Wesley Throws First Career No-Hitter To Secure Series At Ole Miss

Saturday, March 9

Oxford, Miss.

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

19-3, 2-0

Ole Miss

15-7, 0-2

Mississippi State

Ole Miss

Wesley Throws First Career No-Hitter To Secure Series At Ole Miss

March 09, 2024 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

OXFORD, Miss. – Aspen Wesley threw her first career no-hitter on Saturday as No. 24/23 Mississippi State defeated Ole Miss, 4-0. It was the Bulldogs' first no-hitter in conference play since Stephanie Becker no-hit the Rebels in 2013.

Wesley struck out a career-high nine batters and allowed just three baserunners to reach on walks. She is the third Bulldog to throw a no-hitter this season, which marks the most by State in a season since MSU (19-3, 2-0 SEC) saw three players combine for four no-hitters in 2006.

"Again, I'm super proud of the way this team competes," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "They're confident. They're poised, and they attack in all phases. Obviously, the no-hitter, Aspen was just in complete control from the beginning and backed up by some great play in the outfield and the timely hitting to get us on the board early again to let her settle in."

Along the way, Brylie St. Clair and Paige Cook both made diving catches in the outfield to preserve the no-hitter. State scored in the first after Nadia Barbary doubled. The Bulldogs added a run in the second on Salen Hawkins' sacrifice fly to center field. Madisyn Kennedy homered in the fourth, and Hawkins brought in another with a double in that frame.

State finished with five extra-base hits, and seven Bulldogs reached base.

Quotables

Aspen Wesley on throwing her first career no-hitter in her home state...
"I feel like that's so surreal. I couldn't have asked for a better place to throw a no-hitter, especially in my home state. This is literally what I've worked for my whole life, and I remember when Josey [Marron] and Mata [Faapito] threw their no-hitters, I was so happy for them and their biggest cheerleader ever. That's all I ever want for this pitching staff. I honestly didn't even know. I was not looking at that scoreboard. I told myself, 'Quit looking at that scoreboard. It doesn't define you. Who cares? Just go out there and do what you can do best, which is spin the ball.' That's what I did today. I remember praying last night. I was telling myself and praying to God, whatever happens today, happens. I just pray that you take these nerves away because no matter what my teammates have got me."

Aspen Wesley on the diving catches in the outfield…
"The third inning – I don't even know what inning it was. I swear they had a diving catch every inning. That really got me going and pumped me up so much. It was so amazing to see that they're out here diving for me when they're hitting balls off me that hard. All I can do is give them my best because they're superwomen out there."

Samantha Ricketts on the diving catches in the outfield…
"It shows the mentality of our outfield and the pride that they take in keeping balls from falling and having their pitchers' backs. I think it's contagious. They see one do it, and they want to go all out. There's never going to be any question on the effort given on defense. It's really cool to see all of them getting a chance to do it this weekend."

Brylie St. Clair on her diving catch…
"I knew that there was a possibility for Aspen to get a no-hitter today. I looked up at the scoreboard pretty early in the game, and I was like, 'I want to keep it there.' We do this thing in the outfield where nothing hits the ground, diving bodies, and I think that we really embodied that today. It's really good to have people communicating beside you, and letting you know you can go get it. It's really a mindset. It helps me a lot having great outfielders beside me, and I'm glad we got to do that for Aspen."

Quick Hitters

Easy Company – Associate head coach Tyler Bratton has nicknamed the outfield "Easy Company" this year, and they've made things look easy … Brylie St. Clair and Paige Cook both stole hits with diving catches on Saturday … Sierra Sacco also stole a hit with a diving catch on Friday night.

Nadia Barbary – Collected her sixth multi-hit game of the year, which is now tied for the team lead … doubled and scored.

Kylee Edwards – Tripled and scored.

Salen Hawkins – Doubled home a run … also scored and hit a sacrifice fly … now tied for the team lead with six multi-RBI games and six multi-hit games … saw her season-long errorless streak end at 30 chances after an obstruction call on a steal attempt.

Madisyn Kennedy – Hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season … it was the 28th of her career, which puts her in sole possession of eighth place in MSU career history.

Aspen Wesley – Tossed her first career no-hitter and the Bulldogs' first against an SEC team since Stephanie Becker no-hit Ole Miss on April 14, 2013 … struck out a career-high-tying nine … only baserunners came on three walks … State has now seen three pitchers throw no-hitters this season, which trails only 2006 (four no-hitters by three different pitchers) for the most in a season in program history.

Ella Wesolowski – Doubled and drew a walk.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
With one out, Nadia Barbary doubled to right-center field. She advanced to third on Paige Cook's single into right and came home on Jessie Blaine's ground ball that saw Cook retired at second.
No. 24 Mississippi State 1, Ole Miss 0

Top 2
Ella Wesolowski drew a leadoff walk. Kylee Edwards tripled into the right-center gap, but Wesolowski was thrown out at the plate. Salen Hawkins scored Edwards with a sacrifice fly to center.
No. 24 Mississippi State 2, Ole Miss 0

Top 4
Madisyn Kennedy hit a leadoff homer to left. Wesolowski doubled down the right field line and was pinch run for by Kat Wallace. Wallace moved to third on Edwards' fly out to right. She scored on Hawkins' doubled down the third base line.
No. 24 Mississippi State 4, Ole Miss 0

Next Up

The series finale is set for 3 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs and Rebels will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network.

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