Bulldogs Tie School Record With 13th Run-Rule Victory

Wednesday, April 3

Birmingham, Ala.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

26-9

UAB

14-21

Mississippi State

UAB

Bulldogs Tie School Record With 13th Run-Rule Victory

April 03, 2024 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mississippi State scored early and often in a 14-0 victory in five innings at UAB on Wednesday night. The No. 16/16 Bulldogs scored nine of their 14 runs with two outs on their way to their school-record-tying 13th run-rule victory of the season.

Madisyn Kennedy opened the scoring with a three-run homer in the first before Salen Hawkins drove in a pair with two outs in the frame. In the second inning, Paige Cook singled home one run before Jessie Blaine plated two. Kylee Edwards doubled home another run to cap that inning. Nadia Barbary doubled home a run in the third, and Riley Hull singled to score Barbary before Aquana Brownlee launched a pinch-hit two-run homer.

"I thought it was a good bounce back after Game 3 of the Florida series, and I thought they really came out ready to attack and not worried about carrying anything with them," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "At this point, these games are a good opportunity to take a step back, go out there and continue to refine your craft and make sure you get people at-bats who maybe aren't getting a lot on the weekends. Aquana Brownlee, Saleyna Daniel, Riley Hull, they're big bats for us that don't always get in every game."

In the circle, Aspen Wesley tossed two innings, retiring six of the seven batters she faced and striking out three. Matalasi Faapito also threw two innings, earning her second win of the year. Delainey Everett tossed the final frame, retiring the side in order and striking out the final batter looking.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on players performing off the bench…
"It's tough when we're in the middle of SEC play to really continue to get a lot of live at-bats. We were able to do a little bit this week in practice, which was nice. Anytime we can get opportunities, everybody in that dugout works hard every day. They're not all getting the same opportunities, but it's fun when you can get them out there. We tell them to make sure they're ready for their opportunity, and I think every one of them were."

Aquana Brownlee on her home run off the bench…
"It just felt good going back to my old self and knowing what I'm capable of and being confident, finally, in my abilities. It showed in this game. I've been making the best of it and cheering on my teammates, being a good teammate to them. But I've been working hard behind the scenes, trying to get back to what I was. I didn't become complacent in my position or role."

Kat Wallace on the reserves adopting the moniker of "Bench Mobb" and embracing their role…
"The role that I'm in now, I was just trying to think about how the team could stay together and how we could be the most-excited team to play every day. It reminded me of the 2013 Mississippi State baseball team that ended up making it to the World Series. They had a bunch of Major League guys on that team, but they had a "Bench Mobb." That's what they called it. It was the people in the dugout being the most-excited team to play and being engaged and locked into the game to help give your team the edge they need."

Quick Hitters

Two Outs, So What? – State collected nine two-out RBIs in the game … the Bulldogs now have 103 two-out RBIs this season, marking the ninth time they've had 100 or more since 2002 … Paige Cook is now tied for fifth in school history with 58 two-out RBIs in her career.

Nadia Barbary – Hit her team-leading 11th double of the year … also registered her team-leading 12th multi-hit game of the season.

Jessie Blaine – Singled twice with two RBIs … now has eight multi-hit and seven multi-RBI games.

Aquana Brownlee – Hit her first home run of the season in a pinch-hitting appearance … also walked to reach twice … recorded her fourth multi-RBI game of the year and the 15th of her career.

Jadyn Burney – Singled and stole base while driving in her second RBI of the year … scored twice after entering as a pinch runner.

Kylee Edwards – Drove an RBI double and drew a walk.

Salen Hawkins – Delivered two two-out RBIs in the first.

Riley Hull – Drove in her second run of the year with an RBI single … also walked to reach twice after entering as a pinch runner.

Madisyn Kennedy – Hit her SEC-leading 14th home run of the year … entered the MSU career top five for home runs and is now tied for fourth with 37 … has reached base in a career-long 22 consecutive games … posted her team-leading 12th multi-RBI game of the year.

Sierra Sacco – Reached base and scored in all three trips to the plate … stole a base.

Aspen Wesley – Recorded her 300th career strikeout, becoming the ninth Bulldog in program history to reach the milestone.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
Sierra Sacco beat out a bunt single on the first pitch of the game. Nadia Barbary singled off the leaping first baseman's glove to put two runners on before Madisyn Kennedy hit a three-run homer to left. With one out, Paige Cook walked, and Jessie Blaine singled to right field. Both runners scored on Salen Hawkins' two-out single through the right side.
No. 16 Mississippi State 5, UAB 0

Top 2
Sacco walked to open the frame and stole second. With one out, Kennedy hit a ground ball to third where the throw went to second behind Sacco but failed to get her. Riley Hull pinch ran for Kennedy at first. With two outs, Cook singled to right field, scoring Sacco and advancing Hull to third. Cook moved to second on the throw home, and Jadyn Burney came in to pinch run for her. Blaine then singled to left field and took second when the throw to the infield sailed over second base. That scored both Hull and Burney. Kylee Edwards then doubled down the left field line to score Blaine.
No. 16 Mississippi State 9, UAB 0

Top 3
Sacco drew a one-out walk and scored on Barbary's double down the left field line. Barbary then scored on Hull's single through the right side. Hull advanced to second on Ella Wesolowski's ground out to shortstop. Burney singled up the middle, scoring Hull. With Aquana Brownlee pinch hitting, Burney stole second. Brownlee then hit a two-run homer to right-center field.
No. 16 Mississippi State 14, UAB 0

Next Up

The Bulldogs remain on the road and will travel to Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday. State opens a three-game series with No. 22/25 South Carolina at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, April 5.

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

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Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Faapito, Matalasi (2-1)

L: Olivia Cummings (2-1)

Mississippi State

Batting:

2B: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Daniel, Saleyna 1

HR: Kennedy, Madisyn 1 ; Brownlee, Aquana 1

RBI: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 3 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Cook, Paige 1 ; Burney, Jadyn 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 2 ; Brownlee, Aquana 2 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Hawkins, Salen 2

Base Running:

RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 3 ; Barbary, Nadia 2 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1 ; Hull, Riley 2 ; Cook, Paige 1 ; Burney, Jadyn 2 ; Blaine, Jessie 2 ; Brownlee, Aquana 1