STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State softball team only hit two home runs in its home-opening doubleheader Wednesday against Alabama State at Nusz Park.
But small ball carried the day for the Bulldogs (3-3) as they swept the Hornets with relative ease to even their record on the season after a tough opening weekend.
MSU lost on the run rule to No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 3 UCLA before falling Sunday to Loyola Marymount to wrap up a 1-3 start. But the Bulldogs came out strong Wednesday with no trace of their early struggles.
“We’re just looking for confidence in themselves and the team, and the goal is that that comes out on the field,” coach Samantha Ricketts said. “I thought they did a good job of that today.”
Mississippi State claimed Game 1 on Wednesday by a 10-4 score and run-ruled Alabama State in six innings 8-0 in Game 2. The Bulldogs had 17 hits between the two games, but their pitchers were arguably more impressive.
Grace Fagan pitched four no-hit innings in the first game before faltering in the fifth, losing her no-no and shutout bids on a three-run double by ASU’s Kindall DeRamus that followed three walks. Instead of a tidy run-rule victory in five innings, MSU had to close it out in seven instead.
“I thought we saw some good things, still some things that we need to clean up,” Ricketts said. “We’re giving away too many free opportunities — bases, walks, all that stuff.”
Things were more orderly in the second game, though it still took a four-run sixth inning for the Bulldogs to reach the eight-run lead required to trigger college softball’s mercy rule. A pair of singles, a groundout and a wild pitch took care of that as MSU walked off to close the day.
Kenley Hawk turned in a great outing in the circle, striking out 13 Hornets and allowing just four hits in the six-inning shutout.
The Bulldogs scored in a variety of ways in both games, adding a hit batsman, an error and a sac fly to the ledger in Game 1. Shea Moreno hit a solo home run in the first game, and Aquana Brownlee had a solo shot in the second.
Mia Davidson remained one back of the Southeastern Conference all-time home run record, but she had a key two-run double to open the scoring in Game 1. Davidson was the only Bulldog to record multiple hits in Game 2, singling twice.
Brylie St. Clair went 3 for 4 in the first game, including a beautiful bunt single to bring in a run in the Bulldogs’ five-run fourth inning. St. Clair is hitting a team-high .438 through the season’s first six games and has filled the leadoff spot nicely.
But Mississippi State will have a more difficult challenge ahead this weekend in the Bulldog Kickoff Classic. MSU brings Southern Illinois, Central Arkansas and Georgia Tech to town, beginning with a matchup with the Salukis at 3 p.m. Friday.
“We have another tough weekend,” Ricketts said. “Obviously not No. 1 and No. 3 in the country, but it’s three very solid teams that we need to be ready for.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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