After tying the game on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from Taylor Troutman in the top of the seventh, State (33-9, 5-7 SEC) picked up one out before the Gators (36-5, 11-4 SEC) loaded the bases. Morgan Stiles fielded a ground ball and threw home, but the runner narrowly beat it out for the winning run.
“I loved the fight that we showed after being down, and then, again, in the seventh,” head coach Samantha Ricketts said. “Those are the lessons we have to take with us through the rest of the SEC, just continuing to show up and battle and know that it’s going to be a grind. I like the fight. I like the grit, and I think we’re in a position to use that to propel us moving forward.”
State battled back twice to tie the game. Nadia Barbary hit a solo home run in the top of the second to tie the game at one. Trailing 4-1, Xiane Romero and Kiarra Sells hit back-to-back solo homers in the third before Troutman tied the game in the seventh.
Sells finished 2-for-3 with a homer and a double. Alyssa Faircloth threw well in relief, going 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out six.
Samantha Ricketts on her key substitutions of Ally Supan and Taylor Troutman in the seventh…
“We talk a lot about being ready when your name’s called, and doing whatever your role is that day. I think they all do a great job of having each other’s backs and being ready to end up in their moment. You know, that’s just kind of something that’s automatic. They expected that of themselves and their teammates.”
Nadia Barbary – Hit her 10th home run of the season … reached double-digit home runs for the second year of her career.
Alyssa Faircloth – Struck out six over 4.2 scoreless innings in relief … allowed just one hit.
Xiane Romero – Hit her second home run of the year.
Kiarra Sells – Hit her 13th home run of the year and added her 12 double … has reached safely in 19 of her last 29 plate appearances … has reached safely in 11 consecutive games with a hit in seven straight.
Taylor Troutman – Hit a game-tying sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh … it was her third pinch-hit RBI of the season.
Bottom 1
Taylor Shumaker drew a leadoff walk. With one out, Kenleigh Cahalan doubled to left, scoring Shumaker from first.
No. 13 Mississippi State 0, No. 5 Florida 1
Top 2
Nadia Barbary hit a two-out solo home run.
No. 13 Mississippi State 1, No. 5 Florida 1
Bottom 2
Ava Brown led off with a single, and Kalie Matsuno pinch ran at first. Kendall Grover followed with a walk. Ella Wesolowski laid down a sacrifice bunt, and the throw to first was wild, allowing Matsuno to score and putting runners on second and third. Gabi Comia also singled on a bunt. Shumaker singled through the right side, scoring Grover, and Wesolowski scored on Jocelyn Erickson’s sacrifice fly.
No. 13 Mississippi State 1, No. 5 Florida 4
Top 3
With one out, Xiane Romero and Kiarra Sells hit back-to-back solo home runs.
No. 13 Mississippi State 3, No. 5 Florida 4
Top 7
Barbary drew a leadoff walk, and Ally Supan pinch ran. Supan took second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on Des Rivera’s ground out to second. Taylor Troutman pinch hit and provided a game-tying sacrifice fly.
No. 13 Mississippi State 4, No. 5 Florida 4
Bottom 7
Shumaker was hit by a 3-2 pitch to lead off. With one out, Cahalan singled to center, and pinch-hitter Giulia Desiderio singled to left to load the bases. Townsend Thomas hit a ground ball to short, and Shumaker beat the throw home for the winning run.
No. 13 Mississippi State 4, No. 5 Florida 5
The Bulldogs return home for Alumni Weekend and All For Alex day next week, hosting No. 9/6 Arkansas on April 10-12. All three games will air on SEC Network+. Saturday is the SEC’s annual All For Alex day when all 15 teams will wear teal or teal accents to honor the former Bulldog’s legacy and raise awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching “HailStateSB.”