Saturday, February 15
Starkville
11:30 a.m.
Mississippi State
8-1
12
vs
3
Bradley
2-6
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Bradley
0
3
0
0
0
3
7
2
Mississippi State
6
0
6
0
X
12
12
0
Five Bulldogs Drive In Multiple Runs In Second Run-Rule Victory
February 15, 2025 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Five different Bulldogs drove in multiple runs on Saturday as No. 19 Mississippi State cruised to a 12-3 run-rule victory against Bradley.
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The Bulldogs (8-1) did all their scoring in just two frames. State batted around in the first to plate six runs, including five scored with two outs. Starting pitcher Lexi Sosa launched her second homer in as many days to score a pair, and Riley Hull drove in two with a single in that rally.
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"It's always great when you can contribute on both sides on the ball, and I think it's a little more rare nowadays than it used to be," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She's so poised and calm, collected and very confident, and I think her experience being a sixth year senior is a big part of that as well. She's worked really hard, especially in the off season, just wanting to contribute more offensively. Last year, she was more of pinch-hit option off the bench, but we knew that she had the power and a little bit more in the tank. We've been doing a lot of extra, and it's fun to see that payoff for someone like her. It's always nice when you can help yourself out, get some insurance runs before you go out into the circle."
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In the third inning, Sierra Sacco and Jessie Blaine both triple before scoring on wild pitches. Sacco's triple plated a pair, and Blaine drove in one as well. Kylee Edwards delivered her second RBI single of the day to total six more runs in that inning.
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Sosa threw 3.2 innings, striking out five. Freshman Sara Phillips tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit. Making her first career start, freshman Paige Ernstes went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
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"It's just being aggressive. Attacking early as a pitcher is really important for me, keeping it fast as well. I like to work pretty quickly. That helps always. In the box, I'm still being aggressive – being selective with the pitches – but also attacking the first one I see."
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Paige Ernstes on her mindset at the plate in her first career start…
"My mentality was to be calm and focused and not let the moment get too big. It's still the same sport I've been playing since I was younger, and my teammates had talked to me leading up to that moment. Kylee [Edwards] had said some words to me that I really appreciated, so it was really nice."
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Samantha Ricketts on Paige Ernstes and freshman class' performance…
"Yeah, they are a talented group. Really preseason, it was just trying to get them confident and experienced. Getting used to the speed of the game is a big part of it, and, you know, it's tough when you're behind a bunch of upperclassmen. That's why these games are so important, to get them those innings. Paige is really taking advantage of the opportunity and just getting herself more and more at bats. I think she's confident. She's powerful. She can play a lot of different positions, and it was fun to see her go up there and make the most out of her chances. She's going to be a big bat for us throughout the year, whether off the bench or in the lineup. She's someone we know we can go to in certain matchups."
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Morgan Bernardini – Extended her career-long hitting streak to seven games … batting .474 (9-for-19) during the streak with a double.
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Jessie Blaine – Hit her fourth career triple and first since 2023 … also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly … tied for the team lead with three multi-RBI games this year.
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Kylee Edwards – Plated two runs with two singles … tied for the team lead with three multi-RBI games this year.
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Paige Ernstes – Doubled in her first career start … now batting .667 (4-for-6) on the year with a 1.333 slugging percentage.
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Riley Hull – Drove in a pair of runs for her first multi-RBI since her walk-off two-run single against South Carolina on March 17, 2023 … added a double to go 2-for-3 and reached on an error.
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Sierra Sacco – Batting .600 (12-for-20) during her current seven-game hitting streak with four doubles, a triple and nine RBIs … leading the team batting .500 on the year … tied for the team lead with three multi-RBI games this year … walked twice in the first inning alone … recorded her eighth career triple.
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Kiarra Sells – Extended her career-long hitting streak to nine games with a hit in every game this year … batting .429 (9-for-21) … has successfully advanced a runner in 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) opportunities this season … threw out a runner at third for her first career outfield assist.
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Lexi Sosa - Hit her second home run as a Bulldog and second in as many days … had just one career home run entering the season ... made her first start in the circle and earned her second win of the season.
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Sierra Sacco walked to open the inning and advanced to second on Nadia Barbary's single. Sacco was caught stealing third, but Barbary advanced to second. Kiarra Sells singled up the middle to push Barbary to third before stealing second. Jessie Blaine hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Barbary and advancing Sells. Lexis Sosa followed up with a two-run homer to right-center field. Morgan Bernardini singled to right field followed by Paige Ernstes doubling to left center. Riley Hull singled to left field before advancing to second on a fielding error by the outfielder, scoring both Ernstes and Bernardini. Kylee Edwards singled to center, scoring Hull.
Bradley 0, No. 19 Mississippi State 6
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Top 2
Ashley Breeding and Morgan Schlosser hit consecutive singles. With one out, Addie Welsh walked to load the bases. Lauren DeRolf doubled to right field, scoring Welsh, Schlosser and Breeding.
Bradley 3, No. 19 Mississippi State 6
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Bottom 3
Ernstes hit a single up the middle with one out, and Xiane Romero pinch ran. Hull doubled to center, pushing Romero to third. Edwards singled on a liner off the third baseman's glove, scoring Romero. Sacco tripled down the right field line, scoring Edwards and Hull. She then scored on a wild pitch. Barbary walked before Blaine brought her home with a triple to right field. Blaine then scored on another wild pitch.
Bradley 3, No. 19 Mississippi State 12
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For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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The Bulldogs (8-1) did all their scoring in just two frames. State batted around in the first to plate six runs, including five scored with two outs. Starting pitcher Lexi Sosa launched her second homer in as many days to score a pair, and Riley Hull drove in two with a single in that rally.
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"It's always great when you can contribute on both sides on the ball, and I think it's a little more rare nowadays than it used to be," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She's so poised and calm, collected and very confident, and I think her experience being a sixth year senior is a big part of that as well. She's worked really hard, especially in the off season, just wanting to contribute more offensively. Last year, she was more of pinch-hit option off the bench, but we knew that she had the power and a little bit more in the tank. We've been doing a lot of extra, and it's fun to see that payoff for someone like her. It's always nice when you can help yourself out, get some insurance runs before you go out into the circle."
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In the third inning, Sierra Sacco and Jessie Blaine both triple before scoring on wild pitches. Sacco's triple plated a pair, and Blaine drove in one as well. Kylee Edwards delivered her second RBI single of the day to total six more runs in that inning.
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Sosa threw 3.2 innings, striking out five. Freshman Sara Phillips tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit. Making her first career start, freshman Paige Ernstes went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
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Quotables
Lexi Sosa on her approach to pitching and hitting in the same game…"It's just being aggressive. Attacking early as a pitcher is really important for me, keeping it fast as well. I like to work pretty quickly. That helps always. In the box, I'm still being aggressive – being selective with the pitches – but also attacking the first one I see."
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Paige Ernstes on her mindset at the plate in her first career start…
"My mentality was to be calm and focused and not let the moment get too big. It's still the same sport I've been playing since I was younger, and my teammates had talked to me leading up to that moment. Kylee [Edwards] had said some words to me that I really appreciated, so it was really nice."
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Samantha Ricketts on Paige Ernstes and freshman class' performance…
"Yeah, they are a talented group. Really preseason, it was just trying to get them confident and experienced. Getting used to the speed of the game is a big part of it, and, you know, it's tough when you're behind a bunch of upperclassmen. That's why these games are so important, to get them those innings. Paige is really taking advantage of the opportunity and just getting herself more and more at bats. I think she's confident. She's powerful. She can play a lot of different positions, and it was fun to see her go up there and make the most out of her chances. She's going to be a big bat for us throughout the year, whether off the bench or in the lineup. She's someone we know we can go to in certain matchups."
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Quick Hitters
Seeing Triple – The Bulldogs hit multiple triples for the first time since Feb. 19, 2023, vs. South Florida.Â
Morgan Bernardini – Extended her career-long hitting streak to seven games … batting .474 (9-for-19) during the streak with a double.
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Jessie Blaine – Hit her fourth career triple and first since 2023 … also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly … tied for the team lead with three multi-RBI games this year.
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Kylee Edwards – Plated two runs with two singles … tied for the team lead with three multi-RBI games this year.
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Paige Ernstes – Doubled in her first career start … now batting .667 (4-for-6) on the year with a 1.333 slugging percentage.
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Riley Hull – Drove in a pair of runs for her first multi-RBI since her walk-off two-run single against South Carolina on March 17, 2023 … added a double to go 2-for-3 and reached on an error.
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Sierra Sacco – Batting .600 (12-for-20) during her current seven-game hitting streak with four doubles, a triple and nine RBIs … leading the team batting .500 on the year … tied for the team lead with three multi-RBI games this year … walked twice in the first inning alone … recorded her eighth career triple.
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Kiarra Sells – Extended her career-long hitting streak to nine games with a hit in every game this year … batting .429 (9-for-21) … has successfully advanced a runner in 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) opportunities this season … threw out a runner at third for her first career outfield assist.
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Lexi Sosa - Hit her second home run as a Bulldog and second in as many days … had just one career home run entering the season ... made her first start in the circle and earned her second win of the season.
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Scoring Recap
Bottom 1Sierra Sacco walked to open the inning and advanced to second on Nadia Barbary's single. Sacco was caught stealing third, but Barbary advanced to second. Kiarra Sells singled up the middle to push Barbary to third before stealing second. Jessie Blaine hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Barbary and advancing Sells. Lexis Sosa followed up with a two-run homer to right-center field. Morgan Bernardini singled to right field followed by Paige Ernstes doubling to left center. Riley Hull singled to left field before advancing to second on a fielding error by the outfielder, scoring both Ernstes and Bernardini. Kylee Edwards singled to center, scoring Hull.
Bradley 0, No. 19 Mississippi State 6
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Top 2
Ashley Breeding and Morgan Schlosser hit consecutive singles. With one out, Addie Welsh walked to load the bases. Lauren DeRolf doubled to right field, scoring Welsh, Schlosser and Breeding.
Bradley 3, No. 19 Mississippi State 6
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Bottom 3
Ernstes hit a single up the middle with one out, and Xiane Romero pinch ran. Hull doubled to center, pushing Romero to third. Edwards singled on a liner off the third baseman's glove, scoring Romero. Sacco tripled down the right field line, scoring Edwards and Hull. She then scored on a wild pitch. Barbary walked before Blaine brought her home with a triple to right field. Blaine then scored on another wild pitch.
Bradley 3, No. 19 Mississippi State 12
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Next Up
Mississippi State will host Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday to close The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.Â
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sosa, Lexi (2-0)
L: Hannah Organ (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Lauren DeRolf 1 ; Kierston McCoy 1
RBI: Lauren DeRolf 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Ashley Breeding 1 ; Morgan Schlosser 1 ; Addie Welsh 1
Batting:
2B: Ernstes, Paige 1 ; Hull, Riley 1
3B: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1
HR: Sosa, Lexi 1
RBI: Sacco, Sierra 2 ; Blaine, Jessie 2 ; Sosa, Lexi 2 ; Hull, Riley 2 ; Edwards, Kylee 2
SF: Blaine, Jessie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 2 ; Sells, Kiarra 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Sosa, Lexi 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1 ; Ernstes, Paige 1 ; Hull, Riley 2 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Romero, Xiane 1
SB: Sells, Kiarra 1
CS: Sacco, Sierra 1
HBP: Sells, Kiarra 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
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