STARKVILLE, Miss. — No. 12 Mississippi State lost the series opener to No. 23 South Carolina, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon, according to the school’s athletics department.
The Bulldogs (30-7, 2-5 SEC) stranded seven runners on base, including in the first and third innings. They finished 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Head coach Samantha Ricketts emphasized the importance of readiness in conference play.
“Everybody’s got deep staffs and just quality teams up and down the league,” Ricketts said. “South Carolina did a good job attacking. We didn’t respond well. Alyssa Faircloth kept us in the game, fought, and gave us a chance. We wasted a good outing and didn’t show much fight offensively. Credit to South Carolina for doing what they needed to do.”
The game remained scoreless through five innings. South Carolina pushed across both runs in the sixth on a two-out, bases-loaded single. Alyssa Faircloth pitched a complete game for MSU, striking out nine and allowing one walk. She also made a diving catch on a bunt with a runner on second.
Offensively, Morgan Bernardini led the Bulldogs with two singles. The first four hitters all recorded singles, and Morgan Stiles drew a walk, reaching twice.
Following the game, Ricketts said the team would review film and focus on preparation for the next game. Faircloth reflected on her outing, noting she was not at her sharpest but was battling through. Bernardini discussed the challenge of leaving runners on base, acknowledging it as a key area for improvement.
The series continues Sunday night at 6 p.m. on SEC Network at Nusz Park. For updates, fans can follow Mississippi State softball on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram under “HailStateSB.”
