Mississippi State’s Sells, Keller Hit Back-to-Back Homers to Beat Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. — No. 11 Mississippi State rallied in the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs from Kiarra Sells and Kinley Keller to defeat No. 15 Georgia 3-2 on Saturday, according to the school’s athletic department.

Georgia (22-8, 2-3 SEC) took an early lead with a solo home run and a squeeze bunt in the fourth inning. Mississippi State (29-5, 2-3 SEC) responded with a run in the fifth on an RBI single from Morgan Stiles.

The Bulldogs’ comeback was sealed in the sixth when Sells and Keller launched consecutive home runs on full counts, giving Mississippi State a 3-2 lead. Alyssa Faircloth pitched her seventh complete game of the season, striking out 11 and allowing just five hits without issuing a walk. The junior secured her ninth win of the year, striking out three of the final seven hitters.

Kinley Keller expressed confidence after her game-winning home run, saying she wanted to support her teammate and was glad to experience the moment. Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts praised Keller’s maturity at the plate and Faircloth’s performance on the mound.

Sells, who leads the team with 11 home runs, also singled and walked in her other plate appearances. Stiles extended her on-base streak to five games and contributed an RBI, helping the Bulldogs even the series ahead of Sunday’s matchup, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central Time and will air on SEC Network+.

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