opened the scoring against UAB in the third, plating three runs on RBI singles from Nadia Barbary and Jessie Blaine. Madisyn Kennedy delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the fourth, and Cook's sacrifice fly extended the lead in the fifth. Saleyna Daniel drove in a final run in the fifth with a pinch-hit single.
Lexi Sosa drew the start in the second game and threw 5.0 innings without allowing an earned run. Overall, State's pitching staff allowed just one earned run over the weekend while striking out 30 and walking none.
"Yes, that's definitely been one of our focus. We talk about winning the freebies and not giving a lot to the other team, then trying to take as much as we can. Whether it's holding our ground for a hit by pitch, taking walks and finding ways to take an extra 60 feet. So, it's definitely an emphasis and part of our process that we're doing game-by-game and knowing that's some of the little things that lead up to big things on the scoreboard."
Matalasi Faapito on when she knew she was throwing a no-hitter…
"I didn't know, until the last inning. When I was walking out there – and I was so dumb – I looked at the scoreboard, and I saw zero and I was like, 'Okay.' I had to take a couple of deep breaths the whole inning. It was the same as the inning before, trusting my plan, trusting Coach T [Taryne Mowatt-McKinney], and Jessie [Blaine] behind the plate."
Matalasi Faapito on how Taryne Mowatt-McKinney has improved the staff so quickly…
"Coach T is one of the best, and being able to be under her and learning from all her experiences. She knows what it takes, so we're trusting her plan and knowing that she trusts us wholeheartedly."
Paige Cook on what has made the offense successful…
"We're very well rounded in all aspects. We have very good slappers, we have quick hitters, we have power just top and bottom throughout the lineup and then people coming off the bench. We're just very well-rounded."
Phenomenal Freshmen – Freshmen have combined to collect eight of MSU's 32 RBIs with three doubles and two home runs.
Morgan Bernardini – Recorded her first career hit against IUPUI.
Jessie Blaine – Went 2-for-4 against UAB … now has 14 career multi-hit games.
Paige Cook – Hit a three-run homer against IUPUI … also added a sacrifice fly and a single against UAB … extended her hitting streak to six games, dating back to last year … is 7-for-9 with six extra-base hits and 10 RBIs during the streak ... has four home runs during the streak... has a 1.000 batting average this season.
Kylee Edwards – Went 2-for-2 with an RBI double against IUPUI.
Matalasi Faapito – Threw the 25th no-hitter in school history and the second of her career, dating back to her time at New Mexico State … tied her career high with nine strikeouts.
Madisyn Kennedy – Delivered a pinch-hit, RBI double against UAB.
Sierra Sacco – Went 3-for- against UAB with a single and two walks … stole a base against both IUPUI and UAB.
Lexi Sosa – Recorded her first hit and RBI as a Bulldog against IUPUI … went 5.0 innings in her first start in the circle for State against UAB … did not allow an earned run and struck out four.
Paige Cook drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Salen Hawkins' sacrifice bunt. The throw on the bunt went to second, but both reached base safely. Kylee Edwards doubled through the left side, scoring Cook and advancing Hawkins to third. Brylie St. Clair walked to load the bases, and with one out, Nadia Barbary and Jessie Blaine drew walks to bring home Hawkins and Edwards. Aquana Brownlee singled through the left side, allowing St. Clair to score. Ella Wesolowski reached first on fielder's choice to shortstop, and Barbary was thrown out at the plate. As the catcher tried to retire Wesolowski at first, Jadyn Burney, who had entered as a pinch runner, scored on the throw. Cook then hit a three-run home run to dead center field.
IUPUI 0, Mississippi State, 8
Bottom 3
Edwards started the inning with a single off the pitcher and stole second. She advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sierra Sacco reached first on an error by the shortstop, scoring Edwards.
IUPUI 0, Mississippi State 9
Bottom 4
Morgan Bernardini beat out a single to the third baseman. She advanced to second and third on wild pitches. Bernardini scored on Lexi Sosa's bloop single up the middle.
IUPUI 0, Mississippi State 10
With one out, Salen Hawkins singled through the left side. She advanced to second on Brylie St. Clair's ground out to first. Sierra Sacco drew a walk. Nadia Barbary singled up the middle, scoring Hawkins and advancing Sacco to second. Jessie Blaine singled to left center, scoring Sacco. She then was caught in a rundown between first and second that allowed Barbary to score before she escaped the rundown and reached second.
UAB 0, Mississippi State 3
Top 4
With two outs, Hannah Dorsett singled to left center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hannah Miles pinch hit and reached on a throwing error by the pitcher. Dorsett scored on the throwing error.
UAB 2, Mississippi State 3
Bottom 4
Paige Cook singled to left field to open the frame. Jaydn Burney pinch ran for Cook at first. Ella Wesolowski reached first on a throwing error by the third baseman, and Burney advanced to second. Madisyn Kennedy delivered a pinch-hit double to left center, scoring Burney.
UAB 1, Mississippi State 4
Bottom 5
Blaine singled to center field to start the inning. Riley Hull reached second on a dropped fly ball in left field, while Blaine advanced to third. Cook hit a sacrifice fly to left center, scoring Blaine. Hull took third on a wild pitch and scored on Saleyna Daniel's pinch-hit single through the left side.
UAB 1, Mississippi State 6
Top 6
Lindsey Smith beat out a bunt single to open the frame, and Kaily Collett pinch ran at first. Collett advanced to second on a ground out from Makenzie Droddy. Olivia Valbak singled to second base, pushing Collett to third. She scored when Dorsett grounded out to short.
UAB 2, Mississippi State 6
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Faapito, Matalasi (1-0)
L: Metcalf, Carly (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Edwards, Kylee 1
HR: Cook, Paige 1
RBI: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Brownlee, Aquana 1 ; Cook, Paige 3 ; Sosa, Lexi 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1
SH: Hawkins, Salen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burney, Jadyn 1 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Wesolowski, Ella 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1 ; Cook, Paige 2 ; Hawkins, Salen 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 2 ; St. Clair, Brylie 1
SB: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1
