No. 17 Mississippi State Pulls Off Stunning Comeback Win
Bulldogs Score Seven Runs in Sixth Inning to Defeat No. 9 Florida
STARKVILLE – Thursday night’s matchup on SEC Network lived up to its billing as a showcase of the SEC’s best offensive teams. No. 17 Mississippi State and No. 9 Florida had a combined 25 runs, 25 hits and five home runs in the opening game of a three-game series Thursday that saw the Bulldogs rally to win 13-12.
Mississippi State found itself trailing 12-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning after the Gators scored five in the top half of the inning. The Bulldogs’ took advantage of a pair of Florida errors to score two unearned runs and drove in three more to cut the deficit to 12-11 with last week’s NFCA Player of the Week Madisyn Kennedy coming to the plate with just one out.
Kennedy struck out in the at-bat, but MSU next batter Paige Cook hit a two-run home run to complete the Bulldogs’ rally.
Sophomore Josey Marron pitched the final inning and recorded two outs against the first batters she faced that brought the reigning SEC Player of the Year Kylar Wallace to the plate. Wallace drew a walk in her at-bat and Marron struck out the next batter to end the game and earn her second save of the season.
The Bulldogs and Gators represent two SEC teams ranked in the top three of most offensive categories. Florida started off with a run in each of the first two innings, including a solo home run in the second inning.
MSU’s offense started off explosively with four runs in the third inning. Salen Hawkins hit a solo home run to left field for the Bulldogs’ first run of the game. Nadia Barbary followed with a RBI double to center field, bringing the red-hot Madisyn Kennedy to the plate with two outs and a runner on base.
On the first pitch of her at-bat, Kennedy smashed a two-run home run to left field, giving the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. It was Kennedy’s 13th home run of the season. In an offensive slugfest, though, leads don’t last long.
The Gators took advantage of three walks, a hit-by-pitch and a single to score five runs off MSU starter Aspen Wesley in the fourth innings. Freshman Delainey Everett entered the game with one out and the bases loaded. She struck out the first batter faced on three pitches and ended the inning with a hit and another strikeout.
Kennedy’s hot bat struck again in the fifth inning and the Bulldogs trailing 7-5. On 1-2 count, Kennedy fouled off five pitches before hitting a line drive to the left field corner of the outfield, scoring Barbary and Sierra Sacco.
The Gators went on to score five more runs in the sixth inning, including a two-run home run by Goddard with one out, making the score 12-6 headed into the bottom of the sixth inning. The first two pitches Florida’s Ava Brown threw in the inning resulted in a wild pitch that scored Brylie St. Clair and a RBI single by Barbary.
Everett (4-0) earned the win in 2.2 innings pitched. Collectively, MSU pitchers recorded 11 strikeouts against the high-powered Gators.
The Bulldogs and Gators continue their three-game series at 4 p.m. Friday on SEC Network+.