Bulldogs Outlast Washington To Advance To Regional Final

Saturday, May 17

Lubbock, Texas

6:40 p.m.

Mississippi State

39-18

Washington

35-19

Mississippi State

Washington

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Bulldogs Outlast Washington To Advance To Regional Final

May 17, 2025 | Softball

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By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

LUBBOCK, Texas – A wild finish to Saturday night's elimination game ended with No. 18 Mississippi State outlasting Washington for an 11-10 victory.

The game saw 18 runs scored over the final three and a half innings, including four half innings where a team scored at least four runs. Jessie Blaine collected a career-high five RBIs while launching a record-breaking homer and delivering a three-run double. She drove in a run three of her four plate appearances.

Paige Ernstes delivered a momentum-shifting pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-run double, and State (39-18, 13-11 SEC) never trailed again.

"I'm just really proud of this group," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "A back-and-fourth game, a lot of toughness and – you know – that's a well-coached team, a really quality program. Even though they're young, we knew this was going to be a battle, and I love the way we responded. There was just never a question in our dugout that we were going to continue to fight and have our pitcher's back. Jessie [Blaine] came in clutch all day long for us. You could just see the senior fight in her and then Paige [Ernstes], both of them. Big Game Blaine and now we've got Big Game Paige. That's what she's done all year long too, just quality at bats. She does not swing like a freshman and picks up big RBIs for us when we need it. I'm so proud of these two and proud of this team. We know it's going to take another fight tomorrow. It's going to take everyone, and it's going to take every inning making sure we're up and ready to go."

The game started with Sierra Sacco and Nadia Barbary smacking doubles on the first two pitches of the night, giving State the early lead before Blaine hit MSU's school-record 74th homer of the year. Washington (35-19, 12-9 Big Ten) hit a grand slam to take the lead in the fourth before plating another on an RBI double.

After Ernstes' big swing, both teams added another five runs before a scoreless seventh inning. Delainey Everett earned her second save after entering the game with two runners on and a two-run lead.

Quotables

Jessie Blaine on her career-high five RBIs...
"It's so much adrenaline, and so many runs to be had in such an offensive game. I said going into the Selection Show that I wanted an offensive regional, and we found it. It's a lot of adjustments. It's a lot of focus and refocus, but I'm just glad we came out on top of it."

Paige Ernstes on the emotions of a back-and-forth contest…
"I think just being present in the moment and being grateful for every moment in the whole game. I just take it all in. I don't let anything get too big."

Quick Hitters

Call The Bomb Squad – A two-run homer in the first from Jessie Blaine broke the MSU single-season record as State's 74th home run of the year … since Samantha Ricketts arrived as an assistant in 2015, the Bulldogs have broken the school record five times … this year is the first time in school history that four individuals have hit double-digit homers.

Nadia Barbary – Doubled in a run … added a single and a walk … scored three times.

Jessie Blaine – Hit a two-run home run, her sixth of the year … home run broke the team single-season record … added an RBI single and three-run double … finished with a career-high five RBIs … tied for second-most RBIs in an NCAA Tournament game in program history and most since Sarai Niu had five vs. Saint Francis (May 19, 2018) … three hits matched her season high.

Raelin Chaffin – Became the fifth Bulldog in program history to record 200 strikeouts in a season … earned her 23rd win of the year, which is tied for fourth in MSU single-season history.

Kylee Edwards – Posted her 10th multi-hit game of the year.

Paige Ernstes – Delivered a two-run, go-ahead pinch-hit double … all eight RBIs this year have come as a pinch hitter.

Sierra Sacco – Hit a leadoff double and scored … State improved to 64-13 when she scores since the start of 2024 … collected her 27th multi-hit game of the year, which is tied for third-most in program history.

Morgan Stiles – Picked up her 10th multi-hit game of the year … now 7-for-10 (.700) in the NCAA Tournament.

Ella Wesolowski – Posted her fifth multi-hit game of the year.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
Sierra Sacco and Nadia Barbary doubled on the first two pitches of the game, giving State a 1-0 lead. With one out, Jessie Blaine hit a two-run homer.
No. 18 Mississippi State 3, Washington 0

Bottom 4
With one out, Jadyn Glab walked, and Jing Gardner pinch ran at first. Sophi Mazzola beat out a slow grounder to short, and Jade Bubke walked to load the bases. Alycia Flores hit a grand slam to left-center. With two outs, Riley Peschek doubled to left, and Ava Carroll followed with a double to right, scoring Peschek.
No. 18 Mississippi State 3, Washington 5

Top 5
With one out, Barbary walked. Morgan Stiles singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. Blaine singled up the middle to score Barbary. Gretta Grassel pinch ran for Blaine at first. Kylee Edwards flew out to right, allowing Stiles to advance to third. Paige Ernstes delivered a pinch-hit double to left-center, scoring both runners. She then took third on a wild pitch and scored when Ella Wesolowski reached on a fielding error.
No. 18 Mississippi State 7, Washington 5

Bottom 5
With one out, Glab homered to center.
No. 18 Mississippi State 7, Washington 6

Top 6
Kiarra Sells singled down the right field line, and Sacco walked to open the inning. Barbary singled through the right side to load the bases. With one out, Blaine doubled all three runners home. Edwards then singled off the right field wall to score Blaine.
No. 18 Mississippi State 11, Washington 6

Bottom 6
Peschek struck out swinging but reached on a wild pitch. She advanced to second on Carroll's ground out. DeBoer reached on a fielder's choice as Peschek was caught in a rundown between second and third. Giselle Alvarez singled up the middle, and Glab walked to load the bases. Mazzola doubled to right field, driving in all three runners. Bubke was hit by a pitch before Flores singled up the middle to score Mazzola.
No. 18 Mississippi State 11, Washington 10

Next Up

The Bulldogs will face No. 10 Texas Tech for the third time this season in the Lubbock Regional championship. State will need to win two games on Sunday to advance to its second Super Regional in program history. Game 1 will begin at 2 p.m. CT.

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