Bulldogs win two games to end event

Mississippi State softball closed The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial on a high note on Monday posting a shutout victory and a run-rule victory in two games.

The No. 22 Bulldogs defeated Missouri State 5-0, then cruised to a 10-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State in five innings.

Aspen Wesley was dominant in her first appearance of the year. The sophomore threw five scoreless innings in the start against the Bears while striking out a career-high eight batters.

“Aspen looked great,” MSU head coach Samantha Ricketts said. “She’s really earned that start. She’s been lights out at practice the last couple of weeks. I really loved her confidence and maturity out there. We saw a lot of growth from her in the abbreviated season last year. That’s what she’s done her whole life. She’s a winner. She’s got five state championships to her name, and that’s all she knows how to do. She didn’t try to do too much. She just pitched her game.”

Offensively, State (5-1) got multi-hit games from Chloe Malau’ulu, Carter Spexarth, Anna Kate Segars and Montana

Davidson. Segars drove in a pair of runs, while Davidson and Spexarth each added one.

In the nightcap, Mia Davidson got things started early with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. From there, State never looked back. The Bulldogs scored two more in the second and put up a six spot in the third. Montana Davidson again collected a pair of hits, and Brylie St. Clair was 2-for-3 with two RBIS and two runs scored.

Grace Fagan came on in relief and struck out three of the eight batters she faced in two hitless innings.