Mississippi State softball lost for the first time this season to the Belmont Bruins in their first game of the Bulldog Invitational on Friday at Nusz Park. It was a pitching duel between Peja Goold for the dawgs and Maya Johnson for the bruins, which resulted in 23 total strikeouts through seven innings.
Goold started the game with a 0.51 ERA. Johnson began the game with a 0.85 ERA. Five hits and two walks total resulted in batting average drops for both teams after the game. The tight game kept fans engaged for both sides.
It was a constant battle at the plate for MSU’s offense. Both pitching staffs made it difficult for the offense to make playable contact and advance runners. Once the offenses saw each pitcher’s motions and movement, they started to make contact, resulting in multiple foul balls as the game progressed. Foul balls became common in the game and even had to be reviewed, causing some commotion in the crowd.
The Bruins scored one unearned run in the sixth inning, resulting in a 1-0 victory, leaving Mississippi State in shock by the strong start.
The whole game was a battle. Batters would get ahead in pitch counts, fall short and vice versa. Fans never lost hope and continued showing support. Players never let it get the best of them and continued the game with endurance.
Goold allowed four hits, two walks and one error during her six innings. Despite the loss, she battled through pitch counts and threw a competitive game.
The loss ended MSU’s undefeated streak, bringing the overall record to 14-1. Fans in maroon and white knew that they had witnessed a spectacular showcase of talent. Fans, players and coaches were ready for the next game, knowing that the girls were ready to come back and make up for the close fall. The pitchers were warm and the bats were ready.
MSU went on to win three more games over the next 24 hours. The first win for MSU was against Samford, with a final score of 6-2. Faircloth got the start for the dawgs and struck out nine batters, allowing four hits. MSU’s offense gained its footing and racked up 11 hits, including four doubles.
Saturday, the Dawgs evened the record with Belmont, with a 4-1 victory. Faircloth was back in the circle and struck out 13. Goold retired four batters and gained her first save of the season.
The last game of the series, the Bulldogs finally faced Delaware State and only needed five innings to run-rule with a 19-1 win. Through 21 at-bats, 19 runs were scored by 13 hits. The dawgs earned five doubles, four homers and nine walks. Des Rivera, Gabby Schaeffer, Abigail Stevens and Abby Grace Richardson all homered.
This shutout was the second-largest win margin in program history, following the 23-0 victory against Cal State Fullerton on February 9, 2012.
The successful slugfest conveys that the girls in maroon and white did not let the loss on the previous day define the series. After only getting one hit in that first game, they finished the weekend with over 30 hits. Mississippi State rallied and found its groove — a true illustration of a defiant team and positive nod to their work ethic together.
Adding that loss to the record was disappointing in the moment, but the Bulldogs bounced back for a successful weekend at Nusz Park.
