That motivation and focus Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts kept talking about in the preseason? The Bulldogs have translated it to the field in a big way early on.
MSU defeated No. 8 Clemson and No. 13 Utah on Saturday at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico, running its winning streak against ranked teams to four, before dropping its first game of the season Sunday morning against UC Davis. The Bulldogs entered the Softball America and D1Softball Top 25 rankings at No. 18 and No. 21, respectively, and could find themselves ranked in the NFCA Coaches poll as well on Tuesday.
Facing reigning National Player of the Year Valerie Cagle, MSU jumped out to an early lead against the Tigers when Madisyn Kennedy opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-run home run. Kennedy later drove in another run with a double in the sixth, and the Bulldogs also took advantage of four Clemson errors to score two unearned runs in a 6-3 victory.
Fifth-year pitcher Aspen Wesley was outstanding in the circle, limiting the Tigers to six hits and just one earned run in a complete-game effort and throwing exactly 100 pitches. She struck out eight and walked just one, and after also defeating then-No. 23 Louisiana on Tuesday, was named Southeastern Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week.
“It’s been so fun to see her really come into her own,” Ricketts said. “She’s now starting to show everyone what we’ve known about her all along and that’s how talented she is. She’s doing a great job working with (new pitching coach Taryne Mowatt-McKinney) and really mixing pitches and speeds and keeping really potent lineups off base.”
The Bulldogs then run-ruled the Utes — a 2023 Women’s College World Series participant — in Saturday’s nightcap, scoring three runs in the third inning, four in the fifth and three more in the sixth for a 10-2 win. Catcher Jessie Blaine, a transfer from Auburn, continued her outstanding start with a three-run homer in the third to give MSU the lead for good, and freshman second baseman Salen Hawkins doubled twice and drove in four runs.
Aquana Brownlee, Matalasi Faapito and Ella Wesolowski all had RBI singles in support of sophomore Josey Marron, who held Utah to two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks in 4.1 innings. UCLA transfer Lexi Sosa walked one batter but did not allow a hit over the final 1.2 innings.
“It’s so important to get an early start, to jump on teams with big names, to get the energy flowing and the game moving in the right direction for us,” Blaine said. “It helps to get the energy moving on these tournament days when the days are long and the sun is hot. But the game is moving in the right direction for us, and we like to build that momentum.”
Against the Aggies on Sunday morning, the Bulldogs managed eight hits and four walks off of Kenedi Brown but could only push across one run, leaving 10 runners on base and going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position in a 2-1 defeat.
UC Davis struck first against Faapito, scoring a run without a hit in the first inning on a walk, throwing error, sacrifice bunt and RBI groundout. MSU tied it in the third after loading the bases with one out, scoring its lone run on an infield grounder, and the game remained knotted until the seventh, when the Aggies walked it off with a leadoff double, a sac bunt and a game-winning RBI single.
Faapito surrendered just four hits and one walk while striking out seven, but was saddled with the hard-luck loss.
The Bulldogs (8-1) are next in action at the prestigious Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. this weekend, where they will face a demanding slate that includes No. 1 Oklahoma as well as UCF, Notre Dame, Cal State Fullerton and Fresno State.
“Tip your cap to UC Davis. They played and pitched a great game,” Ricketts said. “We knew it was going to be a challenge off a quick turnaround from yesterday’s games. They’re a scrappy team, but we’re looking to bounce back next week. We have another challenge in front of us, but overall, we like what we’ve seen from the girls in terms of composure, the pitching staff and the bats. We’re ready to get back on the field and bounce back in California.”
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