State Rallies For Comeback Victory Against Cal State Fullerton

Saturday, February 24

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

4:30 PM

Mississippi State

11-2

Cal State Fullerton

9-5

Mississippi State

Cal State Fullerton

State Rallies For Comeback Victory Against Cal State Fullerton

February 24, 2024 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – No. 25/20 Mississippi State rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Cal State Fullerton, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon.

"We're at the end of our two-week road trip right now, and every game's tough. That's a gritty, tough team on the other end," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "They're going to win a lot of ballgames. I thought the pitchers, especially did a great job of attacking and getting us back in the dugout so we could manufacture some runs. Again, it was coming from different spots in the lineup. It's hard to take a break when everyone's contributing top-to-bottom in the lineup. I thought it was a good fight from them there."

The Bulldogs (11-2) opened the scoring on a Madisyn Kennedy sacrifice fly in the first, but Fullerton took the lead with a solo homer and the help of a three-base error in the third.

State immediately answered in the fourth with three straight singles from Aquana Brownlee, Kylee Edwards and Brylie St. Clair. St. Clair drove in the tying run, and Salen Hawkins hit a sacrifice fly to take the lead. Edwards drove in an insurance run in the fifth.

Josey Marron ran her record to 4-0, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing one earned run. Aspen Wesley threw the final 2.0 frames to earn her second career save.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on the importance of doing the little things and key baserunning moments…
"Taking whatever it is, whether it's a big swing or manufacturing runs on the bases and small ball, getting down bunts. They're just finding ways to continue to win innings and extend leads. I thought they did a good job of making things happen tonight."

Quick Hitters

Comeback Kids – State picked up its third come-from-behind victory of the season.

Jessie Blaine – Caught her first runner stealing of the year.

Aquana Brownlee – Singled for what would eventually become the Bulldogs' tying run.

Kylee Edwards – Went 2-for-3 with an RBI … stole her second base of the season … scored the game-winning run.

Salen Hawkins – Went 1-for-2 … drove in a run with a sacrifice fly … recorded a career-high five assists.

Madisyn Kennedy – Drove in a run with a sacrifice fly … also laid down a sacrifice bunt.

Josey Marron – Improved to 4-0 on the year and 12-2 in her career … State is 15-2 in her starts since she arrived on campus.

Sierra Sacco – Drew a walk and scored … was also hit by a pitch … has reached base in 10 straight games.

Brylie St. Clair – Drove in the tying run with a single in the fourth.

Aspen Wesley – Earned her first save of the year, tossing the final 2.0 innings … save was the second of her career.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
Sierra Sacco drew a leadoff walk, and Salen Hawkins followed with a single to right. With one out, Jessie Blaine walked to load the bases. Madisyn Kennedy hit the first pitch she saw to the fence where it was caught in center for a sacrifice fly.
No. 25 Mississippi State 1, Cal State Fullerton 0

Bottom 3
Williams hit a leadoff homer to left. With one out, Perez reached on a throwing error by the second baseman, racing to third as the ball was retrieved. Delgadillo grounded out to second, and Perez was forced to hold at third, but she later scored on Wallace's single up the middle.
No. 25 Mississippi State 1, Cal State Fullerton 2

Top 4
Aquana Brownlee singled to open the inning, and Riley Hull pinch ran at first. Hull advanced to second on Kylee Edwards' single up the middle. Brylie St. Clair brought her home with a single up the middle. As Hull beat the throw home, Edwards took third and St. Clair moved to second. After a pitching change, Sacco was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hawkins hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Edwards.
No. 25 Mississippi State 3, Cal State Fullerton 2

Top 5
Blaine reached on a fielding error to open the inning, and Jadyn Burney pinch ran at first. Kennedy bunted Burney to second. With two outs, Hull walked. Edwards singled down the first base line to score Burney from second.
No. 25 Mississippi State 4, Cal State Fullerton 2

Next Up

The Bulldogs will close their time at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic against Fresno State at 9:30 p.m. CT. The game will stream on FloSoftball.

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