No. 21 Bulldogs Drop Doubleheader
STARKVILLE – So far this season, Mississippi State has been the dominant team in its games, winning 11 games via the run-rule and holding seven teams scoreless.
On Saturday, the No. 21 Bulldogs (20-6, 2-3 SEC) got to experience what their opponents have experienced this season. No. 13 Texas A&M (25-2, 5-0) swept Saturday’s doubleheader, winning by scores of 9-0 (five innings) and 8-5.
“I think with both games, we definitely didn’t come out with our best,” MSU coach Samantha Ricketts said after the doubleheader. “It didn’t seem like the team we have seen for the first half of the season for us.”
In Game 1, the Aggies scored seven runs in the second inning, all of which were earned runs against MSU starter Aspen Wesley (6-2). Rylen Wiggins started the scoring with a two-run home run the eighth pitch of her at-bat and the Aggies added five more runs on base hits for a 7-0 lead. They would add a run in each of the next two innings to extend their lead and secure a 9-0 victory after five innings.
Wesley picked up her second loss of the season in 1.2 innings. She was credited with all seven of the Aggies' second inning runs, but did record two strikeouts.
Texas A&M pitcher Emiley Kennedy (13-1) held the Bulldogs’ offense to just two hits and four walks, while striking out seven batters. Salen Hawkins and Ella Wesolowski were the only Bulldogs to record hit on Kennedy.
“We have to play a lot better in all three phases,” Ricketts said. “We’ve got to attack better on the mound. We have to make plays behind our pitchers and not give up as many bases as we did. We need timely hitting and more complete at-bats. I feel like at the end of Game 2, we started to look like ourselves in the box.”
Until Saturday, the Bulldogs’ offense had been on fire. But not even Texas A&M could cool off every MSU batter.
Madisyn Kennedy was held hitless in Game 1 (but did draw a walk) but closed the gap between the Bulldogs and Aggies in Game 2. Trailing 8-2 in the sixth inning of Game 2, Kennedy hit a solo home run to centerfield, her 10th home run of the season.
The next inning, Kennedy drove in a pair of runs on a single through the middle of Texas A&M’s defense to make the score 8-5.
“She’s been swinging a hot bat for us for a while, but it’s going to take more than one player,” Ricketts said after the game. “I think we have the offense to do it. Good job to the bottom of the order for turning it over, but we’ve got to have some production one through nine.”
Josey Marron (8-2) pitched the entire game, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
The Bulldogs get a chance to avoid a series sweep to Texas A&M on Sunday. First-pitch is set for 11 a.m. and will air on SEC Network+.
