Bulldogs Welcome In-State Foe For Home Opener Tuesday

STARKVILLE – The wait is over. After spending the first 15 games of the season on the road, Mississippi State softball will return to Nusz Park on Tuesday night when the Bulldogs host Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. CT. The game will also be broadcast on SEC Network+.

Fans in attendance can pick up free schedule posters, and the Bulldogs will celebrate Black History Month throughout the game.

State (11-4) is coming off of a 5-0 showing at the South Alabama Invitational. While the original schedule called for Tuesday's contest to be a doubleheader, injuries within the MVSU program necessitated changing the schedule to a single game at 6 p.m.

Mississippi State has won 30 straight meetings in the series and is undefeated at home against Valley. Under head coach Samantha Ricketts, MSU has gone 21-4 against in-state teams since 2020.

Admission is free for MSU home softball games. Parking for fans is available in the North Garage along Bailey Howell Drive. Additionally, limited parking is available in the smaller lots outside the Bryan Administration Building and Holliman Athletic Center.

Leading Off

Marron's Marks: Josey Marron tied the MSU freshman record with 13 strikeouts against Furman (Feb. 26) in her last outing. She is averaging 11.2 strikeouts per 7 innings, which is 18th in the NCAA and fifth in the SEC.

Josey Just Wins: Marron has won each of her first five career starts. She's also thrown three complete games, including one-hit shutouts against South Florida (2/19) and Furman (2/26).

Everybody Up!: The Bulldogs sent 10 batters to the plate in the first and fourth innings, scoring four runs in both, vs. Tulsa (2/24). State has now batted around in an inning five times this year.

Loving Leading Off: The Bulldogs have gotten their leadoff hitter aboard 51.0 percent of the time this season. Macy Graf leads the way, reaching base 12-of-15 times (80.0 percent), which is tied for third in the SEC.

Taking On Top Teams: Mississippi State has already played three NFCA-ranked teams this year, going 1-2 in those games despite outscoring teams a combined 15-14 in them.

Our State: The Bulldogs are 21-4 against teams from the state of Mississippi under Samantha Ricketts. MSU has outscored in-state foes, 178-61, in her tenure.

Lineup Log: Samantha Ricketts has yet to repeat the same lineup card through 15 games of the season. She has used the same defensive alignment just once and never repeated a batting order.

Bulldog Bunts: The Bulldogs are 6-for-7 (.857) when bunting this season along with eight successful sacrifice bunts. Kiersten Landers is 2-for-2, and Brylie St. Clair is 4-for-4 when bunting.

Nothing Easy: State's hitters are averaging just 3.13 strikeouts per game, which ranks fifth in the SEC and 20th in the NCAA. Paige Cook has just one strikeout in 33 at-bats.

About the Opponent

Mississippi Valley State (0-10, 0-0 SWAC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Jimmy Buckner | Record at MVSU: 11-36 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 11-36 (2nd Year)
Batting Average: .099; Runs Per Game: 0.8; Hits Per Game: 1.9; Slugging Percentage: .115
ERA: 11.06; K/7: 2.1; K/BB Ratio: 0.3; Opp. Batting Avg: .417

The Devilettes come into the game having lost their first 10 of the season. Their final two games at the Michelle Short Memorial Classic were cancelled. State has defeated MVSU in run-rule fashion in four consecutive meetings and in eight of the last 10. MVSU's Mykaila Fleming leads the Southwest Athletic Conference in walks per game, averaging 0.75. MSU's lone loss in the series came on April 18, 2007 in Itta Benna, Mississippi, by a score of 5-3.

On Deck

Mississippi State will host the Snowman Tournament on March 3-5 with games against Dartmouth, Abilene Christian and Murray State. All five of State's games 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."

Bulldogs Welcome In-State Foe For Home Opener Tuesday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Macy Graf

Kiersten Landers

Josey Marron

Brylie St. Clair

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldogs Welcome In-State Foe For Home Opener Tuesday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Macy Graf

Kiersten Landers

Josey Marron

Brylie St. Clair

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