Bulldogs Take The Field For SEC Network Showcase Series At Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 18/18 Mississippi State softball team will play its annual Saturday-Monday series at No. 14/14 Missouri this weekend with all three games airing on the SEC Network.

State (30-14, 9-9 SEC) returns to conference play after a bye week last week. The Bulldogs are currently sixth in the SEC standings, and the Tigers (35-13, 8-10 SEC) sit just behind them.

The Bulldogs have won their first three SEC road series, marking the first time they've won three road series since the league switched to a 24-game schedule in 2013. State already has 13 wins away from Nusz Park and could reach 16 before the end of the regular season, which would be its highest total since 2014.

MSU has excelled with two outs this season, driving in 41.3 percent of its RBIs with two down in the inning. The Bulldogs are second in the SEC in conference play in batting average and on-base percentage and lead in doubles. State has a chance to set school records in conference play in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and doubles this year.

Game Coverage

Leading Off

Road Dawgs: The Bulldogs won three road SEC series for the first time since the shift to a 24-game conference schedule. MSU's four road losses would currently rank as the fewest in the program's modern era (since 1997). In the regular-season alone, State has the chance to reach 16 combined road and neutral victories, which would be its highest total since 2014 (19).

Steady Improvement: The Bulldogs could record their highest total of regular-season wins under Samantha Ricketts this week. State needs to win three games to match the 2022 season with 33 wins before the postseason.

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 114 two-out RBIs, which is fourth in the SEC and second in school history (since 2002). 41.3 percent of MSU's RBIs (114 of 276) this year have come with two outs.

Taking Down Top Teams: State has already won a school-record 11 games against ranked teams. MSU also has eight wins against RPI top-25 teams, which is tied for ninth nationally.

Record Rates: The Bulldogs' current .431 on-base percentage and 90.7 percent stolen base percentage would be school records. State's .322 batting average and .519 slugging percentage are currently second in program history behind only the shortened 2020 season.

Magic Number: MSU is 74-6 since the start of 2022 when scoring five or more runs. State has done so in 26 of its 30 wins this year.

Madi Mashing: Madisyn Kennedy's .908 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 13 RBIs shy of Kellie Wilkerson's school record (65) set in 1999.

All Out Aspen: Aspen Wesley has set career highs with 94 strikeouts and 11 wins this year, and her 88.2 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 Missouri (35-13, 8-10 SEC)

Series History

Overall: 9-16 | Home: 6-7 | Away: 3-6 | Neutral: 0-3
Current Streak: Lost 2 | Last Meeting: May 9, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (MSU 1, MIZ 3)

About the Tigers

Abby Hay is the reigning SEC Player of the Week after batting .636 with a 1.182 slugging percentage last week. She hit .750 over the weekend SEC series with then-No. 9/9 Georgia. She posted a hit in each game, including multi-hit games in all three games of the Georgia series. Alex Honnold has notched 20 doubles this season, which leads the SEC and ranks second nationally, to break the Missouri school record. Laurin Krings secured her 50th career win as a Tiger last week and now sits one win away from breaking into the Mizzou program top-10 list for wins. She ranks sixth in Mizzou history with 546 strikeouts.

On Deck

The Bulldogs return home for the final weekend of the regular season. State hosts No. 11/9 Georgia on May 3-5 with the season finale airing on SEC Network at 11 a.m. CT.

Follow the Bulldogs

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

Bulldogs Take The Field For SEC Network Showcase Series At Missouri

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nadia Barbary

Madisyn Kennedy

Aspen Wesley

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldogs Take The Field For SEC Network Showcase Series At Missouri

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nadia Barbary

Madisyn Kennedy

Aspen Wesley

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