Skip to content
Sections
  • Obituaries
  • eEdition
  • Popular Content
  • Submit a Tip
Dispatch Mobile Logo
Share
Subscribe
Login
August 8, 2022
  • QUICK LINKS
  • Obituaries
  • eEdition
  • Popular Content
  • Submit a Tip
  • News
  • Columbus & Lowndes County
  • Starkville & Oktibbeha County
  • West Point & Clay County
  • Area
  • State
  • National
  • Business
  • Sports
  • High School Sports
  • College Sports
  • Local Columns
  • eEdition
  • Opinions
  • Local Columns
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Roses & Thorns
  • Dispatch Editorials
  • Obituaries
  • Lifestyles
  • Columns
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Transitions & Announcements
  • Community
  • Religion
  • Classifieds
  • Photo Galleries
  • Public Records
  • Building Permits
  • Marriages & Divorces
August 8, 2022
Dispatch Logo

Open eyes, open minds.

Home » Sports » Mississippi State softball Super Regional: Bulldogs strand 11, fall to Wildcats in extra innings

Mississippi State softball Super Regional: Bulldogs strand 11, fall to Wildcats in extra innings

Game 2 is at 3 p.m. Saturday

By Theo DeRosa • May 27, 2022

 • 4 mins to read

Mississippi State softball Super Regional: Bulldogs strand 11, fall to Wildcats in extra innings
Mississippi State fell late to Arizona on Friday as the Wildcats tied the game in the seventh inning and won it in the eighth. All five runs were scored in the fifth inning or later. Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics

STARKVILLE — Mia Davidson turned silently and took the few steps back into the dugout.

The Mississippi State star catcher was left on deck as the Bulldogs lost Friday’s Super Regional opener 3-2 to Arizona in eight innings, watching Brylie St. Clair fly out to left for the final out.

Once again Friday, the Bulldogs were close, but not close enough.

It was Davidson getting robbed at the center-field wall in the first inning. It was her making slight contact with an Arizona runner in the seventh inning, leading to an obstruction call and eventually the tying run. It was the Wildcats’ Izzy Pacho sneaking the go-ahead home run just inside the left-field foul pole.

And, finally, it was Davidson standing in the on-deck circle, waiting for a chance she never got.

That was how Mississippi State’s first-ever Super Regional game ended after more than three hours. The Bulldogs made big plays and had big moments — but not enough of them.

“We hit a lot of balls hard within the game plan, but I think we just couldn’t get quite enough to fall that we needed to,” coach Samantha Ricketts said.

But it came down to a pair of half-innings in which both teams needed a run from the bottom of their lineup. Arizona came through to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the seventh; Mississippi State couldn’t do the same in the eighth.

Matalasi Faapito worked a leadoff walk for MSU, but Madisyn Kennedy struck out, and Riley Hull and St. Clair flied out to let Arizona escape with a win.

The Wildcats took home a hard-fought, back-and-forth victory on the right arm of Hanah Bowen, who tossed a complete game and threw 156 pitches. Bowen allowed seven hits and issued six walks, but she stranded 11 runners and gave up just two runs.

“I thought she really mixed locations well and did a good job keeping us off balance,” Ricketts said.

newsletter

The Dispatch delivers the most in-depth, responsible journalism straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Bowen faltered only twice, giving up solo home runs to Davidson and Faapito. After coming up just short in the first inning, Davidson hit a 2-1 pitch off the camera rig in center field to break a scoreless tie.

“I think it just gave us a little momentum to know that we can play with them and keep pushing, and that’s what we did,” she said. “It just didn’t fall our way.”

Allie Skaggs answered with her own solo home run in the top of the sixth, tying the game back up at 1-1. But Faapito’s line-drive homer over the right-field wall put Mississippi State ahead again.

Facing the Wildcats’ Nos. 7-9 hitters with three outs left to get, MSU starter Annie Willis ran into trouble and, this time, could not escape. Blaise Biringer worked a leadoff walk, and Sophia Carroll was given first base on review after appearing to be thrown out on a bunt.

Umpires ruled Davidson had run into Carroll before the Arizona shortstop exited the batter’s box. Since Davidson didn’t field the ball — third baseman Paige Cook did instead — Davidson was called for obstruction.

“She bunted right in front, so I was just trying to get to the ball, and I happened to beat her out of the box,” Davidson said. “It just didn’t go our way.”

An infield single that deflected off Cook and into foul territory — Ricketts said postgame she thought the play should have been ruled an error — loaded the bases with one out. Sharlize Palacios tied the game on a sacrifice fly.

After Mississippi State went down in order in the bottom of the seventh, Pacho unloaded for her solo shot off Aspen Wesley in the eighth.

Bowen worked around the walk to get the final three outs, and the Wildcats closed out Game 1 to take a substantial edge in the series. Teams that win the first game of Super Regionals go on to win the series 81 percent of the time.

But the Bulldogs have faced — and beaten — longer odds before.

“Tomorrow, I’m just excited to see what this team will do,” Kennedy said.

Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.

You can help your community

Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.

Subscribe

READER FAVORITES

  • Fully stocked defensive line in store for Mississippi State as preseason camp begins

    By Theo DeRosa • 1 day ago

Popular

Two Lowndes men charged with child sex crimes

August 6, 2022

Man sentenced to 40 years for Propst Park killing

August 6, 2022

Community rallies around beloved waitress following house fire

August 6, 2022

Golden Triangle Theatre finds new home at old church

August 6, 2022




On This Day 2021

Bulldogs feeling acclimated as fall camp begins

By Theo DeRosa

Featured Podcast

The C Dispatch Podcast

Dispatch

Sections

  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyles
  • Obituaries

Info

  • About
  • Contact
  • Submit a Tip
  • Terms & Service
  • Popular Content

Contact

Main Switchboard:

(662) 328-2424

Physical Address:

516 Main Street
Columbus, MS 39701

Mailing Address:

PO Box 511
Columbus, MS 39701

cdispatch.com © 2022 – The Commerical Dispatch

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT