FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sunday afternoon was solid for Samantha Ricketts and the Mississippi State softball team as they bounced back in remarkable fashion, clinching the series against the 18th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks.
How did they do that, you might ask? Well, with a resounding 15-7 victory in Sunday’s rubber match.
Just flat out dominance in this one for the Bulldogs. The 20th-ranked Bulldogs, now 24-7 overall and 5-4 in SEC play, put on an offensive showcase, hammering out 13 hits (including multiple home runs and a grand slam).
Table of contents
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 20 Mississippi State | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 13 | 2 |
| No. 18 Arkansas | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 1 |
Mississippi State softball offense erupts in decisive game 3 victory over Arkansas
The Bulldogs wasted no time getting on the board, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. And then Mississippi State managed to push FOUR more runs across the plate in the top of the second. As that happened, it became more than evident that MSU was looking to decisively win a conference series.
Arkansas tried to fight back, but they didn’t do enough to slow the Bulldogs down. And of course, the big turning point of the game came in the top of the fourth inning when the Mississippi State softball team erupted and scored nine runs with two outs, breaking the game wide open.
The offensive onslaught was highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Ella Wesolowski, who finished the day 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Sierra Sacco also had a monster game, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, four RBIs, and an impressive four runs scored.
Mississippi State’s offensive firepower was on full display throughout the contest, as the team launched four home runs and collected five extra-base hits. Madisyn Kennedy and Salen Hawkins also went deep for the Bulldogs, contributing to the team’s season-high 15 runs.
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Sacco cf | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nadia Barbary 3b | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Madisyn Kennedy 1b | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Riley Hull pr/1b | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Paige Cook rf | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jadyn Burney rf | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Blaine dp | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Kat Wallace pr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ella Wesolowski c | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kiarra Sells pr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kylee Edwards ss | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salen Hawkins 2b | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Brylie St. Clair lf | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aquana Brownlee ph | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aspen Wesley p | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matalasi Faapito p | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josey Marron p | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 28 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Mississippi State softball’s offensive explosion leads to series-clinching win over Arkansas
Arkansas used a total of five pitchers in the game, with Morgan Leinstock taking the loss. Though it seems like the Razorbacks’ offense managed to keep the game competitive, scoring seven runs on 11 hits, including home runs by Cylie Halvorson and Lauren Camenzind, much of that was too little too late.
The series victory marks a significant achievement for the Bulldogs, as they demonstrated their ability to bounce back from being shutout and they found a way to compete at a high level against a ranked conference opponent on the road.
What’s next for Mississippi State softball?
A home series against the Florida Gators. Get to Nusz Park Thursday through Sunday to keep up with everything in person. Or there’s viewing options online. We’ll ensure you get a chance to check all of that out.
The Underdog Tribune 
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