Sunday, April 18
Columbia, Mo.
3:00 PM
Mississippi State
22-19, 0-12
5
at
6
Missouri
32-10, 10-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Mississippi State
2
0
0
0
1
2
0
5
8
3
Missouri
3
1
0
0
1
1
X
6
6
0
Mia Davidson's 200th career hit was a solo home run on Sunday.
Bulldogs Rally In Sixth But Fall Short In Series Finale
April 18, 2021 | Softball
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A clutch two-run single from Chloe Malau'ulu tied the ballgame in the top of the sixth, but Mississippi State surrendered a run in the bottom of the inning and fell, 6-5, at No. 17 Missouri on Sunday.
"I think that's what Chloe does best," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She provides a spark for us at the top of the lineup, especially in the late innings. We won the late innings today, but we've got to clean up the freebies and the errors. I think that makes the difference in the game."
State (22-19, 0-12 SEC) allowed the first three batters of the game to reach via the walk, and all three came around to score. Missouri (32-10, 10-5 SEC) also scored after a throwing error put a leadoff batter on third and after two passed balls advanced and scored a runner.
When the first two batters reached in the bottom of the sixth in a tie ballgame, Ricketts turned to Alyssa Loza to get MSU out of the jam. She quickly got two outs, but a ground ball up the middle resulted in the game's winning run. Madisyn Kennedy made a diving stop to keep the ball in the infield but could not throw out a speedy pinch runner at the plate who scored from second.
"Loza did exactly what her job was, which was to come in and attack the lefties who she's had success with and get ground balls," Ricketts said. "They're a powerful team. They're a quick team, and they made a great play. Madi made a great play to keep it on the infield, but that would've been a tough play to throw her out. I think Loza did a great job in a tough situation to come in and get out of that."
"She's had 200 hits and 60-plus of them have been home runs. Both numbers are impressive in their own right. She's left her name all over the Mississippi State offensive record books, and it's been fun to see her continue to do so and break record after record over her four years."
Madisyn Kennedy – Went 2-for-3 with a run scored … Doubled in the sixth to spark the game-tying rally.
Fa Leilua – Hit her 45th home run in Maroon and White to take sole possession of second in school history on her birthday.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Delivered a two-RBI single to tie the game in the sixth.
Annie Willis – Allowed just one earned run in 5.0 innings of relief work.
Chloe Malau'ulu walked to lead off the ballgame. Fa Leilua hit a two-run homer to left-center field.
Mississippi State 2, Missouri 0
Bottom 1
The first three batters, Brooke Wilmes, Jenna Laird and Hatti Moore, all walked. Casidy Chaumont hit a hard grounder to first base and reached on a fielding error that allowed Wilmes to score. Kim Wert then singled home Laird and Moore.
Mississippi State 2, Missouri 3
Bottom 2
Abby George legged out an infield single and advanced to third when the throw was errant. Wilmes drove her in with a single up the middle.
Mississippi State 2, Missouri 4
Top 5
Mia Davidson homered down the left field line.
Mississippi State 3, Missouri 4
Bottom 5
Laird singled to center field then took second on a passed ball. Moore walked, but the catcher attempted to pick off Laird and threw the ball into center field. Laird advanced to third. Chaumont drew a walk with ball four escaping the catcher and allowing Laird to score.
Mississippi State 3, Missouri 5
Top 6
With one out, Addison Purvis singled to left. She was pinch ran for by Christian Quinn. Missouri made a pitching change before Madisyn Kennedy hit a double off the wall just inside the left field foul pole to put runners at second and third. Malau'ulu drove a base hit up the middle to score both runners.
Mississippi State 5, Missouri 5
Bottom 6
Emma Raabe doubled to open the frame. Kendyll Bailey then walked. With two outs, Laird singled to a diving shortstop, and Raabe scored from second on the play.
Mississippi State 5, Missouri 6
"I think that's what Chloe does best," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She provides a spark for us at the top of the lineup, especially in the late innings. We won the late innings today, but we've got to clean up the freebies and the errors. I think that makes the difference in the game."
State (22-19, 0-12 SEC) allowed the first three batters of the game to reach via the walk, and all three came around to score. Missouri (32-10, 10-5 SEC) also scored after a throwing error put a leadoff batter on third and after two passed balls advanced and scored a runner.
When the first two batters reached in the bottom of the sixth in a tie ballgame, Ricketts turned to Alyssa Loza to get MSU out of the jam. She quickly got two outs, but a ground ball up the middle resulted in the game's winning run. Madisyn Kennedy made a diving stop to keep the ball in the infield but could not throw out a speedy pinch runner at the plate who scored from second.
"Loza did exactly what her job was, which was to come in and attack the lefties who she's had success with and get ground balls," Ricketts said. "They're a powerful team. They're a quick team, and they made a great play. Madi made a great play to keep it on the infield, but that would've been a tough play to throw her out. I think Loza did a great job in a tough situation to come in and get out of that."
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Mia Davidson's 200th hit:"She's had 200 hits and 60-plus of them have been home runs. Both numbers are impressive in their own right. She's left her name all over the Mississippi State offensive record books, and it's been fun to see her continue to do so and break record after record over her four years."
Quick Hitters
Mia Davidson – Recorded her 200th career hit on a home run to left field.Madisyn Kennedy – Went 2-for-3 with a run scored … Doubled in the sixth to spark the game-tying rally.
Fa Leilua – Hit her 45th home run in Maroon and White to take sole possession of second in school history on her birthday.
Chloe Malau'ulu – Delivered a two-RBI single to tie the game in the sixth.
Annie Willis – Allowed just one earned run in 5.0 innings of relief work.
Scoring Recap
Top 1Chloe Malau'ulu walked to lead off the ballgame. Fa Leilua hit a two-run homer to left-center field.
Mississippi State 2, Missouri 0
Bottom 1
The first three batters, Brooke Wilmes, Jenna Laird and Hatti Moore, all walked. Casidy Chaumont hit a hard grounder to first base and reached on a fielding error that allowed Wilmes to score. Kim Wert then singled home Laird and Moore.
Mississippi State 2, Missouri 3
Bottom 2
Abby George legged out an infield single and advanced to third when the throw was errant. Wilmes drove her in with a single up the middle.
Mississippi State 2, Missouri 4
Top 5
Mia Davidson homered down the left field line.
Mississippi State 3, Missouri 4
Bottom 5
Laird singled to center field then took second on a passed ball. Moore walked, but the catcher attempted to pick off Laird and threw the ball into center field. Laird advanced to third. Chaumont drew a walk with ball four escaping the catcher and allowing Laird to score.
Mississippi State 3, Missouri 5
Top 6
With one out, Addison Purvis singled to left. She was pinch ran for by Christian Quinn. Missouri made a pitching change before Madisyn Kennedy hit a double off the wall just inside the left field foul pole to put runners at second and third. Malau'ulu drove a base hit up the middle to score both runners.
Mississippi State 5, Missouri 5
Bottom 6
Emma Raabe doubled to open the frame. Kendyll Bailey then walked. With two outs, Laird singled to a diving shortstop, and Raabe scored from second on the play.
Mississippi State 5, Missouri 6
On Deck
The Bulldogs return home to host Jackson State for a doubleheader on April 20. Both games will air on SEC Network+, and the first game is set to start at 4 p.m. CT.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Emma Nichols (6-2)
L: Willis, Annie (13-6)
S: Jordan Weber (1)
Batting:
2B: Kennedy, Madisyn 1
HR: Leilua, Fa 1 ; Davidson, Mia 1
RBI: Malau'ulu, Chloe 2 ; Leilua, Fa 2 ; Davidson, Mia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Malau'ulu, Chloe 1 ; Leilua, Fa 1 ; Davidson, Mia 1 ; Quinn, Christian 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1
HBP: Davidson, Mia 1
Batting:
2B: Emma Raabe 1
RBI: Brooke Wilmes 1 ; Jenna Laird 1 ; Casidy Chaumont 1 ; Kim Wert 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Brooke Wilmes 1 ; Jenna Laird 2 ; Hatti Moore 1 ; Imani Myint 1 ; Abby George 1
CS: Brooke Wilmes 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
rf/dp
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/INF
/ Softball
SS/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
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