Friday, February 28
Starkville
3 p.m.
Mississippi State
15-2
17
vs
2
Alabama State
1-16
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Alabama State
0
2
0
0
0
2
3
4
Mississippi State
2
3
7
5
X
17
11
1
State Slugs Seven Homers To Open Bulldog Invitational
February 28, 2025 | Softball
STARKVILLE – With seven home runs on the day, No. 21 Mississippi State started the Bulldog Invitational presented by C Spire with a pair of wins. The Bulldogs run-ruled Alabama State, 17-2, in five innings before taking down New Mexico, 6-1, to finish the night.
The Bulldogs had 10 extra base hits and scored a combined 23 runs on the tournament's opening day. Kylee Edwards, Sierra Sacco and Kiarra Sells all homered in both contests, and Sells has homered in four consecutive games. Nadia Barbary also left the yard.
"I liked how up and down the lineup it was," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Everyone was contributing and having quality at bats. We've been working hard on different locations and places where maybe we've been beat early in the season. That's really the point of preseason. It's learning as we go week to week, as we get closer to SEC play. We continue to get better. I think we're doing a good job of making the adjustments that we need to, taking the walks, putting big swings on it in good hitting counts."
Sierra Sacco reached base in all four of her plate appearances against Alabama State (1-16) with a double to go along with her homer. She also went 2-for-3 against the Lobos (8-10-1). Eight out of nine starters had a hit against the Hornets, and seven had hits against New Mexico.
In the circle, Lexi Sosa picked up her third win of the season pitching 3.0 innings in Game 1 while Josey Marron closed out the game with 2.0 shutout innings. Raelin Chaffin picked up her ninth win of the year in her 10th appearance against the Lobos to end the day.
"Sierra, she's just so good. She's one of the best athletes I've ever coached. She's explosive. She's fast. She's powerful, and really, she was just too dynamic to be a slapper only last year. I think, as she got more and more confident in herself, in her ability, and was able to see what she can do when she was standing in, I think it kind of became apparent to us that, 'Okay, we need to do this full time.' I just think she's a mature, professional hitter as well, knowing the counts. I think that last homer was a 2-0 count, and she was ready. She knew that the pitcher was behind and was going to come right to her, and she wasn't going to miss. I think that she's grown a lot just in her approach and the way she approaches an at-bat. Last year, she took a lot of walks, but she would get two-strike counts a lot and kind of be her own worst enemy there. This year, it's been a little bit more aggressive in hitter's counts, and I think you can see the production. That's where the power can come from as well when you're out on the attack early in the count."
Kiarra Sells on her approach at the plate and what Nadia Barbary has told her on their back-to-back homers...
"The only thing she's been saying is 'Hit the ball.' That's it. I was just attacking early in the count, especially when I know that they are going to throw it there. We've been working on a lot of inside pitches, so I'm just attacking those pitches and they were giving them right to me. "
Sierra Sacco on her change on approach at the plate...
"I think it's about getting a good pitch and being aggressive with it and trusting my swing that it's good enough to do that amount of damage. [Assistant coach] Zac [Shaw] is a key part of that. He's been working with me extra. I stayed here over the summer and got reps in. I think him teaching me along with Ricketts really helped."
Nadia Barbary – Hit her third homer of the year against Alabama State … hit her third double this season for a season-high four RBIs against the Hornets … extended her hitting streak to a season-long six games against New Mexico, one shy of her career-long.
Raelin Chaffin – Threw 5.0 scoreless innings, striking out six without allowing a walk … posted her eighth game with five or more strikeouts … collected her ninth win of the season in her 10th appearance … entered play today ranked ninth nationally in strikeouts and third in wins.
Kylee Edwards – Hit a two-run home run for her second homer of the year against Alabama State … hit her second home run of the day against New Mexico … went 2-for-2 against the Lobos with a walk and two runs scored ... extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 11 games and her hitting streak to a career-long seven.
Riley Hull – Stole her fourth base of the year, which is now her most in a season in her career … had a hit in both games.
Abby Grace Richardson – Tripled for her first career hit against Alabama State and scored on the play with help from an error.
Sierra Sacco – Extended her reached-base streak to 16 games … reached in every plate appearance against Alabama State … hit her third home run of the season against the Hornets and drew two walks … 11 of her 22 hits this year have gone for extra bases … hit her fourth home run of the season against New Mexico, which carried 290 feet and stands as the longest tracked home run in Nusz Park of the season … now tied for the team lead in both multi-RBI games (6) and multi-hit games (6) … leads the team with 19 walks.
Kiarra Sells - Hit her fourth and fifth home runs of the season … has homered in four straight games.
Morgan Stiles – Hit her first double of the year against Alabama State … recorded her third straight game with an RBI … extended her career-long hitting streak to five games with a hit in both contests.
Ella Wesolowski – Doubled in her first at-bat since missing 15 games with injury against Alabama State.
Nadia Barbary and Kiarra Sells hit back-to-back solo home runs.
Alabama State 0, No. 21 Mississippi State 2
Top 2
With one out, Talee Sims singled off the pitcher. Jaibriel Terrell singled on a chopper over the third baseman, advancing Sims to second. Ayana Frank reached first on a dropped fly ball in right field, and advanced to second on the error. Terrel advanced to third and Sims scored on the play. Brooke Ramsey singled with two outs to score Terrell.
Alabama State 2, No. 21 Mississippi State 2
Bottom 2
Ella Wesolowski doubled to left field to lead off the inning. Morgan Stiles doubled to center with two outs, scoring Wesolowski before Sierra Sacco hit a two-run homer.
Alabama State 2, No. 21 Mississippi State 5
Bottom 3
Lexi Sosa walked, and Kalani Sells came in to run at first. Jessie Blaine doubled to center, scoring Kalani Sells. Blaine advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on Kylee Edwards' two-run homer. Riley Hull singled to left and advanced when Stiles walked. Sacco walked to load the bases before Barbary cleared them with a three-run double. Barbary moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Sosa reached first on a two-out error.
Alabama State 2, No. 21 Mississippi State 12
Bottom 4
Abby Grace Richardson pinch hit to leadoff the inning. She circled the pillows on a triple with the help of an error by the right fielder. With one out, Gretta Grassel hit for Edwards and walked. Paige Ernstes pinch-hit for Hull and also walked after Grassel had advanced on a wild pitch. Xiane Romero reached first on an error by the shortstop, loading the bases. Sacco and Kiarra Sells drew bases-loaded walks scoring Grassel and Ernstes. Morgan Bernardini reached first on dropped fly ball, scoring Sacco and Romero.
Alabama State 2, No. 21 Mississippi State 17
Sierra Sacco singled to right field then scored on Kiarra Sells's one-out homer down the left-field line.
New Mexico 0, No. 21 Mississippi State 2
Bottom 4
With one out, Kylee Edwards hit a solo homer to right-center field. Riley Hull walked then stole second. Morgan Stiles beat out an infield single to the shortstop before Sacco hit a three-run homer.
New Mexico 0, No. 21 Mississippi State 6
Top 7
With one out, Katherine Brunner was hit by a pitch. She advanced to second after Emma Bramson walked but was retired at third when Sydney Carithers reached on a fielder's choice. Carithers then advanced to second on a wild pitch and Hanawahine was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hayden Luderer was also hit by a pitch, scoring Brunner.
New Mexico 1, No 21. Mississippi State 6
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
The Bulldogs had 10 extra base hits and scored a combined 23 runs on the tournament's opening day. Kylee Edwards, Sierra Sacco and Kiarra Sells all homered in both contests, and Sells has homered in four consecutive games. Nadia Barbary also left the yard.
"I liked how up and down the lineup it was," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Everyone was contributing and having quality at bats. We've been working hard on different locations and places where maybe we've been beat early in the season. That's really the point of preseason. It's learning as we go week to week, as we get closer to SEC play. We continue to get better. I think we're doing a good job of making the adjustments that we need to, taking the walks, putting big swings on it in good hitting counts."
Sierra Sacco reached base in all four of her plate appearances against Alabama State (1-16) with a double to go along with her homer. She also went 2-for-3 against the Lobos (8-10-1). Eight out of nine starters had a hit against the Hornets, and seven had hits against New Mexico.
In the circle, Lexi Sosa picked up her third win of the season pitching 3.0 innings in Game 1 while Josey Marron closed out the game with 2.0 shutout innings. Raelin Chaffin picked up her ninth win of the year in her 10th appearance against the Lobos to end the day.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Sierra Sacco's change in approach at the plate..."Sierra, she's just so good. She's one of the best athletes I've ever coached. She's explosive. She's fast. She's powerful, and really, she was just too dynamic to be a slapper only last year. I think, as she got more and more confident in herself, in her ability, and was able to see what she can do when she was standing in, I think it kind of became apparent to us that, 'Okay, we need to do this full time.' I just think she's a mature, professional hitter as well, knowing the counts. I think that last homer was a 2-0 count, and she was ready. She knew that the pitcher was behind and was going to come right to her, and she wasn't going to miss. I think that she's grown a lot just in her approach and the way she approaches an at-bat. Last year, she took a lot of walks, but she would get two-strike counts a lot and kind of be her own worst enemy there. This year, it's been a little bit more aggressive in hitter's counts, and I think you can see the production. That's where the power can come from as well when you're out on the attack early in the count."
Kiarra Sells on her approach at the plate and what Nadia Barbary has told her on their back-to-back homers...
"The only thing she's been saying is 'Hit the ball.' That's it. I was just attacking early in the count, especially when I know that they are going to throw it there. We've been working on a lot of inside pitches, so I'm just attacking those pitches and they were giving them right to me. "
Sierra Sacco on her change on approach at the plate...
"I think it's about getting a good pitch and being aggressive with it and trusting my swing that it's good enough to do that amount of damage. [Assistant coach] Zac [Shaw] is a key part of that. He's been working with me extra. I stayed here over the summer and got reps in. I think him teaching me along with Ricketts really helped."
Quick Hitters
Loving The Long Ball – State tied its season-high with four homers for the second straight game … MSU recorded its second pair of back-to-back home runs this year thanks to Nadia Barbary and Kiarra Sells, who left the yard on back-to-back pitches against Alabama State … Barbary and Sells also had the first pair on back-to-back pitches on Wednesday … after hitting three home runs against the Lobos the Bulldogs have now hit three or more homers in the last three games.Nadia Barbary – Hit her third homer of the year against Alabama State … hit her third double this season for a season-high four RBIs against the Hornets … extended her hitting streak to a season-long six games against New Mexico, one shy of her career-long.
Raelin Chaffin – Threw 5.0 scoreless innings, striking out six without allowing a walk … posted her eighth game with five or more strikeouts … collected her ninth win of the season in her 10th appearance … entered play today ranked ninth nationally in strikeouts and third in wins.
Kylee Edwards – Hit a two-run home run for her second homer of the year against Alabama State … hit her second home run of the day against New Mexico … went 2-for-2 against the Lobos with a walk and two runs scored ... extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 11 games and her hitting streak to a career-long seven.
Riley Hull – Stole her fourth base of the year, which is now her most in a season in her career … had a hit in both games.
Abby Grace Richardson – Tripled for her first career hit against Alabama State and scored on the play with help from an error.
Sierra Sacco – Extended her reached-base streak to 16 games … reached in every plate appearance against Alabama State … hit her third home run of the season against the Hornets and drew two walks … 11 of her 22 hits this year have gone for extra bases … hit her fourth home run of the season against New Mexico, which carried 290 feet and stands as the longest tracked home run in Nusz Park of the season … now tied for the team lead in both multi-RBI games (6) and multi-hit games (6) … leads the team with 19 walks.
Kiarra Sells - Hit her fourth and fifth home runs of the season … has homered in four straight games.
Morgan Stiles – Hit her first double of the year against Alabama State … recorded her third straight game with an RBI … extended her career-long hitting streak to five games with a hit in both contests.
Ella Wesolowski – Doubled in her first at-bat since missing 15 games with injury against Alabama State.
Scoring Recap vs. Alabama State
Bottom 1Nadia Barbary and Kiarra Sells hit back-to-back solo home runs.
Alabama State 0, No. 21 Mississippi State 2
Top 2
With one out, Talee Sims singled off the pitcher. Jaibriel Terrell singled on a chopper over the third baseman, advancing Sims to second. Ayana Frank reached first on a dropped fly ball in right field, and advanced to second on the error. Terrel advanced to third and Sims scored on the play. Brooke Ramsey singled with two outs to score Terrell.
Alabama State 2, No. 21 Mississippi State 2
Bottom 2
Ella Wesolowski doubled to left field to lead off the inning. Morgan Stiles doubled to center with two outs, scoring Wesolowski before Sierra Sacco hit a two-run homer.
Alabama State 2, No. 21 Mississippi State 5
Bottom 3
Lexi Sosa walked, and Kalani Sells came in to run at first. Jessie Blaine doubled to center, scoring Kalani Sells. Blaine advanced to third on a wild pitch then scored on Kylee Edwards' two-run homer. Riley Hull singled to left and advanced when Stiles walked. Sacco walked to load the bases before Barbary cleared them with a three-run double. Barbary moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Sosa reached first on a two-out error.
Alabama State 2, No. 21 Mississippi State 12
Bottom 4
Abby Grace Richardson pinch hit to leadoff the inning. She circled the pillows on a triple with the help of an error by the right fielder. With one out, Gretta Grassel hit for Edwards and walked. Paige Ernstes pinch-hit for Hull and also walked after Grassel had advanced on a wild pitch. Xiane Romero reached first on an error by the shortstop, loading the bases. Sacco and Kiarra Sells drew bases-loaded walks scoring Grassel and Ernstes. Morgan Bernardini reached first on dropped fly ball, scoring Sacco and Romero.
Alabama State 2, No. 21 Mississippi State 17
Scoring Recap vs. New Mexico
Bottom 3Sierra Sacco singled to right field then scored on Kiarra Sells's one-out homer down the left-field line.
New Mexico 0, No. 21 Mississippi State 2
Bottom 4
With one out, Kylee Edwards hit a solo homer to right-center field. Riley Hull walked then stole second. Morgan Stiles beat out an infield single to the shortstop before Sacco hit a three-run homer.
New Mexico 0, No. 21 Mississippi State 6
Top 7
With one out, Katherine Brunner was hit by a pitch. She advanced to second after Emma Bramson walked but was retired at third when Sydney Carithers reached on a fielder's choice. Carithers then advanced to second on a wild pitch and Hanawahine was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hayden Luderer was also hit by a pitch, scoring Brunner.
New Mexico 1, No 21. Mississippi State 6
Next Up
The Bulldog Invitational presented by C Spire continues on Saturday. Mississippi State will meet Northwestern State at 12:30 p.m. CT before a rematch with New Mexico at 3 p.m.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sosa, Lexi (3-0)
L: Mason Quinnie (0-5)
Batting:
RBI: Brooke Ramsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Talee Sims 1 ; Jaibriel Terrell 1
HBP: Ayana Frank 1
Batting:
2B: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Wesolowski, Ella 1 ; Stiles, Morgan 1
3B: Richardson, Abby Grace 1
HR: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1
RBI: Sacco, Sierra 3 ; Barbary, Nadia 4 ; Sells, Kiarra 2 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 2 ; Stiles, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 3 ; Barbary, Nadia 2 ; Sells, Kiarra 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Richardson, Abby Grace 1 ; Wesolowski, Ella 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Grassel, Gretta 1 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Ernstes, Paige 1 ; Stiles, Morgan 2 ; Romero, Xiane 1 ; Sells, Kalani 1
CS: Sacco, Sierra 1
PO: Bernardini, Morgan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
3
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/OF
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