Bulldogs Close Homestand With Pair Of Midweek Games

STARKVILLE – No. 16/17 Mississippi State will close its current five-game homestand with two midweek contests on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bulldogs host Memphis at 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday, followed by South Alabama at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The single-season attendance record could fall this week at Nusz Park. The Bulldog faithful have already packed in 18,806 fans in Starkville this season. Ony 497 more are needed to break the record set in 2016, the inaugural season of Nusz Park.

Both games this week are makeups of previously postponed contests. State and Memphis were supposed to meet in early March for a doubleheader, but Tiger injuries delayed that arrangement. The Bulldogs and Jaguars were scheduled to play last week, but heavy rains postponed the Wednesday meeting.

Mississippi State is in the middle of one of its best seasons on record. As a team, the Bulldogs are threatening school records in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and stolen base percentage. They have already won 29 games, and their most regular-season wins under head coach Samantha Ricketts is 33. The Bulldogs have been even better in SEC play, and their 9-9 record has them just one win shy of the most in a season since the SEC switched to a 24-game schedule.

Game Coverage

Leading Off

Record Crowds: State saw its highest three-game series attendance on record against No. 4 Tennessee (Apr. 12-14) with 4,042 combined fans. Saturday (1,572) was No. 5 in school history, and Sunday (1,439) was No. 11.

Pack The Park: The Bulldogs need to welcome just 497 more fans to Nusz Park this year to break the program's single-season attendance record set in Nusz Park's first season in 2016 (19,302).

SEC Success: State leads the conference in batting average, on-base percentage, hits, runs, RBIs, doubles and walks in league play.

SEC Sluggers: Madisyn Kennedy has tied the single-season school record for homers in SEC games with eight this year, joining Mia Davidson and Fa Leilua (2019). Nadia Barbary has tied the SEC-only record for doubles with 10, joining Courtney Bures (2005) and Iyhia McMichael (2004). Kennedy needs two RBIs to match Caroline Seitz's record 28 set in 2017.

Two Outs, So What?: State has collected 108 two-out RBIs, which is fourth in the SEC and fourth in school history (since 2002). 41.7 percent of MSU's RBIs (108 of 259) this year have come with two outs.

Taking Down Top Teams: State has already won a school-record 11 games against ranked teams. That total also leads the nation this year, according to ESPN.

Record Rates: The Bulldogs' current .328 batting average and .435 on-base percentage would be school records. State's .521 slugging percentage and stolen base percentage (89.7 percent) would rank second in program history behind only the shortened 2020 season.

Magic Number: MSU is 73-6 since the start of 2022 when scoring five or more runs. State has done so in 25 of its 29 wins this year.

Madi Mashing: Madisyn Kennedy's .957 slugging percentage leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally. It would also break the school record set by Mia Davidson in 2019 (.882). Kennedy is 14 RBIs shy of Kellie Wilkerson's school record (65) set in 1999.

All Out Aspen: Aspen Wesley has set career highs with 92 strikeouts and 11 wins this year, and her 85.2 innings trails only 2022's 103.0 innings, of which 24 came in the postseason leaving her with 79.0 in the regular season.

About Memphis (4-33, 1-17 American)

Series History

Overall: 13-0 | Home: 7-0 | Away: 4-0 | Neutral: 2-0
Current Streak: Won 13 | Last Meeting: Apr. 19, 2023, in Starkville, Miss. (MSU 5, MEM 0)

About South Alabama (23-15-1, 9-6 Sun Belt)

Series History

Overall: 6-6 | Home: 3-4 | Away: 3-2 | Neutral: 0-0
Current Streak: Won 2 | Last Meeting: Feb. 24, 2023, in Mobile, Ala. (MSU 8, USA 4)

On Deck

The Bulldogs have the weekend off for their regularly-scheduled SEC bye week. State returns to the diamond on Wednesday, April 24 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Bulldogs will play at Samford at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

Follow the Bulldogs

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

Bulldogs Close Homestand With Pair Of Midweek Games

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nadia Barbary

Madisyn Kennedy

Aspen Wesley

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldogs Close Homestand With Pair Of Midweek Games

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nadia Barbary

Madisyn Kennedy

Aspen Wesley

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