No. 16 Softball Heads To Texas To Meet Two Top-25 Opponents

AUSTIN, Texas – A tough test is in store for Samantha Ricketts' No. 16 Mississippi State softball team this weekend (Feb. 26-28) at the Lone Star State Invitational. The tournament begins a stretch that will see MSU meet three ranked opponents in its next six games.

The Bulldogs (6-1) will face No. 7 Texas on Saturday and No. 21 Baylor on Sunday in true road games. The trip also includes a double-header at Texas State on Friday and a neutral site contest against Houston on Saturday after the matchup with the Longhorns.

Friday's games will begin at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. CT. Saturday morning's first pitch against the Longhorns will air on Longhorn Network beginning at 10 a.m. The second game of the day will be tape-delayed and rebroadcast at 6 p.m. that evening. Fans can watch MSU take on Baylor on ESPN+ at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Ricketts' team is coming off a pair of run-rule victories over Mississippi Valley State in its last two games. The Bulldogs have scored 10 or more runs four times in their first seven games after doing so four times over 28 games in the shortened 2020 season.

Montana Davidson and Paige Cook have gotten off to hot starts, sharing the team lead with seven RBIs apiece. Davidson also leads the team with a .500 batting average, and Cook is one of eight SEC players that has yet to strikeout this season.

Game Coverage

Leading Off

Montana Making A Mark: Montana Davidson has tied her career-long hitting streak at five games, with four multi-hit games in that span. She leads the team with a .500 batting average and is second on the squad with a .750 slugging percentage.

Thunder And Lightning: Mia Davidson (54) and Fa Leilua (52) rank sixth and seventh respectively among the NCAA's active career leaders in home runs. The duo is one of two pairs of teammates in the country to boast 50-plus career homers.

On A Roll: Anna Kate Segars (14 games) and Chloe Malau'ulu (12 games) are both riding career-long reached base streaks, dating back to last year.

Wesley At Work: Aspen Wesley has struck out a career-high eight batters and seven batters in back-to-back starts. The sophomore leads the nation in earned run average (0.00) and is ninth in strikeouts per seven innings (13.1).

Let Them Off The Leash: The Bulldogs have stolen 13 bases in the last two games combined and are averaging 2.43 per game, which ranks 16th nationally.

Rolling Under Ricketts: Samantha Ricketts became the first first-year head coach to lead the nation in wins since at least 1989.

About the Opponents

Texas State (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Ricci Woodard | at TXST: 687-430-1 (21st Year) | Career: 687-430-1 (21st Year)
Batting Average: .253; Runs Per Game: 4.0; Hits Per Game: 6.3; Slugging Percentage: .493
ERA: 0.65; K/7: 5.8; K/BB Ratio: 3.0; Opp. Batting Avg: .153

Texas (3-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - 7 | USA Softball - 7 | Softball America – 7 | D1Softball - 8
Head coach: Mike White | at TEX: 73-20 (3rd Year) | Career: 509-131-1 (12th Year)
Batting Average: .329; Runs Per Game: 4.7; Hits Per Game: 8.3; Slugging Percentage: .579
ERA: 0.00; K/7: 4.2; K/BB Ratio: 2.4; Opp. Batting Avg: .162

Houston (4-4, 0-0 American)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Kristin Vesely | at HOU: 126-77 (5th Year) | Career: 126-77 (5th Year)
Batting Average: .323; Runs Per Game: 7.1; Hits Per Game: 8.0; Slugging Percentage: .545
ERA: 3.35; K/7: 4.8; K/BB Ratio: 2.5; Opp. Batting Avg: .271

Baylor (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - 23 | USA Softball - 21 | Softball America – 24 | D1Softball - 23
Head coach: Glenn Moore | at BAY: 777-378 (21st Year) | Career: 916-420 (25th Year)
Batting Average: .250; Runs Per Game: 3.7; Hits Per Game: 7.3; Slugging Percentage: .455
ERA: 3.18; K/7: 6.0; K/BB Ratio: 1.9; Opp. Batting Avg: .215

On Deck

The Bulldogs remain on the road next week for a midweek contest at No. 3 Alabama on Wednesday. First pitch of that game is set for 6 p.m. CT, and it will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

Follow the Bulldogs

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."

No. 16 Softball Heads To Texas To Meet Two Top-25 Opponents

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Mia Davidson

Montana Davidson

Fa Leilua

Chloe Malau'ulu

Anna Kate Segars

Aspen Wesley

Mississippi State University Athletics

No. 16 Softball Heads To Texas To Meet Two Top-25 Opponents

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Mia Davidson

Montana Davidson

Fa Leilua

Chloe Malau'ulu

Anna Kate Segars

Aspen Wesley

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