Sosa Slugs State To Snowman Sweep

Sunday, February 16

Starkville

2 p.m.

Mississippi State

9-1

Georgia Tech

7-3

Georgia Tech

Mississippi State

Sosa Slugs State To Snowman Sweep

February 16, 2025 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Photo Gallery

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Lexi Sosa drove in six runs as No. 19 Mississippi State powered its way to its third run-rule victory of The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial on Sunday, defeating Georgia Tech, 11-3.

Sosa, who entered the weekend with just one career homer to her name, launched her third and fourth of the weekend on Sunday, the final blast being her first career grand slam. She came just one run shy of the single-game school record.

"Lexi just had a phenomenal weekend, and I'm so happy for her knowing that she always had the talent and the ability," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I think she really worked this offseason. She does a ton of extra work and even continues to with Marci [Hoppa], our strength coach. She's in her swinging extra all the time, and I think she was ready for opportunity and took it and ran with it. She provides big power off the bench and something we desperately needed to replace Madisyn Kennedy and her production last year. It's just really great to see her get her chance to shine, and if you talk to Lexi about it, she loves softball again and is just finding the joy of being around her teammates and being out there with everyone every day."

Along with Sosa's blasts, Jessie Blaine brought home a run on a double. Riley Hull provided a sacrifice fly, and Morgan Stiles recorded her first career RBI. Sierra Sacco and Morgan Bernardini saw their season-long hitting streaks end at seven games, but Bernardini plated a run on a fielder's choice and Sacco walked three times.

Raelin Chaffin extended her winning streak to each of her first six appearances at Mississippi State. She struck out the first five batters she faced on her way to a season-high nine punchouts.

Quotables

Lexi Sosa on making the most of her opportunities...
"It's been super awesome. It's a lot of extra time, a lot of behind the scenes work with all of the girls. Being able to have those moments and embracing it all and just having fun is the most important thing."

Morgan Bernardini on moving into the starting lineup...
"We're all here living our dreams out. We all wanted to, as young girls, be college athletes, and this one thing we've worked hard for. Ki [Sells] and I, we've been here. This is our third year here. You guys may not have seen a lot of us on the field, but we've been there every step of the way. We're showing up to practice. We're showing up to games. We've learned our roles. We've embraced them, and we're taking them on now. Hitting in college is a lot different than in high school and travel ball. That's one thing we've learned and worked through. I'm just proud of the way we're going with the flow, reacting to the pitches and learning at the plate."

Morgan Bernardini on the freshmen stepping up in big moments...
"I love it. I'm so happy for them. When you see [Kalani Sells] go out to left, sometimes she takes my at-bats, and I'm so happy for her. I'm always right there in her ear like, 'She throws a drop ball,' or 'She throws a rise ball. Stay on top of it.' I try to be that voice for them. Just because you're not starting, I've been there, trust me. Take your role and learn from it. Take your time. This can either make or break you. I think they are doing a very great job just all around, learning their roles and embracing their time here."

Quick Hitters

Snowman Stats – Mississippi State homered and stole a base in every game of The Snowman … State had multiple stolen bases in three of the five games, including three today … Sierra Sacco stole her fourth base of the weekend … the Bulldogs hit multiple homers twice over the weekend … as a team, MSU posted a 1.206 OPS and outscored opponents 52-17.

Morgan Bernardini – Stole her first base of the season and third of her career … batted .400 (6-for-15) in The Snowman.

Jessie Blaine – Doubled, walked twice and scored twice … hit .500 (4-for-8) in the tournament with eight RBIs and eight walks.

Raelin Chaffin – Struck out the first five batters she faced … posted a season-high nine strikeouts … recorded her sixth consecutive win in the circle.

Sierra Sacco – Saw her hitting streak end at seven games, but walked three times and scored … batted .600 (12-for-20) during the streak with four doubles, a triple and nine RBIs … walked 10 times in The Snowman and posted a 1.450 OPS for the tournament.

Kiarra Sells – Extended her career-long hitting streak to 10 games with a hit in every game this year … hit her third double of the season … batting .435 (10-for-23) … has successfully advanced a runner in 15-of-21 (71.4 percent) opportunities this season, which leads the team … delivered her second walk-off of the year with a hit-by-pitch.

Lexi Sosa – Recorded her first career multi-homer game … launched a two-run home run and the 55th grand slam in school history and 14th under Samantha Ricketts (since 2020) … grand slam was projected to carry 276 feet, which is the longest by a Bulldog in Nusz Park this year … six RBIs are the most by a Bulldog in a single game since Madisyn Kennedy tied the school record with seven against ULM on March 13, 2024 … leads the team with six two-out RBIs … finished The Snowman with a 2.111 OPS, four homers and 14 RBIs.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 1
Seirra Sacco walked and stole second. Jessie Blaine doubled Sacco home before Lexi Sosa hit a two-run homer to right-center field.
Georgia Tech 0, No. 19 Mississippi State 3

Top 3
With one out, Emma Simon doubled down the right field line. Paige Vukadinovich beat out an infield single to second base, advancing Simon to third. Eliana Gottlieb legged out a bunt single to load the bases as Simon was held at third. Gracyn Tucker singled up the middle, scoring Vukadinovich and Simon.
Georgia Tech 2, No. 19 Mississippi State 3

Bottom 3
Kierra Sells doubled to left-center before Blaine and Sosa walked to load the bases. Gretta Grassel pinch ran before Morgan Bernardini reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, scoring Sells as Grassel was retired. Bernardini stole second before Kylee Edwards walked to reload the bases. Riley Hull hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Blaine, and Morgan Stiles singled to center field to score Bernardini.
Georgia Tech 2, No. 19 Mississippi State 6

Bottom 4
Nadia Barbary singled into left field before Sells and Blaine walked to load the bases. Sosa hit a grand slam to center field.
Georgia Tech 2, No. 19 Mississippi State 10

Top 5
Vukadinovinch doubled to left-center field before Gottlieb singled through the left side, advancing her to third. Grace Connelly reached on a fielding error by the shortstop that allowed Vukadinovinch to score.
Georgia Tech 3, No. 19 Mississippi State 10

Bottom 5
Paige Ernstes beat out an infield single, and Xiane Romero ran for her at first. After Romero stole second, Sacco walked. Barbary reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, but the throw attempting to put out Romero at third was wild, loading the bases. Sells was hit by a pitch to force home the final run of the ballgame in walk-off fashion.
Georgia Tech 3, No. 19 Mississippi State 11

Next Up

The Bulldogs remain home next week for their first midweek matchup of the season. State hosts Samford on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m. CT.

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