State Sweeps Season Series With 8-4 Victory At UAB

Wednesday, March 19

Birmingham, Ala.

5 p.m.

Mississippi State

25-5

UAB

11-17

Mississippi State

UAB

State Sweeps Season Series With 8-4 Victory At UAB

March 19, 2025 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Photo Gallery

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A seven-run first inning proved to be more than enough for No. 18 Mississippi State on Wednesday as the Bulldogs defeated UAB, 8-4.

Sierra Sacco finished a home run shy of the cycle after collecting a triple and double in the first inning alone. She plated a pair of runs in the frame along with Kylee Edwards, who smacked a two-run double, and Riley Hull. Morgan Bernardini and Nadia Barbary had State's other two RBIs.

"Scoring first, giving Delainey [Everett] a cushion to go out there with, is always good," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We left too many runners on base in the middle innings, but I love that we set the tone there in first. Raelin [Chaffin] coming in to close us out there in the last few innings, I just thought it was all around a great team effort to get us through that game."

Delainey Everett earned her fifth win of the year, tossing 4.0 innings without allowing and earned run. Raelin Chaffin took over with one out in the fifth in a three-run ballgame and shut down the Blazers (11-7, 1-5 AAC). It stands as Chaffin's second save of the year.

Defensively, Ella Wesolowski shone behind the plate. After entering as a pinch hitter, she collected a double and caught a runner out stealing before picking off a second runner.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Sierra Sacco's triple and double in the first inning…
"Sierra just finds ways to get on base. It can be big hits or small hits. She's just constantly the consummate hitter, going up there and doing her job. I thought it was another great game out of her, setting the tone and being on base to give us a chance to score."

Samantha Ricketts on Ella Wesolowski catching…
"Ella's been working really hard, and I'm trying to find ways to mix her in and give Jessie [Blaine] a little bit of a break. You know, it's a lot of games to catch that she's done in the last few weeks. They're both great defensive catchers. There are no bad options with them. It was great to see her come in and make some big plays on defense as well."

Ella Wesolowski on her runners caught stealing and picked off…
"I was just super locked in. I want to be aggressive, and if I'm going to get a chance to go in and catch, throwing is my thing. I wanted to make sure I was aggressive, trying to pick off runners and also know the situation on the dropped third strike to throw her out at second."

Quick Hitters

Raelin Chaffin – Earned her second save of the season … tossed the final 2.2 innings after entering with runners on second and third with just one out … did not allow a run to score … struck out four.

Kylee Edwards – Recorded her seventh multi-RBI game of the season with a two-run double … added a single for her seventh multi-hit game of the year.

Delainey Everett – Won her fifth game of the year, improving to 5-0 … did not allow an earned run.

Riley Hull – Recorded her third multi-RBI game of the year … stole her seventh base of the year … entered the season with just four career stolen bases.

Sierra Sacco – Extended her reached-base streak to 28 games, which is tied for seventh in MSU history … pushed her hitting streak to a career-long 15 games with her second triple of the year … added a two-run double in the first inning … now leads the team with nine multi-RBI games … stood as her fourth three-hit game of the year and 14th multi-hit game.

Kiarra Sells – Was hit by a pitch twice … entered play today ranked third in the SEC with eight hit by pitches and moves into a tie for the SEC lead with 10 … stole a base and drew a walk.

Ella Wesolowski – Doubled … recorded her first multi-hit game of the season … caught a runner stealing and picked one off.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
Sierra Sacco opened the ballgame with a triple, and Nadia Barbary walked. With one out and runners on the corners, Kylee Edwards doubled into the right-center gap, scoring both runners. Kiarra Sells and Lexi Sosa walked to load the bases. Morgan Bernardini singled to shortstop, scoring Edwards and advancing all runners. Riley Hull reached on a fielding error by the shortstop that allowed Sells and Sosa to score while Bernardini advanced to second. With two outs, Sacco doubled to left-center past a diving outfielder to score Hull and Bernardini.
No. 18 Mississippi State 7, UAB 0

Bottom 1
With one out, Bella Wiggins reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. With two outs, Lindsey Smith hit a two-run homer to left-center.
No. 18 Mississippi State 7, UAB 2

Bottom 5
With one out, Bella Wiggins singled to shortstop before Hope Tucker walked and Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hannah Miles doubled Wiggins and Tucker home.
No. 18 Mississippi State 7, UAB 4

Top 7
Hull singled to open the inning and stole second base. With two outs, Barbary singled through the right side to score her.
No. 18 Mississippi State 8, UAB 4

Next Up

The Bulldogs will stay the night in Birmingham before flying to Chicago to face Northwestern in a three-game series this weekend. State will play one game on Friday afternoon with first pitch set for 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network before a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.

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