State Returns Home For Midweek Doubleheader

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's softball program returns home to Nusz Park, where it has a 14-4 record, on Tuesday to host Jackson State for a doubleheader. The games are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. CT with both contests airing on SEC Network+.

The Bulldogs (22-19, 0-12 SEC) have played 13 of their last 15 games away from home but have won 11 of their last 13 at home and 13 of their last 15 non-conference games.

State's rallies fell just short this weekend at No. 17 Missouri, with MSU losing two of the three games by one run. Jackie McKenna provided a clutch three-run homer that cut the Tigers lead to one in the seventh inning of Game 2. In the series opener, Addison Purvis pinch hit and drove in two with a two-out double. Chloe Malau'ulu had the big hit in the finale, scoring a pair with a single to tie the game in the seventh.

Jackson State (13-17, 10-4 SWAC) is coming off a sweep of Alabama State. The Tigers lead the East Division in the SWAC standings.

Game Coverage

Game 1 – April 20 at 4 p.m. CT | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Game 2 – April 20 at 6 p.m. CT | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats

Leading Off

Clutch Connections: McKenna and Purvis provided clutch hits in the series at Missouri. McKenna hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning of a 4-3 loss. Purvis hit a two-out, pinch-hit double to score two runs in Game 1.

Who's Hot: Fa Leilua leads the team with 11 hits and four homers in the last 10 games. She boasts team highs in batting average (.379), slugging percentage (.828) and OPS (1.314).

Walk It Off: State has won two of it's last three midweek games in walk-off fashion and has done so six times all season. Paige Cook has scored or driven in the winning run in three of those walk-off victories.

Chasing Palmeiro: Mia Davidson is sixth in SEC softball history with 63 career home runs. Rafael Palmeiro (67) is the only Bulldog student-athlete to have hit more in a baseball or softball career.

Lulu Leading Off: When Malau'ulu reaches base to open the game, State is 12-5 this season. She has reached base in 29 of the 69 innings she's led off and scored in 15 of those innings.

Lineup Log: Samantha Ricketts has used 27 different batting orders and 15 different fielding alignments. The Bulldogs have rolled 18 different lineup combinations in their last 19 games. Most recently, Purvis has started twice at designated player.

Making Them Miss: The Bulldog pitching staff is third in the SEC with 306 strikeouts. State has struck out 79 batters over 12 SEC games.

Win The Late Innings: One of Ricketts' process points this season is winning the late innings (from the fifth on). State did so against Missouri, outscoring the Tigers 8-5 in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

About the Opponent

Jackson State
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball – NR | Softball America - NR | D1Softball - NR
Head Coach: evin Montgomery | Record at JSU: 32-68 (3rd Year) | Career Record: 199-342 (12th Year)
Batting Average: .243; Runs Per Game: 4.1; Hits Per Game: 6.2; Slugging Pct: .335
ERA: 5.10; K/7: 3.5; K/BB Ratio: 1.6; Opp. Batting Avg: .314

The Tigers swept Alabama A&M over the weekend, outscoring the Bulldogs 11-4. Takiya Hill tossed a complete game on Sunday, allowing just one run and striking out one. Hill leads the SWAC in ERA (2.27) and is fifth in opponents' batting average (.250). Offensively, the Tigers are led by Kayla Owens, who is second in the SWAC in doubles per game and slugging percentage. She is fifth in on-base percentage. The Tigers are fourth in the conference in both batting average and slugging percentage.

On Deck

The Bulldogs will host their second SEC series at Nusz Park when they welcome Texas A&M this weekend. The three-game set is scheduled for April 23-25 with Saturday's game being televised nationally on SEC Network. The opening and closing games of the series 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."

State Returns Home For Midweek Doubleheader

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Mia Davidson

Fa Leilua

Chloe Malau'ulu

Jackie McKenna

Addison Purvis

Mississippi State University Athletics

State Returns Home For Midweek Doubleheader

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Mia Davidson

Fa Leilua

Chloe Malau'ulu

Jackie McKenna

Addison Purvis

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