by By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – The Bulldogs had an answer for everything. After falling behind twice on Sunday, No. 21 Mississippi State rallied to defeat No. 13 Texas A&M, 6-5, in the series finale.
The Aggies (25-3, 5-1 SEC) took a 3-0 lead on an Aiyana Coleman homer in the first, but Madisyn Kennedy responded with her own three-run blast in the bottom of the inning. Kennedy now has seven homers across her last six games.
“I’m just really proud of this squad, and the way they came out,” head coach Samantha Ricketts said. “I think, after yesterday, we knew we were going to learn a lot about ourselves and really just in the way that we responded. Win, lose or draw it was going to be about our response and did we come out ready to fight or were we going to be discouraged by the outcome yesterday. I thought they did a great job. Even after getting down early, there was no panic. It was just a lot of trust. Let’s do it together. Let’s answer back, and really I just thought a great team effort all the way around.”
Jazmine Hill hit a solo shot in the top of the second to give Texas A&M its second lead of the day, but from there Aspen Wesley was locked in in the circle. Wesley retired the next 13 hitters in order on her way to her fourth complete game of the season. She also finished the day with a career-high-tying nine strikeouts while picking up her seventh victory of the year.
The Bulldogs (21-6, 3-3 SEC) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a Nadia Barbary double that scored Brylie St. Clair. They took their final lead of the day in the sixth. After Jessie Blaine doubled to open the inning as a pinch hitter, St. Clair came back in to run for her. She scored the go-ahead run two batters later on a passed ball. Barbary would come home for the winning run on Ella Wesolowski’s two-out single.
Texas A&M added another solo homer in the seventh, but Wesley fielded her position on a bunt and got two quick pop ups to third to end the ballgame.
