Miss. State Softball Notches 3rd, 4th Wins Against Ranked Foes This Week

An early lead keyed a 6-3 victory over No. 8 Clemson, and the Bulldogs pounded No. 13 Utah 10-2 in six innings at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Score another one for Mississippi State softball. And another one ... or maybe that should be "won" instead.

Aspen Wesley threw here second complete game of the week and Madisyn Kennedy drove in three runs on a two-run home run and a double as Mississippi State defeated No. 8 Clemson, 6-3, on Saturday afternoon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. 

It subsequently pounded No. 13 Utah 10-2 in six innings, registering its fourth win against a ranked opponent this week. The Bulldogs swept a doubleheader against No. 23 Louisiana on Tuesday. 

"Great win for the Dawgs," head coach Samantha Ricketts said after the nightcap. "I thought Josey [Marron] did a good job of bouncing back after the first and giving us a quality start. I really liked Lexi [Sosa] coming in to close the door behind her after a shift in the momentum. 

"Another outstanding job by our lineup, contributing top to bottom and with at-bats off the bench. I thought it was a lot of people doing well in their role and putting together quality at-bats." 

Marron threw 4.1 innings against the Utes, allowing just one earned run. She's 3-0 on the season with an ERA of 0.86. 

Aided by two errors, Utah jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, which was more than erased by a three-run homer from Jessie Blaine. Mississippi State batted around in the fifth inning, which led to four runs, and scored three three more in the sixth, which was keyed by a two-run double from Salen Hawkins, her second in as many innings. 

Mississippi State (8-0) also got RBI-singles from Aquana Brownlee, Matalasi Faapito and Ella Wesolowski.

"It's so important to get an early start, to jump on teams with big names, to get the energy flowing and the game moving in the right direction for us," Blaine said in a release. "It helps to get the energy moving on these tournament days when the days are long and the sun is hot. But the game is moving in the right direction for us, and we like to build that momentum."

The win against Clemson was Mississippi State's highest-ranked win since sweeping No. 2 Florida State in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

"The message has been the same, to prove ourselves right," Ricketts said. "We know the work that we've put in to get here, and we just need to trust what's going on in our dugout. I think they're doing a great job of playing composed, mature, and sticking to the game plan. They're really attacking on both sides of the ball."

The Bulldogs scored early agains the Tigers, with two runs in the second inning on Kennedy's home run, and added to the lead with runs in the fourth and fifth innings. While the offense was aided by four Clemson errors while facing Valerie Cagle, the reigning National Player of the Year, Wesley struck out a season-high eight batters. 

"Another fifth-year senior for us, and it's been so fun to see her really come into her own," the head coach said of Wesley. "I think she's now starting to show everyone what we've known about her all along and that's how talented she is."

Diving grab for the UPSET 🐶

Mississippi State comes in HOT to take the upset win defeating No. 7 Clemson, 6-3!#NCAASoftball x 🎥 FloSoftball / @HailStateSB pic.twitter.com/n7JNl2w3IK

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) February 17, 2024

Seven of State's nine starters collected hits, four of which were for extra bases. Kennedy's home run was her 25th, which ranks ninth in school history. 

"I think Madi has been very confident," Ricketts said. "It's fun to see a fifth-year senior and her composure. That's a great pitcher on the other side that we faced, but we know that's something that Madi really does well with – the game plan that she throws into. She went up there, stuck to her plan and really put a great swing on it."

Mississippi State will close its weekend in Mexico on Sunday morning with a rescheduled game that was rained out Friday. It'll face UC Davis at 8:30 a.m. CT.

How to Watch: Mississippi State Bulldogs Softball in Puerto Vallarta College Challenge