FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Mississippi State softball team showcased their resilience and determination in a stunning 6-3 comeback victory against the #18 Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday evening. The #20 ranked Bulldogs, now 23-6 overall and 4-3 in SEC play, refused to back down after falling behind early in the game.
Arkansas took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning, thanks in part to a home run by Hannah Gammill. However, Mississippi State’s bats came alive (starting in the 5th inning), as Aquana Brownlee’s perfectly-placed RBI single put the Bulldogs on the board. The 6th inning saw MSU inch closer as the Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 3-2.
But the 7th inning? That’s when things really got fun for MSU.
Table of Contents
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 20 Mississippi State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 0 |
| No. 18 Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
The 7th inning is where the Mississippi State softball team truly shined. Madisyn Kennedy delivered a clutch bases-clearing double, giving the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead. Ella Wesolowski followed up with an RBI double of her own, extending the lead to 6-3.
And that helped MSU come out on top, 6-3.
Aspen Wesley shines in complete game victory for Mississippi State softball
Aspen Wesley’s exceptional performance in the circle was a defining moment for Mississippi State in this game. The seasoned pitcher thrived against the Razorbacks and she delivered a masterful display, pitching the entirety of the game all while allowing just three runs on three hits. Meanwhile, Wesley also notched six strikeouts against the talented Razorbacks.
It’s worth remembering that Wesley’s pivotal role in stifling Arkansas’ offense for much of this game (but especially from the fifth inning onwards) played a significant role in the Bulldogs’ impressive comeback. She was instrumental in keeping Arkansas from doing any more damage.
| Mississippi State | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | WP | BK | HBP | IBB | AB | BF | FO | GO | NP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen Wesley (W, 8-2) | 7.0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 25 | 4 | 11 | 109 |
| Totals | 7.0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 25 | 4 | 11 | 109 |
Madisyn Kennedy’s clutch double propels MSU to series-opening win vs. #18 Arkansas
The Bulldogs’ offensive prowess was truly on display in the series opener, with Madisyn Kennedy leading the charge by going 1-for-3 with a perfectly-timed double late in the game, driving in three crucial runs for the Bulldogs. Sierra Sacco also delivered a commendable performance, going 2-for-4 at the plate and adding to the team’s success by scoring a run.
Their combined efforts really helped the Mississippi State softball team complete the comeback. As a whole, the Bulldogs were able to put plenty of pressure on Arkansas’ pitching staff in an impressive way.
The victory marked an important step forward for the Mississippi State softball program, as they demonstrated their ability to compete with (and beat) one of the top teams in the SEC this season.
It’s also a huge step towards claiming yet another SEC series for the Bulldogs.
| Mississippi State 6 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | ||||
| Sierra Sacco cf | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Nadia Barbary 3b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Madisyn Kennedy 1b/dp | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Paige Cook rf | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Jadyn Burney pr/rf | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Jessie Blaine dp | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Riley Hull pr/1b | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Ella Wesolowski c | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Kat Wallace pr | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Kylee Edwards ss | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Salen Hawkins 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| Brylie St. Clair lf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Aquana Brownlee ph | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Matalasi Faapito ph | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Kiarra Sells pr | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Morgan Bernardini lf | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Aspen Wesley p | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Totals | 32 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 7 | ||||
| 2B: Madisyn Kennedy (1); Ella Wesolowski (1) | |||||||||||
What’s next for MSU softball?
With the series opener in the books, the Bulldogs will look to carry their momentum into Saturday’s matchup against the Razorbacks. If Miss. State can continue to display the same level of resilience and clutch hitting, they have an excellent opportunity to secure a series win on the road against a ranked opponent.
And that’s huge as this team works to prove it belongs in the upper echelon of the Southeastern Conference.
The Underdog Tribune 
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