Dawgs Battle Back To Take Two On Opening Day Of Mary Nutter

Thursday, February 22

Cathedral City, Calif. (Big League Dreams - Des Moines Field)

1:00 PM

Mississippi State

9-1

UCF

6-3

Mississippi State

UCF

Photo by: Softball America

Dawgs Battle Back To Take Two On Opening Day Of Mary Nutter

February 22, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 UCF Box Score (PDF)Notre Dame Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – No. 25/20 Mississippi State earned two hard-fought victories on the opening day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. State defeated UCF, 2-1, before overcoming a three-run deficit to down Notre Dame, 7-4.

"I think we're just playing with a lot of confidence," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We're playing within ourselves, not trying to do too much. We're trusting up and down the lineup and our pitching staff. It's been fun to see them really go all in with each other, and you can feel the joy that comes out of our dugout. It's been really refreshing to see that and feel that this early in the season. I think the big thing right now is just not pressing, playing loose and playing free."

State (10-1) opened the day with a pitcher's duel against UCF. The Bulldogs scored in the third and fifth to jump out to a 2-0 lead on a Nadia Barbary double and a Paige Cook ground out. UCF got one back in the sixth and threatened to score in the seventh, but Josey Marron came in with two outs to retire the final batter for her first save of the season.

Aspen Wesley earned the win against the Knights (6-3), tossing 6.2 innings and striking out seven.

The Bulldogs fell behind, 3-0, in the top of the first against Notre Dame (6-3), but immediately answered. State scratched across two runs in the bottom of the first. MSU surrendered another run in the second but answered that with a Kylee Edwards homer to lead off the bottom of the inning. State tied the game in the third before sending eight to the plate and scoring three in the fourth to take its final lead.

Lexi Sosa entered in relief in the third and earned her second win. She scattered six hits, but did not allow a run over the final 5.0 innings.

Quotables

Kylee Edwards on what the dugout was like even when trailing against Notre Dame…
"I think it was the same energy as all the other games this year. Our mindset was the same. We knew we were going to come back and hit the ball. We were just really positive throughout the entire game."

Samantha Ricketts on Aspen Wesley's performance against UCF…
"She's just really done a great job all year long. I think she's added a little bit more to her game with Coach T [Taryne Mowatt-McKinney] this offseason and is able to mix speeds. She's locating extremely well right now and keeping teams off balance. I would like to not throw her six or seven innings every game, especially this early, but it's so hard to take her out when you've got a tough lineup like UCF and she's doing such a good job."

Sierra Sacco on her bunt single that made her 4-for-4 in the ballgame against UCF…
"It was a bunt that I had to get down. I was just trying to lay it down, and I saw the spin on it. I was like, oh well, if it goes foul. I need to run it out anyway."

Quick Hitters

Lovely Lefties – Left-handed hitters were 6-for-9 for State against UCF and provided six of MSU's eight hits … both doubles came off of lefty bats, and they drove in a run and provided a sacrifice bunt.

Nadia Barbary – Drove an RBI double against UCF … laid down a sacrifice bunt that led to State's game-winning run.

Paige Cook – Doubled and scored twice against Notre Dame.

Kylee Edwards – Made a leaping catch in the bottom of the seventh against UCF for the second out … hit a solo homer against Notre Dame … added an RBI single against the Fighting Irish.

Salen Hawkins – Went 2-for-3 against Notre Dame with two RBIs including a sacrifice fly.

Riley Hull – Doubled after making her first start of the season at first against UCF … also provided a sacrifice bunt.

Madisyn Kennedy – Went 2-for-3 with two RBIs against Notre Dame … doubled and singled home a pair of runs.

Josey Marron – Picked up her first save of the year against UCF, retiring that game's final batter with a one-run lead.

Sierra Sacco – Went 4-for-4, matching her career high in hits, against UCF … scored the game's first run … drew a walk and scored against Notre Dame … laid down a sacrifice bunt.

Aspen Wesley – Struck out seven over 6.2 innings … only walked one … left six runners stranded.

Scoring Recap vs. UCF

Top 3
With one out, Sierra Sacco singled up the middle. She scored from first on Nadia Barbary's double down the left field line.
No. 25 Mississippi State 1, UCF 0

Top 5
Brylie St. Clair opened the inning with a single through the left side. Following a pitching change, Sacco laid down a bunt that just stayed fair for an infield single. Barbary then bunted the runners to second and third. Paige Cook grounded out to second, scoring St. Clair.
No. 25 Mississippi State 2, UCF 0

Bottom 6
With one out, Sierra Humphreys beat out a bunt single. She stole second with two outs, and scored on Johneisha Rowe's single up the middle.
No. 25 Mississippi State 2, UCF 1

Scoring Recap vs. Notre Dame

Top 1
Carli Kloss and Karina Gaskins collected back-to-back singles through the left side to open the frame. Jane Kronenberger was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Addison Amaral hit a grounder to third, and Kloss was forced out at the plate. The throw to first for a double play hit Amaral and kicked away. Gaskins scored on the play as Kronenberger reached third and Amaral took second. Both runners scored on Mickey Winchell's triple down the first base line.
Notre Dame 3, No. 25 Mississippi State 0

Bottom 1
Sierra Sacco drew a leadoff walk. With one out, Paige Cook doubled down the left field line, putting runners on second and third. Jessie Blaine blooped a ball over the second baseman for a hit, scoring Sacco and advancing Cook to third. Cook scored on Salen Hawkins' sacrifice fly to left.
Notre Dame 3, No. 25 Mississippi State 2

Top 2
With one out, Emily Tran singled up the middle. Kloss reached on a fielder's choice as Tran was forced out at second. Kloss then stole second and scored when Gaskins singled up the middle.
Notre Dame 4, No. 25 Mississippi State 2

Bottom 2
Kylee Edwards hit a leadoff homer to left field.
Notre Dame 4, No. 25 Mississippi State 3

Bottom 3
With tow outs, Madisyn Kennedy doubled and was replaced at second by Kiarra Sells. Edwards then hit a grounder off the diving second baseman's glove, scoring Sells.
Notre Dame 4, No. 25 Mississippi State 4

Bottom 4
With one out, Nadia Barbary singled into center field. Cook walked to put runners on first and second. Jadyn Burney pinch ran at second. With two outs, Hawkins singled to left, scoring Burney. Aquana Brownlee was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kennedy singled to left, scoring Burney and Hawkins.
Notre Dame 4, No. 25 Mississippi State 7

Next Up

State's road at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic gets tougher tomorrow. The Bulldogs will face No. 1/1 Oklahoma at 7:30 p.m. CT on Friday night. The game will be available to stream on FloSoftball with the purchase of a subscription.

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