STARKVILLE — It took Matalasi Faapito and a few of her Mississippi State teammates a moment to realize what was going on.
Faapito knew the Bulldogs had already recorded a forceout at second base in the seventh inning Saturday against Ole Miss. When an umpire signaled “out” and pointed at the bag after a review for interference, a few seconds passed before Faapito, first baseman Riley Hull and a few other players joined their teammates in celebration.
“I knew that girl was out at second, but I didn’t know it was going to be a double play,” Faapito said. “I was like, ‘This is even better.’”
Her last four words can certainly apply to Mississippi State’s strong start to Southeastern Conference play, which got even better Saturday with a 7-3 win over the Rebels (21-6, 0-2 SEC). A year after starting SEC play by getting swept by Ole Miss in Oxford, the Bulldogs (18-10, 3-2 SEC) clinched a series win and can go for the sweep at noon Sunday.
“I’m excited, but we can’t let up,” center fielder Brylie St. Clair said. “We have to come out here and work hard.”
Mississippi State did that for the second straight game, riding a four-run first inning to a win Saturday at Nusz Park. The Bulldogs scored six of their seven runs in the first two frames and never trailed.
St. Clair had a two-run single in the first as MSU sent all nine batters to the plate against Ole Miss starter Brooke Vestal.
“It always feels good when you can go up in the first inning and take some pressure off yourself, off the pitcher,” St. Clair said. “Getting a lead early is important.”
Faapito pitched the final four innings for Mississippi State, scattering five hits without allowing a run. She earned the win in the circle — and it wasn’t her only contribution.
Starting the game as the Bulldogs’ designated player and No. 3 hitter, Faapito stepped up at the plate in the second inning after catcher Mia Davidson walked. She took a 1-1 pitch from Vestal out of the park to right center field, going the other way for a two-run home run.
Coach Samantha Ricketts praised Faapito’s efforts in both areas, particularly providing insurance for the dangerous Davidson in the lineup. Davidson was hit by a pitch twice in addition to her free pass, unable to swing the bat.
“I thought she did a great job staying composed, staying poised, getting ground balls and then the big hit for us,” Ricketts said of Faapito. “They kept putting Mia on base, and she made them pay, which is exactly why she’s hitting behind her there.”
Mississippi State in fact had fewer hits than did Ole Miss — eight to the Rebels’ nine — but made use of them. Second baseman Shea Moreno doubled in St. Clair from first base in the fifth inning as the Bulldogs’ No. 8 and No. 9 hitters combined for three hits on the day.
“It’s huge when we can turn over the lineup and we can be strong top to bottom,” Ricketts said. “It makes everyone a tough out. When someone in the middle of the lineup doesn’t pick up an RBI, it’s good to know you’ve got some pop in the eight and nine.”
Moreno’s double also provided insurance for Mississippi State, pushing its lead to four runs after Ole Miss battled back in the third against starter Aspen Wesley.
A throwing error by St. Clair plated the Rebels’ first run, and a sac fly added another before Sydney Gutierrez hit a two-out RBI single.
Two straight singles leading off the seventh had Ole Miss threatening, but Faapito struck out Abbey Latham looking before Gutierrez smashed the ball toward second.
Moreno flipped it to shortstop Madisyn Kennedy just in time for a forceout, and Kennedy’s throw toward first hit runner Brooke Barnard and bounded into right field. After a meeting of the umpires, Barnard was called out, ending the game.
“Those moments like that don’t happen all the time,” Faapito said. “I’m glad that we won like that.”
She could be called on again in the circle Sunday when the Bulldogs and Rebels close out the series. Ricketts said all of her pitchers could step into the circle as MSU goes for a sweep of its in-state rival after Friday’s 9-8 win and Saturday’s victory.
“It’s all hands on deck when you get to Game 3,” Ricketts said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see three or four of them out there tomorrow.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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