Saturday, April 26
Lexington, Ky.
12:30 p.m.
Mississippi State
34-14, 10-9
12
at
2
Kentucky
28-21, 6-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Mississippi State
2
0
0
0
1
1
8
12
13
1
Kentucky
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
3
1
Hull Collects Career Highs In Hits In Homecoming As Bulldogs Split Doubleheader At Kentucky
April 26, 2025 | Softball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Saturday's doubleheader between No. 17 Mississippi State and Kentucky featured two very different games. State claimed the first game 12-2, but the Wildcats responded with a 14-8 victory of their own to even the series.
Mississippi State hit four homers in the two games, with Nadia Barbary delivering a two-run shot in Game 1 and a three-run blast in the second contest. Kentucky native Riley Hull was 3-for-4 in the Bulldog victory, posting a career high in hits to go along with a walk and an RBI. Ella Wesolowski also had a multi-hit game, including a home run in the opener.
Raelin Chaffin tossed her 15th complete game to earn her 19th win of the year while striking out eight.
"We talk about this all the time – you have to be ready every single game, every weekend in the SEC," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Everyone in this conference is a postseason type of team, and we've got to find a way to regroup and come out ready for another battle tomorrow."
In Game 2, Kylee Edwards homered to open the scoring in the first. Kiarra Sells tied the game at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly in the second, but Kentucky (29-21, 7-13 SEC) immediately answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. From there, the Wildcats scored four runs in both the third and the fourth to build their lead. Barbary's homer and an RBI groundout along with a two-run single from Morgan Stiles accounted for the rest of the Bulldogs' (34-15, 10-10 SEC) scoring.
"I'm just really proud for Riley. She's worked over the last few weeks just to get back to where she was feeling confident again in the box. You know, it's really special in her homecoming – being back in her home state – for her to have the day she did. I think you could just see her having fun, being confident and swinging the bat with authority."
Samantha Ricketts on Nadia Barbary reaching double-digit home runs this year…
"It's really, really cool when you get to see players continuing to get better as upperclassmen. She's really been grinding the last couple of weeks to really find her swing again. I thought she did a great job of really handling some of the pressure and the failure lately. That's really what hitting is – how do you bounce back mentally. To have a big day shows her maturity and how she works hard and approaches the game each day."
Nadia Barbary – Homered in both games … now tied for second on the team with 10 multi-RBI games and 16 multi-hit games … has matched her career-long hitting streak at eight consecutive games … collected six RBIs on Saturday for a single-season career-high 41 on the year … reached double-digit homers for the first time in her career … went 3-for-4 in Game 2 with a career-high-tying four RBIs.
Jessie Blaine – Singled home a run in Game 1 to extend her season-long hitting streak to five games … drew a career-high four walks in four plate appearances in Game 2, tying the MSU single-game record … has reached base safely in eight consecutive games.
Raelin Chaffin – Tossed her 15th complete game to earn her 19th win of the season … ranks eighth in MSU single-season history in wins and tied for sixth for wins in conference play (8) … struck out eight … allowed just three hits.
Kylee Edwards – Walked twice in Game 1 … homered in Game 2 … home run was her ninth of the year and gave her 17 extra-base hits after recording just 15 last year.
Riley Hull – Finished the day 6-for-8 with a career-high three hits in both games … now has four multi-hit games this year … entered the day 1-for-9 in her career against the Wildcats and is now 7-for-17 (.418) with three walks.
Sierra Sacco – With her leadoff double in Game 1, she totaled 27 extra-base hits for the season, which is as many extra-base hits as she had in the first three years of her career combined … State is now 61-12 when she scores a run … riding a four-game hitting streak.
Morgan Stiles – Extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 11 games … collected two RBIs in both games and now has nine multi-RBI games this year … collected a career-high three hits for her seventh multi-hit game in Game 1.
Ella Wesolowski – Hit a three-run homer in a two-hit Game 1 … marked back-to-back games with a homer … caught a runner stealing for the sixth time this year … has caught 6-of-14 runners trying to steal (42.9 percent) this year.
Sierra Sacco opened the game with a leadoff double. With one out, Kylee Edwards grounded out to second, advancing Sacco to third. She scored on Morgan Stiles' single up the middle that deflected off the second base bag. Morgan Bernardini then walked before Jessie Blaine drove in Stiles from second with a single into shallow centerfield.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 0
Bottom 4
Peyton Plotts hit a leadoff homer to centerfield.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 1
Top 5
Edwards drew a leadoff walk. With two outs, Blaine reached on a fielding error that allowed Edwards to advance to second. Lexi Sosa drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases. Riley Hull drove in Edwards with a single through the left side.
No. 17 Mississippi State 3, Kentucky 1
Top 6
Kiarra Sells was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and Sacco followed with a walk. Nadia Barbary bunted the runners over to second and third. Edwards walked to load the bases before Stiles brought Sells home on a ground ball that was misplayed by the shortstop.
No. 17 Mississippi State 4, Kentucky 1
Top 7
Ella Wesolowski singled through the left side to open the inning. Hull doubled to put runners on second and third. Sells brought Wesolowski home on a single to left field, and Hull advanced to third. Sells then stole second before Sacco's ground out to second scored Hull. Barbary hit a two-run homer to left-center. Edwards singled up the middle, and Stiles singled to center, advancing to second on the throw to third that was not in time to catch Edwards. Xiane Romero pinch hit and delivered a sacrifice fly to right-center field to score Edwards and push Stiles to third. Wesolowski hit a three-run homer.
No. 17 Mississippi State 12, Kentucky 1
Bottom 7
Hallie Mitchell hit a leadoff homer.
No. 17 Mississippi State 12, Kentucky 2
Kylee Edwards homered with two outs.
No. 17 Mississippi State 1, Kentucky 0
Bottom 1
Following Ally Hutchins' leadoff walk, Peyton Plotts hit a two-run homer to right field.
No. 17 Mississippi State 1, Kentucky 2
Top 2
Jessie Blaine drew a leadoff walk. With one out, Ella Wesolowski walked, and Riley Hull singled down the right field line to load the bases. Kiarra Sells hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Blaine.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 2
Bottom 2
Madyson Clark was hit by a pitch to start the inning before Karissa Hamilton hit a two-run homer.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 4
Bottom 3
Allie Blum led off with a solo homer to left field. With one out, Hallie Mitchell singled through the left side. She tagged up and took second on Cassie Reasner's foul out down the right field line. Clark singled on a high chopper over the first baseman's head, scoring Mitchell. Hamilton doubled Clark home before scoring on a base hit from Emory Donaldson.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 8
Top 4
Wesolowski walked, and Gretta Grassel pinch ran at first base. With one out, Sells singled through the left side. Sierra Sacco reached on a fielder's choice after the shortstop couldn't snag a liner over her head but recovered in time to throw out Grassel at third. Nadia Barbary hit a three-run homer with two outs.
No. 17 Mississippi State 5, Kentucky 8
Bottom 4
With one out, Blum singled through the left side and scored on Lauryn Borzilleri's double to right-center. Borzilleri took third on the throw home. Mitchell walked to put runners on the corners before Reasner doubled to left field, scoring Borzilleri and pushing Mitchell to third. Clark singled up the middle to score Mitchell before Reasner was thrown out at the plate. Clark took second on the throw, and she scored on a soft liner from Hamilton to the shortstop that was lost in the sun.
No. 17 Mississippi State 5, Kentucky 12
Top 6
Hull led off with a single up the middle. With two outs, Barbary beat out a single to shortstop, and Abby Grace Richardson pinch ran at first. Edwards was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Stiles drove in Hull and Richardson.
No. 17 Mississippi State 7, Kentucky 12
Bottom 6
Reasner singled to left to lead off. With one out, Hamilton homered to left.
No. 17 Mississippi State 7, Kentucky 14
Top 7
With one out, Hull and Sells collected back-to-back singles. Sacco singled to left to load the bases. Hull scored on Barbary's ground out to short.
No. 17 Mississippi State 8, Kentucky 14
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Mississippi State hit four homers in the two games, with Nadia Barbary delivering a two-run shot in Game 1 and a three-run blast in the second contest. Kentucky native Riley Hull was 3-for-4 in the Bulldog victory, posting a career high in hits to go along with a walk and an RBI. Ella Wesolowski also had a multi-hit game, including a home run in the opener.
Raelin Chaffin tossed her 15th complete game to earn her 19th win of the year while striking out eight.
"We talk about this all the time – you have to be ready every single game, every weekend in the SEC," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Everyone in this conference is a postseason type of team, and we've got to find a way to regroup and come out ready for another battle tomorrow."
In Game 2, Kylee Edwards homered to open the scoring in the first. Kiarra Sells tied the game at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly in the second, but Kentucky (29-21, 7-13 SEC) immediately answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. From there, the Wildcats scored four runs in both the third and the fourth to build their lead. Barbary's homer and an RBI groundout along with a two-run single from Morgan Stiles accounted for the rest of the Bulldogs' (34-15, 10-10 SEC) scoring.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Riley Hull's day at the plate…"I'm just really proud for Riley. She's worked over the last few weeks just to get back to where she was feeling confident again in the box. You know, it's really special in her homecoming – being back in her home state – for her to have the day she did. I think you could just see her having fun, being confident and swinging the bat with authority."
Samantha Ricketts on Nadia Barbary reaching double-digit home runs this year…
"It's really, really cool when you get to see players continuing to get better as upperclassmen. She's really been grinding the last couple of weeks to really find her swing again. I thought she did a great job of really handling some of the pressure and the failure lately. That's really what hitting is – how do you bounce back mentally. To have a big day shows her maturity and how she works hard and approaches the game each day."
Quick Hitters
Dawg Days of Doubleheaders – Mississippi State tied the SEC record for doubleheaders in conference play on Saturday with their fifth of the year … since the league switched to a 24-game schedule format in 2013, only LSU (2021) has played five doubleheaders in a single season of SEC play … four of State's five doubleheaders in league play have been split between the teams.Nadia Barbary – Homered in both games … now tied for second on the team with 10 multi-RBI games and 16 multi-hit games … has matched her career-long hitting streak at eight consecutive games … collected six RBIs on Saturday for a single-season career-high 41 on the year … reached double-digit homers for the first time in her career … went 3-for-4 in Game 2 with a career-high-tying four RBIs.
Jessie Blaine – Singled home a run in Game 1 to extend her season-long hitting streak to five games … drew a career-high four walks in four plate appearances in Game 2, tying the MSU single-game record … has reached base safely in eight consecutive games.
Raelin Chaffin – Tossed her 15th complete game to earn her 19th win of the season … ranks eighth in MSU single-season history in wins and tied for sixth for wins in conference play (8) … struck out eight … allowed just three hits.
Kylee Edwards – Walked twice in Game 1 … homered in Game 2 … home run was her ninth of the year and gave her 17 extra-base hits after recording just 15 last year.
Riley Hull – Finished the day 6-for-8 with a career-high three hits in both games … now has four multi-hit games this year … entered the day 1-for-9 in her career against the Wildcats and is now 7-for-17 (.418) with three walks.
Sierra Sacco – With her leadoff double in Game 1, she totaled 27 extra-base hits for the season, which is as many extra-base hits as she had in the first three years of her career combined … State is now 61-12 when she scores a run … riding a four-game hitting streak.
Morgan Stiles – Extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 11 games … collected two RBIs in both games and now has nine multi-RBI games this year … collected a career-high three hits for her seventh multi-hit game in Game 1.
Ella Wesolowski – Hit a three-run homer in a two-hit Game 1 … marked back-to-back games with a homer … caught a runner stealing for the sixth time this year … has caught 6-of-14 runners trying to steal (42.9 percent) this year.
Game 1 Soring Recap
Top 1Sierra Sacco opened the game with a leadoff double. With one out, Kylee Edwards grounded out to second, advancing Sacco to third. She scored on Morgan Stiles' single up the middle that deflected off the second base bag. Morgan Bernardini then walked before Jessie Blaine drove in Stiles from second with a single into shallow centerfield.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 0
Bottom 4
Peyton Plotts hit a leadoff homer to centerfield.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 1
Top 5
Edwards drew a leadoff walk. With two outs, Blaine reached on a fielding error that allowed Edwards to advance to second. Lexi Sosa drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases. Riley Hull drove in Edwards with a single through the left side.
No. 17 Mississippi State 3, Kentucky 1
Top 6
Kiarra Sells was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and Sacco followed with a walk. Nadia Barbary bunted the runners over to second and third. Edwards walked to load the bases before Stiles brought Sells home on a ground ball that was misplayed by the shortstop.
No. 17 Mississippi State 4, Kentucky 1
Top 7
Ella Wesolowski singled through the left side to open the inning. Hull doubled to put runners on second and third. Sells brought Wesolowski home on a single to left field, and Hull advanced to third. Sells then stole second before Sacco's ground out to second scored Hull. Barbary hit a two-run homer to left-center. Edwards singled up the middle, and Stiles singled to center, advancing to second on the throw to third that was not in time to catch Edwards. Xiane Romero pinch hit and delivered a sacrifice fly to right-center field to score Edwards and push Stiles to third. Wesolowski hit a three-run homer.
No. 17 Mississippi State 12, Kentucky 1
Bottom 7
Hallie Mitchell hit a leadoff homer.
No. 17 Mississippi State 12, Kentucky 2
Game 2 Soring Recap
Top 1Kylee Edwards homered with two outs.
No. 17 Mississippi State 1, Kentucky 0
Bottom 1
Following Ally Hutchins' leadoff walk, Peyton Plotts hit a two-run homer to right field.
No. 17 Mississippi State 1, Kentucky 2
Top 2
Jessie Blaine drew a leadoff walk. With one out, Ella Wesolowski walked, and Riley Hull singled down the right field line to load the bases. Kiarra Sells hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Blaine.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 2
Bottom 2
Madyson Clark was hit by a pitch to start the inning before Karissa Hamilton hit a two-run homer.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 4
Bottom 3
Allie Blum led off with a solo homer to left field. With one out, Hallie Mitchell singled through the left side. She tagged up and took second on Cassie Reasner's foul out down the right field line. Clark singled on a high chopper over the first baseman's head, scoring Mitchell. Hamilton doubled Clark home before scoring on a base hit from Emory Donaldson.
No. 17 Mississippi State 2, Kentucky 8
Top 4
Wesolowski walked, and Gretta Grassel pinch ran at first base. With one out, Sells singled through the left side. Sierra Sacco reached on a fielder's choice after the shortstop couldn't snag a liner over her head but recovered in time to throw out Grassel at third. Nadia Barbary hit a three-run homer with two outs.
No. 17 Mississippi State 5, Kentucky 8
Bottom 4
With one out, Blum singled through the left side and scored on Lauryn Borzilleri's double to right-center. Borzilleri took third on the throw home. Mitchell walked to put runners on the corners before Reasner doubled to left field, scoring Borzilleri and pushing Mitchell to third. Clark singled up the middle to score Mitchell before Reasner was thrown out at the plate. Clark took second on the throw, and she scored on a soft liner from Hamilton to the shortstop that was lost in the sun.
No. 17 Mississippi State 5, Kentucky 12
Top 6
Hull led off with a single up the middle. With two outs, Barbary beat out a single to shortstop, and Abby Grace Richardson pinch ran at first. Edwards was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Stiles drove in Hull and Richardson.
No. 17 Mississippi State 7, Kentucky 12
Bottom 6
Reasner singled to left to lead off. With one out, Hamilton homered to left.
No. 17 Mississippi State 7, Kentucky 14
Top 7
With one out, Hull and Sells collected back-to-back singles. Sacco singled to left to load the bases. Hull scored on Barbary's ground out to short.
No. 17 Mississippi State 8, Kentucky 14
Next Up
With the series tied, the rubber match is set for noon CT on Sunday. The series finale will air on SEC Network+.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chaffin, Raelin (19-7)
L: Sydney Langdon (3-6)
Batting:
2B: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Hull, Riley 1
HR: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Wesolowski, Ella 1
RBI: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 2 ; Stiles, Morgan 2 ; Romero, Xiane 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Wesolowski, Ella 3 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
SH: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
SF: Romero, Xiane 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 2 ; Stiles, Morgan 2 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Wesolowski, Ella 2 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 2
SB: Sells, Kiarra 1
HBP: Sells, Kiarra 1
Batting:
HR: Peyton Plotts 1 ; Hallie Mitchell 1
RBI: Peyton Plotts 1 ; Hallie Mitchell 1
SH: Hallie Mitchell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Peyton Plotts 1 ; Hallie Mitchell 1
CS: Cassie Reasner 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC/OF
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