OKLAHOMA CITY — Hitting a batter with the first pitch of a game is not ideal for any pitcher, especially when that batter has already been hit five times in the previous three games, sparking a boost of energy for her team.
But that’s exactly what Mississippi State softball did in its first Women’s College World Series game in program history against Texas Tech on May 28 at Devon Park.
Alyssa Faircloth hit Mia Williams with her first pitch in the bottom of the first inning, putting her on base for Jackie Lis’ two-run home run the next at-bat.
The Bulldogs (43-20) lost 8-0 to the Red Raiders (58-7) in five innings and will play No. 2 seed Texas (47-12) next on May 29 (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2) in an elimination game.
“When your teammate gets hit you take that personally,” Lis said. “And if we didn’t learn anything from last weekend, when Mia Williams gets hit, you take it personally and you step up for your team in those moments.”
In the super regionals, Williams was hit five times by Florida, her former school. Although those moments didn’t directly result in runs for the Red Raiders in Gainesville, they did in Oklahoma City.
“They know it wasn’t on purpose. We know it wasn’t on purpose,” MSU coach Samantha Ricketts said of Williams getting hit. “It’s a competitive, pressure-filled moment. Either side is going to use anything they can to really fire up a dugout. … I think emotion in this game is huge.”
As a first-time WCWS team, MSU’s players, including Faircloth, entered the game with nerves, and it didn’t help that the Red Raiders got off to such a big start.
“I think you could see it from Alyssa little bit, particularly the first inning,” Ricketts said. “… Against that lineup, you have to be on. There’s no letup. You can’t let up in the nine hole, anywhere in the bottom of that lineup.”
MSU again saw how hitting Williams became a catalyst for Texas Tech’s offense in the fifth inning.
Pitcher Peja Goold walked Williams to lead off the inning. This time instead of hitting her at the plate, MSU hit her on the base path. Catcher Des Rivera tried to pick Williams off at first and accidentally hit her in the head with the ball. Because the ball bounced into the camera well behind the base, the umpire awarded Williams two bases, moving her to third.
Lis again brought Williams home, singling for the RBI. The Red Raiders didn’t stop there. Later in the inning, Kaitlyn Terry singled to score Lis, then, Mihyia Davis singled to score Taylor Pannell. Terry also scored on the at-bat due to a throwing error, ending the game.
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
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