Sunday, March 17
Starkville
11:00 AM
Mississippi State
21-6, 3-3
6
vs
5
#13 Texas A&M
25-3, 5-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Texas A&M
3
1
0
0
0
0
1
5
4
0
Mississippi State
3
0
0
1
0
2
X
6
7
0
State Battles Back To Claim Series Finale Against No. 13 Texas A&M
March 17, 2024 | Softball
STARKVILLE – The Bulldogs had an answer for everything. After falling behind twice on Sunday, No. 21 Mississippi State rallied to defeat No. 13 Texas A&M, 6-5, in the series finale.
The Aggies (25-3, 5-1 SEC) took a 3-0 lead on an Aiyana Coleman homer in the first, but Madisyn Kennedy responded with her own three-run blast in the bottom of the inning. Kennedy now has seven homers across her last six games.
"I'm just really proud of this squad, and the way they came out," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I think, after yesterday, we knew we were going to learn a lot about ourselves and really just in the way that we responded. Win, lose or draw it was going to be about our response and did we come out ready to fight or were we going to be discouraged by the outcome yesterday. I thought they did a great job. Even after getting down early, there was no panic. It was just a lot of trust. Let's do it together. Let's answer back, and really I just thought a great team effort all the way around."
Jazmine Hill hit a solo shot in the top of the second to give Texas A&M its second lead of the day, but from there Aspen Wesley was locked in in the circle. Wesley retired the next 13 hitters in order on her way to her fourth complete game of the season. She also finished the day with a career-high-tying nine strikeouts while picking up her seventh victory of the year.
The Bulldogs (21-6, 3-3 SEC) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a Nadia Barbary double that scored Brylie St. Clair. They took their final lead of the day in the sixth. After Jessie Blaine doubled to open the inning as a pinch hitter, St. Clair came back in to run for her. She scored the go-ahead run two batters later on a passed ball. Barbary would come home for the winning run on Ella Wesolowski's two-out single.
Texas A&M added another solo homer in the seventh, but Wesley fielded her position on a bunt and got two quick pop ups to third to end the ballgame.
"It was really good that we faced her yesterday and were able to watch film this morning on her from the game yesterday to find out what we needed to work on and fix. But we were also able to know what to focus on and what pitches we wanted to hit, and that showed today. After those two changeups, I was like, I can stay late, and if it's fast foul it off, and if it's another changeup, I was ready for it. It was just trusting myself and trusting the plan and scouting report we did this morning, and it showed."
Aspen Wesley on her mental toughness to come back in the circle after giving up two home runs early in the game…
"It's a dogfight. It's a dogfight every single day. It's the SEC. These are good hitters. There were some pitches that weren't going my way, but same for them. It wasn't going their way either. I talked to the whole infield before we were about to start the third or fourth inning, and I told them 'Listen they are a good hitting team. They are going to hit it hard somewhere. I am going to have to pitch my strike zone a little bit, so they are going to hit it somewhere. Just be ready to attack.' That's my game after the third inning. I was like just spin the ball, and if they hit it, so what? My defense has got me."
Samantha Ricketts on Aspen Wesley…
"A big credit to Aspen. She got better as the game went on. After that first inning, she just really locked down and kept us in the fight long enough to get her some extra runs. I'm so proud of her, proud of the group, and I think just overall proud of the fight and the resiliency that they showed today."
Samantha Ricketts on State's defense…
"I think just again, just locked in and willing to do whatever it took to keep us going and keep us in there. We couldn't see Nadia's catch – it sounded like it was really good – from our vantage point in the dugout. Brylie's catch was huge, and just making the routine plays is huge. That's something yesterday that got away from us a little bit. I thought just the overall focus, the intensity, the way that we attacked. It was a lot more being on the attack, whether it was defensively or offensively, instead of being complacent, sitting back and waiting for something to happen for us."
Jessie Blaine – Hit a pinch-hit double off the first pitch she saw that led to the go-ahead run.
Matalasi Faapito – Drew two walks and was hit by a pitch to reach base three times.
Madisyn Kennedy – Hit her 11th home run of the season … homer was the first Texas A&M's Emiley Kennedy allowed this season … now has seven homers in her last six games and 34 for her career … has had three or more RBIs in four of the last five games … extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 14 games, which is the longest on the team this season.
Brylie St. Clair – Made a diving catch in left in the sixth … scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball ... also drew a walk.
Aspen Wesley – Struck out five straight hitters across the second through fourth innings … finished the day with nine strikeouts, tying with her career high … retired 13 straight after surrendering a solo homer for the Aggies' fourth run.
Ella Wesolowski - Had one hit to drive in the game-winning run in the sixth inning.
With one out, Jazmine Hill walked. With two outs, Julia Cottrill walked. Next at bat, Aiyana Coleman hit a three-run homer to right-center field.
No. 13 Texas A&M 3, No. 21 Mississippi State 0
Bottom 1
Sierra Sacco and Nadia Barbary opened the inning with back-to-back walks. Madisyn Kennedy hit a three-run home run to left-center.
No. 13 Texas A&M 3, No. 21 Mississippi State 3
Top 2
With two outs, Jazmine Hill hit a solo home run to center field.
No. 13 Texas A&M 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 4
With one down, Brylie St. Clair walked. With two outs, Barbary doubled to left-center field, scoring St. Clair.
No. 13 Texas A&M 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 4
Bottom 6
Jessie Blaine delivered a pinch-hit double on the inning's first pitch, and St. Clair re-entered to run at first. Sacco beat out a bunt down the third base line to reach base and advance St. Clair to third. Barbary reached base on a fielder's choice, that saw Sacco retired at second. St. Clair scored from third on a passed ball, and Barbary advanced to second. Kennedy walked. With two outs, the runners moved to second and third on a passed ball. Matalasi Faapito walked to load the bases, and Ella Wesolowski singled home Barbary for what would stand as the game-winning run.
No. 13 Texas A&M 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 6
Top 7
Rylen Wiggins hit a solo home run to left center.
No. 13 Texas A&M 5, No. 21 Mississippi State 6
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
The Aggies (25-3, 5-1 SEC) took a 3-0 lead on an Aiyana Coleman homer in the first, but Madisyn Kennedy responded with her own three-run blast in the bottom of the inning. Kennedy now has seven homers across her last six games.
"I'm just really proud of this squad, and the way they came out," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I think, after yesterday, we knew we were going to learn a lot about ourselves and really just in the way that we responded. Win, lose or draw it was going to be about our response and did we come out ready to fight or were we going to be discouraged by the outcome yesterday. I thought they did a great job. Even after getting down early, there was no panic. It was just a lot of trust. Let's do it together. Let's answer back, and really I just thought a great team effort all the way around."
Jazmine Hill hit a solo shot in the top of the second to give Texas A&M its second lead of the day, but from there Aspen Wesley was locked in in the circle. Wesley retired the next 13 hitters in order on her way to her fourth complete game of the season. She also finished the day with a career-high-tying nine strikeouts while picking up her seventh victory of the year.
The Bulldogs (21-6, 3-3 SEC) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a Nadia Barbary double that scored Brylie St. Clair. They took their final lead of the day in the sixth. After Jessie Blaine doubled to open the inning as a pinch hitter, St. Clair came back in to run for her. She scored the go-ahead run two batters later on a passed ball. Barbary would come home for the winning run on Ella Wesolowski's two-out single.
Texas A&M added another solo homer in the seventh, but Wesley fielded her position on a bunt and got two quick pop ups to third to end the ballgame.
Quotables
Nadia Barbary on hitting off of Texas A&M ace Emiley Kennedy, including her RBI double…"It was really good that we faced her yesterday and were able to watch film this morning on her from the game yesterday to find out what we needed to work on and fix. But we were also able to know what to focus on and what pitches we wanted to hit, and that showed today. After those two changeups, I was like, I can stay late, and if it's fast foul it off, and if it's another changeup, I was ready for it. It was just trusting myself and trusting the plan and scouting report we did this morning, and it showed."
Aspen Wesley on her mental toughness to come back in the circle after giving up two home runs early in the game…
"It's a dogfight. It's a dogfight every single day. It's the SEC. These are good hitters. There were some pitches that weren't going my way, but same for them. It wasn't going their way either. I talked to the whole infield before we were about to start the third or fourth inning, and I told them 'Listen they are a good hitting team. They are going to hit it hard somewhere. I am going to have to pitch my strike zone a little bit, so they are going to hit it somewhere. Just be ready to attack.' That's my game after the third inning. I was like just spin the ball, and if they hit it, so what? My defense has got me."
Samantha Ricketts on Aspen Wesley…
"A big credit to Aspen. She got better as the game went on. After that first inning, she just really locked down and kept us in the fight long enough to get her some extra runs. I'm so proud of her, proud of the group, and I think just overall proud of the fight and the resiliency that they showed today."
Samantha Ricketts on State's defense…
"I think just again, just locked in and willing to do whatever it took to keep us going and keep us in there. We couldn't see Nadia's catch – it sounded like it was really good – from our vantage point in the dugout. Brylie's catch was huge, and just making the routine plays is huge. That's something yesterday that got away from us a little bit. I thought just the overall focus, the intensity, the way that we attacked. It was a lot more being on the attack, whether it was defensively or offensively, instead of being complacent, sitting back and waiting for something to happen for us."
Quick Hitters
Nadia Barbary – Collected her team-leading eighth multi-hit game of the year … drove an RBI double … reached in three trips to the plate, adding a walk.Jessie Blaine – Hit a pinch-hit double off the first pitch she saw that led to the go-ahead run.
Matalasi Faapito – Drew two walks and was hit by a pitch to reach base three times.
Madisyn Kennedy – Hit her 11th home run of the season … homer was the first Texas A&M's Emiley Kennedy allowed this season … now has seven homers in her last six games and 34 for her career … has had three or more RBIs in four of the last five games … extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 14 games, which is the longest on the team this season.
Brylie St. Clair – Made a diving catch in left in the sixth … scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball ... also drew a walk.
Aspen Wesley – Struck out five straight hitters across the second through fourth innings … finished the day with nine strikeouts, tying with her career high … retired 13 straight after surrendering a solo homer for the Aggies' fourth run.
Ella Wesolowski - Had one hit to drive in the game-winning run in the sixth inning.
Scoring Recap
Top 1With one out, Jazmine Hill walked. With two outs, Julia Cottrill walked. Next at bat, Aiyana Coleman hit a three-run homer to right-center field.
No. 13 Texas A&M 3, No. 21 Mississippi State 0
Bottom 1
Sierra Sacco and Nadia Barbary opened the inning with back-to-back walks. Madisyn Kennedy hit a three-run home run to left-center.
No. 13 Texas A&M 3, No. 21 Mississippi State 3
Top 2
With two outs, Jazmine Hill hit a solo home run to center field.
No. 13 Texas A&M 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 4
With one down, Brylie St. Clair walked. With two outs, Barbary doubled to left-center field, scoring St. Clair.
No. 13 Texas A&M 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 4
Bottom 6
Jessie Blaine delivered a pinch-hit double on the inning's first pitch, and St. Clair re-entered to run at first. Sacco beat out a bunt down the third base line to reach base and advance St. Clair to third. Barbary reached base on a fielder's choice, that saw Sacco retired at second. St. Clair scored from third on a passed ball, and Barbary advanced to second. Kennedy walked. With two outs, the runners moved to second and third on a passed ball. Matalasi Faapito walked to load the bases, and Ella Wesolowski singled home Barbary for what would stand as the game-winning run.
No. 13 Texas A&M 4, No. 21 Mississippi State 6
Top 7
Rylen Wiggins hit a solo home run to left center.
No. 13 Texas A&M 5, No. 21 Mississippi State 6
Next Up
The Bulldogs hit the road next week for four games. Though originally scheduled to travel to Montgomery, Alabama, for a doubleheader at Alabama State on Wednesday, March 20, the Bulldogs will now play just once at 3 p.m. CT due to injuries in the Alabama State program. State then heads to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to meet the No. 20 Razorbacks for three games on March 22-24.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wesley, Aspen (7-2)
L: Emiley Kennedy (13-2)
Batting:
HR: Jazmine Hill 1 ; Aiyana Coleman 1 ; Rylen Wiggins 1
RBI: Jazmine Hill 1 ; Aiyana Coleman 3 ; Rylen Wiggins 1
SH: Kennedy Powell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jazmine Hill 2 ; Julia Cottrill 1 ; Aiyana Coleman 1 ; Rylen Wiggins 1
Batting:
2B: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1
HR: Kennedy, Madisyn 1
RBI: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 3 ; Wesolowski, Ella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 2 ; Kennedy, Madisyn 1 ; St. Clair, Brylie 2
HBP: Faapito, Matalasi 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
1b/dp
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/OF
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