The Mississippi State softball team was baffled by Alabama pitcher Montana Fouts in Wednesday’s nonconference game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Fouts struck out a career-high 16 hitters in a complete-game shutout as the third-ranked Crimson Tide (15-0) blanked the Bulldogs 4-0.
Mississippi State (8-5) lost for the second straight game after a 10-6 loss on Sunday at Baylor. The Bulldogs were held to four hits in the contest. Senior designated player Carter Spexarth was 2 for 2, and senior third baseman Montana Davidson and junior left fielder Chloe Malau’ulu garnered one hit apiece.
“We faced a great pitcher,” head coach Samantha Ricketts said in a news release from Mississippi State. “She’s one of the best pitchers in the country for a reason. She throws hard, hits her spots, and she can move it all over the place. Credit to her.”
The Crimson Tide scored three runs in the third and added one in the fourth. A double error on sophomore shortstop Madisyn Kennedy brought in two runs before Alabama added one on a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead. An inning later, Alexis Mack drove in a run with a single through the left side.
Aspen Wesley allowed all four runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings in the circle. Emily Williams pitched 2.1 hitless innings, striking out three.
“Emily Williams has just been doing her job and coming in and shutting down the offense, giving us a chance to get on the board,” Ricketts said. “I thought Aspen did a great job starting as well. If we clean up the defense in that third inning, it’s a different ballgame for her. Really a good job for her of attacking, we’ve just got to make some plays and throws, so we don’t give up three in that third.”
Mississippi State will host three other schools in the Bulldog Invitational this weekend at Nusz Park. MSU will face Ball State at 3 p.m. Friday, Alcorn State at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Western Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. Saturday before getting into bracket play later Saturday afternoon.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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