Friday, March 1
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
13-3
12
vs
2
Troy
15-5
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Troy
1
0
0
1
0
2
3
0
Mississippi State
8
4
0
0
X
12
10
0
First-Inning Explosion Leads State To Run-Rule Victory
March 01, 2024 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Twelve runs in the first two innings were all No. 24/23 Mississippi State needed on Friday night as the Bulldogs cruised to a 12-2 victory against Troy in five innings.
The first six Bulldogs to the plate all scored before an out was recorded. State (13-3) sent 14 batters to the plate in the frame and collected seven hits. The biggest swing of the night was Jessie Blaine's grand slam in the first.
"I was really proud of the way we answered right back in the first, giving up a run in the top of the first, and then just no panic," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I thought the offense did a great job of responding and really sticking to the gameplans and just stringing together a lot of well-struck balls. We got the lead right back and then really just extended it there. This is something we've been working on, not going away and extending the lead when we have it. Jessie, getting a great pitch, did exactly what she was looking to do there and up and down the lineup just really quality at-bats from everyone."
Paige Cook could not be retired. She collected two hits and three RBIs in the first inning and launched a three-run double, her second extra-base hit of the night, in the second. Cook finished one RBI shy of her own single-game school record.
Aspen Wesley picked up her fifth win, tossing 3.0 innings and striking out five. Matalasi Faapito closed out the ballgame and struck out one.
"It's going to be a challenging rest of the weekend, starting off a little bit backwards with the single game, single game and then back-to-back double-headers. It'll be a good challenge for us to see, especially after two run-rules, how we respond and can we stay focused. I think, mentally, that's something we've been talking about a lot, bringing our best approach to every single game and doing it throughout the weekend. That may be fading away as the games go on, so I'm excited to see how they come back tomorrow. It's a short turn around, but we have a lot of veteran leadership, a lot of maturity in that dugout, and they're doing a great job of doing everything together. I think that's really fun to watch them do."
Jessie Blaine on her grand slam in the first inning…
"We always try to score first, score often and as much as we can early on in a game to get momentum in our favor. It's just great to put runs on the board and lock in some RBIs."
Paige Cook on her day at the plate…
"In BP I kept telling myself to see the ball deep and hit it hard. I think the coaches definitely had a good gameplan going in, and it definitely prepared us for that game."
Nadia Barbary – Tied her career high with three walks.
Jessie Blaine – Hit her first career grand slam … homer was her team-leading fourth of the year … it was MSU's first grand slam since April 29, 2023, against Kentucky (Shea Moreno) … grand slam was the 50th in program history.
Paige Cook – Hit her sixth and seventh doubles of the season, which leads the team … tied her season high with three RBIs in the first inning alone … finished with a season-high six RBIs and season-high three hits … came one RBI shy of her single-game school record (7) set March 30, 2022, at Middle Tennessee … also stole a base.
Madisyn Kennedy - Walked twice in the first inning to load the bases both times … tied her career high in walks.
Sierra Sacco – Singled twice and scored twice in the first inning … stole her eighth base of the season … walked in the second to reach in all three trips.
D'Aun Riggs led off the inning for the Trojans with a triple to right field. Taylor McKinney drew a one-out walk. Libby Baker hit a sacrifice fly to left field, and Riggs scored while McKinney advanced to second.
Troy 1, No. 24 Mississippi State 0
Bottom 1
Sierra Sacco started the inning with a bunt single down the third base line and stole second base. Nadia Barbary drew a walk before Paige Cook doubled to center field. That scored Sacco and advanced Barbary to third. Madisyn Kennedy drew a walk to load the bases. Salen Hawkins hit a single up the middle, scoring Barbary. Jessie Blaine hit a grand slam to center field. Brylie St. Clair beat out a bunt single to the pitcher and advanced to second on Sacco's single to left field. Barbary walked to load the bases again. Cook singled to right field, scoring St. Clair and Sacco and advancing Barbary to third.
Troy 1, No. 24 Mississippi State 8
Bottom 3
Ella Wesolowski singled up the middle and advanced to second on Kylee Edwards' single through the left side. Sacco walked to load the bases. Barbary walked to score Wesolowski. Cook doubled the remaining runners home.
Troy 1, No. 24 Mississippi State 12
Top 4
Audra Thompson reached first on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on Cassidy's Boltz single to the left side. Anslee Finch singled to right field to load the bases. Mia Tidmore reached first on fielder's choice; Thompson scored.
Troy 2, No. 24 Mississippi State 12
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
The first six Bulldogs to the plate all scored before an out was recorded. State (13-3) sent 14 batters to the plate in the frame and collected seven hits. The biggest swing of the night was Jessie Blaine's grand slam in the first.
"I was really proud of the way we answered right back in the first, giving up a run in the top of the first, and then just no panic," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I thought the offense did a great job of responding and really sticking to the gameplans and just stringing together a lot of well-struck balls. We got the lead right back and then really just extended it there. This is something we've been working on, not going away and extending the lead when we have it. Jessie, getting a great pitch, did exactly what she was looking to do there and up and down the lineup just really quality at-bats from everyone."
Paige Cook could not be retired. She collected two hits and three RBIs in the first inning and launched a three-run double, her second extra-base hit of the night, in the second. Cook finished one RBI shy of her own single-game school record.
Aspen Wesley picked up her fifth win, tossing 3.0 innings and striking out five. Matalasi Faapito closed out the ballgame and struck out one.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on how tonight sets up the rest of the tournament…"It's going to be a challenging rest of the weekend, starting off a little bit backwards with the single game, single game and then back-to-back double-headers. It'll be a good challenge for us to see, especially after two run-rules, how we respond and can we stay focused. I think, mentally, that's something we've been talking about a lot, bringing our best approach to every single game and doing it throughout the weekend. That may be fading away as the games go on, so I'm excited to see how they come back tomorrow. It's a short turn around, but we have a lot of veteran leadership, a lot of maturity in that dugout, and they're doing a great job of doing everything together. I think that's really fun to watch them do."
Jessie Blaine on her grand slam in the first inning…
"We always try to score first, score often and as much as we can early on in a game to get momentum in our favor. It's just great to put runs on the board and lock in some RBIs."
Paige Cook on her day at the plate…
"In BP I kept telling myself to see the ball deep and hit it hard. I think the coaches definitely had a good gameplan going in, and it definitely prepared us for that game."
Quick Hitters
Everybody Up – The Bulldogs sent 14 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring eight runs on seven hits in the frame … it was the most batters in an inning for State over the last two seasons … additionally, every Bulldog starter reached base in the contest.Nadia Barbary – Tied her career high with three walks.
Jessie Blaine – Hit her first career grand slam … homer was her team-leading fourth of the year … it was MSU's first grand slam since April 29, 2023, against Kentucky (Shea Moreno) … grand slam was the 50th in program history.
Paige Cook – Hit her sixth and seventh doubles of the season, which leads the team … tied her season high with three RBIs in the first inning alone … finished with a season-high six RBIs and season-high three hits … came one RBI shy of her single-game school record (7) set March 30, 2022, at Middle Tennessee … also stole a base.
Madisyn Kennedy - Walked twice in the first inning to load the bases both times … tied her career high in walks.
Sierra Sacco – Singled twice and scored twice in the first inning … stole her eighth base of the season … walked in the second to reach in all three trips.
Scoring Recap
Top 1 D'Aun Riggs led off the inning for the Trojans with a triple to right field. Taylor McKinney drew a one-out walk. Libby Baker hit a sacrifice fly to left field, and Riggs scored while McKinney advanced to second.
Troy 1, No. 24 Mississippi State 0
Bottom 1
Sierra Sacco started the inning with a bunt single down the third base line and stole second base. Nadia Barbary drew a walk before Paige Cook doubled to center field. That scored Sacco and advanced Barbary to third. Madisyn Kennedy drew a walk to load the bases. Salen Hawkins hit a single up the middle, scoring Barbary. Jessie Blaine hit a grand slam to center field. Brylie St. Clair beat out a bunt single to the pitcher and advanced to second on Sacco's single to left field. Barbary walked to load the bases again. Cook singled to right field, scoring St. Clair and Sacco and advancing Barbary to third.
Troy 1, No. 24 Mississippi State 8
Bottom 3
Ella Wesolowski singled up the middle and advanced to second on Kylee Edwards' single through the left side. Sacco walked to load the bases. Barbary walked to score Wesolowski. Cook doubled the remaining runners home.
Troy 1, No. 24 Mississippi State 12
Top 4
Audra Thompson reached first on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on Cassidy's Boltz single to the left side. Anslee Finch singled to right field to load the bases. Mia Tidmore reached first on fielder's choice; Thompson scored.
Troy 2, No. 24 Mississippi State 12
Next Up
State will face Alcorn State on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CT before a rematch with the Trojans at 2 p.m. Both games will air on SEC Network+.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wesley, Aspen (5-1)
L: Pittman, Haley (3-2)
Batting:
3B: Riggs, D'Aun 1
RBI: Baker, Libby 1 ; Tidmore, Mia 1
SF: Baker, Libby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Riggs, D'Aun 1 ; Thompson, Audra 1
HBP: Thompson, Audra 1
Batting:
2B: Cook, Paige 2
HR: Blaine, Jessie 1
RBI: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Cook, Paige 6 ; Hawkins, Salen 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 3 ; Barbary, Nadia 2 ; Cook, Paige 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1 ; Hawkins, Salen 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Wesolowski, Ella 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; St. Clair, Brylie 1
SB: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Cook, Paige 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
6
AB
2
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballC/OF
/ SoftballUTL
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INF
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P
/ SoftballINF
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INF
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C/INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/OF
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