Tuesday, February 18
Starkville
4 p.m.
Mississippi State
10-1
6
vs
1
Samford
6-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Samford
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
0
Mississippi State
0
2
1
0
3
0
X
6
7
0
Bernardini’s Career Day Brings State Victory Over Samford
February 18, 2025 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Morgan Bernardini had a career day, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two extra base hits and driving in four of No. 17 Mississippi State's runs in a 6-1 victory against Samford on Tuesday.
Bernardini's day started with a single in the second inning, and she came around to score on Riley Hull's two-run single. From there, she did all the damage. An RBI double in the third extended State's (10-1) lead to 3-0. After Samford homered in the top of the fifth, Bernardini launched her first career homer to plate three more runs.
"Big swing for Mo, first career home run which is always really special," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It's just so satisfying to see a player like her be rewarded. She's just one of those young women who does everything right. She works hard. She's a great teammate. She's put in the time, and she's learned and gotten better and better, year after year. To see that paying off for someone who's gone about it in the right way is just really special. I'm proud of her and what she's done and to see her just continue to grow in her confidence out there. She's had some really big swings to start the season. I'm looking forward to seeing her continue it and just continuing to grow throughout the season."
In the circle, Delainey Everett made her first start of the year and went 5.0 innings. Josey Marron entered to throw the final 2.0. Aside from the solo home run, only two other Samford (6-3) batters reached base as Mississippi State played clean defense behind the pitchers and turned its fourth double play of the year.
"It's really good to see her back out there. She's really been through a lot the last few weeks. She's earned a bigger role for us this season and not so much just only a reliever like she was last year. She'll definitely get some starts. She is a great reliever and closer. She has the mindset to come in and close out a game but we want to continue to give her innings as she gets back and more comfortable and just trying to get back to how she was throwing to start preseason for us a little bit."
Morgan Bernardini on being one hit away from the cycle...
"Yeah, it was funny. We were actually in the outfield the inning before, and Kiarra [Sells] came up to me and she was like, 'What do you think in this game?' She's like, 'I'm just looking to have fun,' and I was like, 'I'm just looking, you know, to keep seeing the ball and just put my swing on it.' So that was my mindset."
Riley Hull on scoring the first two runs...
"It was just very exciting because obviously I was struggling at the beginning of the season just to find grass, and so whenever I went up to bat, I was like, 'Okay, have a team at bat.' I obviously need to get this into the air, so that it was a base hit was just the cherry on top for it."
Morgan Bernardini – Turned in career highs in hits (3) and RBIs (4) … posted her third career multi-hit game … hit her first career home run with a three-run shot to left field … added an RBI double … now has a hit in eight of 11 games this year.
Jessie Blaine – Drew her team leading 12th walk … has reached base in eight straight games.
Kylee Edwards – Now ranks fifth in MSU career history in double plays by a shortstop (13).
Paige Ernstes – Has reached base in 7-of-8 plate appearances this season … drew a walk as a pinch hitter.
Delainey Everett – Recorded her first win of the season and is 1-0 with a save.
Riley Hull – Posted her sixth career multi-RBI game.
Kiarra Sells – Extended her career-long hitting streak to 11 games with a hit in every game this year … batting .407 (11-27).
Lexi Sosa – Now boasts her first three-game hitting streak since 2020 with UCLA … riding a career-long on-base streak at six games.
Jessie Blaine drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Morgan Bernardini single. Kylee Edwards laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Blaine and Bernardini up a base. Riley Hull singled to left field scoring both runners.
Samford 0, No. 17 Mississippi State 2
Bottom 3
Lexi Sosa walked and advanced to second on a Blaine ground out. Gretta Grassel pinch ran for Sosa before Bernardini doubled to right, scoring Grassel.
Samford 0, No. 17 Mississippi State 3
Top 5
Katie Campbell homered to right center to lead off the inning.
Samford 1, No. 17 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 5
Sosa doubled to right center followed by a Blaine walk. The two scored on Bernardini's three-run homer.
Samford 1, No. 17 Mississippi State 6
State plays a doubleheader on Saturday against Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. and North Alabama at 7 p.m. The Louisiana Tech game has been moved to the campus of UAH at Charger Stadium. To close the weekend, the Bulldogs meet Miami (Ohio) at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Bernardini's day started with a single in the second inning, and she came around to score on Riley Hull's two-run single. From there, she did all the damage. An RBI double in the third extended State's (10-1) lead to 3-0. After Samford homered in the top of the fifth, Bernardini launched her first career homer to plate three more runs.
"Big swing for Mo, first career home run which is always really special," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It's just so satisfying to see a player like her be rewarded. She's just one of those young women who does everything right. She works hard. She's a great teammate. She's put in the time, and she's learned and gotten better and better, year after year. To see that paying off for someone who's gone about it in the right way is just really special. I'm proud of her and what she's done and to see her just continue to grow in her confidence out there. She's had some really big swings to start the season. I'm looking forward to seeing her continue it and just continuing to grow throughout the season."
In the circle, Delainey Everett made her first start of the year and went 5.0 innings. Josey Marron entered to throw the final 2.0. Aside from the solo home run, only two other Samford (6-3) batters reached base as Mississippi State played clean defense behind the pitchers and turned its fourth double play of the year.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Delainey Everett's first start of the season…"It's really good to see her back out there. She's really been through a lot the last few weeks. She's earned a bigger role for us this season and not so much just only a reliever like she was last year. She'll definitely get some starts. She is a great reliever and closer. She has the mindset to come in and close out a game but we want to continue to give her innings as she gets back and more comfortable and just trying to get back to how she was throwing to start preseason for us a little bit."
Morgan Bernardini on being one hit away from the cycle...
"Yeah, it was funny. We were actually in the outfield the inning before, and Kiarra [Sells] came up to me and she was like, 'What do you think in this game?' She's like, 'I'm just looking to have fun,' and I was like, 'I'm just looking, you know, to keep seeing the ball and just put my swing on it.' So that was my mindset."
Riley Hull on scoring the first two runs...
"It was just very exciting because obviously I was struggling at the beginning of the season just to find grass, and so whenever I went up to bat, I was like, 'Okay, have a team at bat.' I obviously need to get this into the air, so that it was a base hit was just the cherry on top for it."
Quick Hitters
Bulldog Bats – MSU has hit a home run in six consecutive games … Bulldog pinch hitters are now 5-for-9 (.555) this season with a walk and three RBIs … Xiane Romero singled off the bench, and Paige Ernstes walked.Morgan Bernardini – Turned in career highs in hits (3) and RBIs (4) … posted her third career multi-hit game … hit her first career home run with a three-run shot to left field … added an RBI double … now has a hit in eight of 11 games this year.
Jessie Blaine – Drew her team leading 12th walk … has reached base in eight straight games.
Kylee Edwards – Now ranks fifth in MSU career history in double plays by a shortstop (13).
Paige Ernstes – Has reached base in 7-of-8 plate appearances this season … drew a walk as a pinch hitter.
Delainey Everett – Recorded her first win of the season and is 1-0 with a save.
Riley Hull – Posted her sixth career multi-RBI game.
Kiarra Sells – Extended her career-long hitting streak to 11 games with a hit in every game this year … batting .407 (11-27).
Lexi Sosa – Now boasts her first three-game hitting streak since 2020 with UCLA … riding a career-long on-base streak at six games.
Scoring Recap
Bottom 2Jessie Blaine drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a Morgan Bernardini single. Kylee Edwards laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Blaine and Bernardini up a base. Riley Hull singled to left field scoring both runners.
Samford 0, No. 17 Mississippi State 2
Bottom 3
Lexi Sosa walked and advanced to second on a Blaine ground out. Gretta Grassel pinch ran for Sosa before Bernardini doubled to right, scoring Grassel.
Samford 0, No. 17 Mississippi State 3
Top 5
Katie Campbell homered to right center to lead off the inning.
Samford 1, No. 17 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 5
Sosa doubled to right center followed by a Blaine walk. The two scored on Bernardini's three-run homer.
Samford 1, No. 17 Mississippi State 6
Next Up
Mississippi State will travel to Huntsville, Alabama, this weekend for the Rocket City Softball Showcase hosted by the Rocket City Trash Pandas, a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Cold temperatures in the forecast have already altered the event's schedule. MSU will now open the tournament on Friday at Toyota Field against Jacksonville State at 7 p.m.State plays a doubleheader on Saturday against Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. and North Alabama at 7 p.m. The Louisiana Tech game has been moved to the campus of UAH at Charger Stadium. To close the weekend, the Bulldogs meet Miami (Ohio) at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Everett, Delainey (1-0)
L: Jordyn Partain (3-2)
Batting:
HR: Katie Campbell 1
RBI: Katie Campbell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Katie Campbell 1
Batting:
2B: Sosa, Lexi 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1
HR: Bernardini, Morgan 1
RBI: Bernardini, Morgan 4 ; Hull, Riley 2
SH: Edwards, Kylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sosa, Lexi 1 ; Grassel, Gretta 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 2 ; Bernardini, Morgan 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
ph/3b
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
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