BULLDOG BITS

Softball

BOCA RATON, Fla. – A five-run second inning gave No. 23 Mississippi State control of the softball game as the Bulldogs went on to defeat Bethune-cookman 9-2 on Friday night.

The Bulldogs strung together six consecutive singles in the bottom of the second, four of them with the bases loaded. It turned a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 lead that State would never surrender.

It was a milestone victory for head coach Samantha Ricketts. She became the fastest MSU softball coach to win 100 games and the second-fastest head coach in any of State's women's sports to reach that mark.

"It wasn't something I was thinking about in the moment, but I knew it was close," Ricketts said. "I was definitely surprised. I didn't know the direction that postgame meeting was going. It's always fun. A big credit to all the players, coaches and staff that have been a part of all 100. It's definitely been a team effort. I'm just really proud for this program."

A pair of freshmen starred for State. Josey Marron tossed five innings, striking out nine and allowing just two hits. Meanwhile, at the plate Macy Graf went 3-for-4 out of the leadoff slot, driving in a run and scoring three. She also stole two bases.

Following their rally, the Bulldogs added one run in the fourth when Graf scored on a throwing error while Kiersten Landers was stealing second. In the fifth, MSU pushed across two more when Aquana Brownlee scored on a Chloe Malau'ulu single, and Brylie St. Clair came home on a wild pitch.

Earlier on Friday, MSU won a back-and-forth contest with the help of a big swing from Matalasi Faapito, defeating Loyola Chicago 5-4.

Faapito, who started the game in the circle, launched a solo shot to center field to break a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the fifth. She allowed two unearned runs in the circle and left a 3-2 game in the top of the third. Freshman Reis Beuerlein took MSU the rest of the way, tossing 4.2 innings to earn her first career win while striking out five.

Malau'ulu again paced the State offense, going 2-for-2 at the plate with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Freshman Macy Graf, who entered as a defensive replacement in the third inning, also collected a pair of hits and scored MSU'S fourth run on Malau'ulu's double in the bottom of the fourth.

Loyola scored twice more in the top of the fifth, both unearned, following an error. Faapito then sent the third pitch she saw over the wall with one out in the bottom half of the frame. Beuerlein turned in a shutdown inning in the sixth, retiring the side in order. She capped her day with a strikeout for the final out of the seventh.

Track and Field

CLEMSON, S.C. / NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mississippi State track and field posted 11 personal-best marks and Cameron Crump shattered a school record as the Bulldogs closed out day one of action at both the Tiger Paw Invitational (Clemson, S.C.) and Music City Challenge (Nashville, Tenn.) on Friday.

Cameron Crump shined on day one in Clemson by setting a new school record and facility record in the men's long jump with a firstplace mark of 8.21 meters (26-11.25). The previous school record was set by Festus Igbinoghene (7.86m) in 1991.

At the Music City Challenge,tony Jones also claimed first place in the men's high jump with a personal-best mark of 2.20 meters (7-02.50).

A total of 11 personal-best marks were recorded on day one of action at both meets, including top marks by Gabriel Moronta (400 meters), Anthony Brodie (400m), Kamaya Dubose-epps (60m), Jessicka Woods (60mh), Peyton Bair (LJ), Lewis Barber (LJ), Hayley Ogle (600m), Hunter Anderson (Mile) and Jhordyn Stallworth (WT).

Both Ogle (600 meters) and Bair (Long Jump) each placed in the top five in their respective events, while Asia Poe (Long Jump), Moronta (400 meters), Stallworth (Weight Throw) and Miranda Tillery (High Jump) recorded top-10 marks on Friday.

MSU returns to action today for day two of both the Tiger Paw Invitational and Music City Challenge. The Tiger Paw Invitational will run from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. today. The Music City Challenge will begin at 9 a.m. today for running events and 9:30 a.m. for field events.

Volleyball

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior Rebecca Walk will represent Mississippi State at the annual Southeastern Conference Studentathlete Advisory Council meeting this weekend at the SEC offices in Birmingham.

The SAAC group is comprised of 27 SEC student-athletes and the meeting will serve as an opportunity to engage with campus leaders, and conference office staff. Along with Student-athlete Leadership Councils for football and men's and women's basketball, SAAC provides a conduit of communication to the conference office on issues related to student-athlete experience, student-athlete wellness and playing rules.

The agenda items for the SAAC meeting include a leadership development presentation by Jason Martinez of Game of Nation, a conversation and dinner with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, a review of NCAA and SEC legislative items, and an open discussion on SAAC campus programming. The group will also have the opportunity for a conversation with SEC Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Katie O'neal. Current SEC SAAC member Brynn Carlson will give an update from the NCAA Division l Student-athlete Advisory Council.

Walk, a middle blocker on the volleyball team, joined the SAAC organization in the fall of 2021. As the marketing and communications leader, some of her responsibilities include attending summer SEC meetings to vote on legislation, discuss collegiate athletics and oversee and convey information to MSU student-athletes. Walk also organizes and attends community service events.

Walk earned her spot on the 2022 SEC Community Service team for the second time in her career. The junior was also recently named to the 2022 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll for her performance in the classroom.

Women’s Tennis

Mississippi State women's tennis earned a doubleheader sweep of Belmont and Alabama A&M on Friday.

The Bulldogs dropped the doubles point to Belmont (2-4) to begin the day only to battle back to earn the win with four singles victories for a 4-1 win over the Bruins at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre. State then shut out its second opponent, Alabama A&M 7-0 for a doubleheader sweep.

"We rallied after losing the doubles match," MSU head coach Daryl Greenan said. "I'm proud of the way the girls regrouped, got organized and scrapped it out.they did a great job in singles."

State moves to 10-1 for the season for the second time under Greenan. The last time the Bulldogs were 10-1 was the 2015-16 season.

"It's a solid start and we have been pushed several times which is good for us," Greenan said. "We had the one loss, but we used it to make us better and we just need to keep building."

Chloé Cirotte and Emily Surcey were the only Bulldogs doubles tandem to pick up a win against Belmont, defeating the Bruins duo of Meredith Roberts and Taylor Trondson 6-2.

Gia Cohen went straight into singles, evening the score with her 6-4, 6-1 victory over Abi Solomon.

Cirotte gave State the lead with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Viktoria Kliimand and was followed by Emmanoulea Antonaki with a 7-6(2), 6-4 victory over Mariia Hlahola.