Athens, Ga. — Alyssa Faircloth struck out 11 batters in 5.1 innings to lead No. 12 Mississippi State to an 8-3 victory over Georgia Tech on Wednesday night, according to the school’s athletics department.
Faircloth gave up a game-tying home run in the bottom of the second but settled in afterward. She struck out eight of nine hitters in her second turn through the Yellow Jackets’ order before allowing a leadoff homer in the sixth, her only other run allowed. Peja Goold earned her second save of the season.
Head coach Samantha Ricketts praised Faircloth’s performance, noting her ability to mix pitches and attack different zones. “When she’s really able to mix and throw different speeds, she’s a tough matchup,” Ricketts said.
The Bulldogs (15-1) hit four home runs in the game. Des Rivera started the scoring with a leadoff shot in the second inning. Nadia Barbary hit a solo homer in the third to give Mississippi State a 2-1 lead. Morgan Bernardini added a three-run blast in the seventh, extending the lead to 8-2.
Bernardini finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Sells contributed a double and an RBI. Rivera also had a multi-hit game, adding a single to her home run. Ricketts emphasized the importance of playing well on the road ahead of SEC play.
Mississippi State will next compete at the Tiger Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina, starting Friday, against Wofford, Georgia Southern, and No. 25 Clemson. The team will play Wofford at 9 a.m. CT Friday. The tournament schedule and results will be available through the school’s athletics channels.
