Softball Returns To Nusz Park To Open 11-Game Homestand

STARKVILLE – The No. 21 Mississippi State softball team will kick off a two-and-a-half-week stay in Starkville by welcoming UAB on Wednesday for the first of 11 consecutive home games. First pitch between the Bulldogs and the Blazers is set for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

The Bulldogs recently saw their 11-game winning streak come to an end, but it stood as MSU's longest winning streak since the 2020-21 seasons. State has climbed as high as No. 16 in the various polls at some point this season.

MSU brings a 6-0 record at home into Wednesday's game. Since Nusz Park opened in 2016, the Bulldogs are 189-76 in the facility. Despite playing three fewer games at home than at neutral sites so far this year, State has 10 additional extra base hits and 18 more RBIs when playing in the friendly confines.

The Bulldogs claimed their fourth run-rule victory of the season last weekend, defeating Louisiana Tech, 10-1, in five innings to open a 3-1 weekend at the Rocket City Softball Showcase.

Leading Off

Streak Of Success: Mississippi State saw its winning streak end at 11 games last weekend, but that stands as the Bulldogs' longest streak since winning a school-record 17 straight over the 2020 and 2021 seasons. It is tied for the eighth-longest streak in school history and is just the 12th time MSU has won at least 10 in a row.

Familiar Foe: The Bulldogs and the Blazers will meet for the 28th time in program history, which puts UAB back into a tie with Samford for the third-most-common non-conference opponent in program history. UAB and Samford are the most-common out-of-state, non-conference foes for MSU.

Made You Look: Raelin Chaffin struck out six batters looking against Jacksonville State (Feb. 23), which tied the MSU school record set by Lindsay Dunlap against SIU-Edwardsville on Feb. 21, 2009.

Delainey Delivers: Delainey Everett made three appearances last week, winning all three. She picked up a save prior to that giving her a win or a save in four straight outings. The sophomore currently boasts a 0.62 ERA that would lead the team if she had enough innings to qualify.

Sierra Sets The Table: MSU is 41-7 when Sierra Sacco scores a run since she arrived in 2024. She currently leads the team in batting average (.415), hits (17), walks (16), runs scored (18), doubles (6) and total bases (31) and is second in RBIs (16) and slugging percentage (.756).

Stiles Points: Morgan Stiles recorded a career-high seven total chances in State's last game against Miami (Ohio) while turning a double play and not making an error. She has gone 22 chances without an error. At the plate, she has successfully advanced a runner 52.6 percent (10-of-19) of the time.

Love For Lexi: Lexi Sosa leads the team with 17 RBIs and five homers this season. Meanwhile, in the circle, she is 2-0 with a save.

Beat The Streak: Kylee Edwards is riding career-long four-game hitting and eight-game reached base streaks. Sierra Sacco's reached-base streak has reached 13 games, and she boasts a 1.484 OPS in that span.

Magic Number: The Bulldogs have scored five or more runs in 60 of State's 75 wins (80.0 percent) over the past three seasons. The Bulldogs are 130-15 under Samantha Ricketts when scoring at least five.

About UAB (8-6, 0-0 AAC)

Series History

Notables

UAB returns its top two hitters from last year's lineup, Hannah Dorsett and Bella Wiggins; however, in the circle, UAB is looking to replace 200 innings after losing its top two pitchers from last spring. Wiggins led the AAC in triples last year and was 10th in the conference in slugging percentage. This year, Wiggins has already stolen a league-leading 28 bases. UAB is ranked 28th nationally in batting average (.347) and ninth in triples (7). The Blazers have already played four games against common opponents with MSU and will play eight more this season. They are led by first-year head coach Taylor Smartt and an entirely new coaching staff.

On Deck

Mississippi State remains in Starkville this weekend to host the Bulldog Invitational presented by C Spire. Alabama State, New Mexico and Northwestern State will be in attendance.

State starts off the weekend on Friday against Alabama State at 3 p.m. before meeting New Mexico at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Bulldogs play Northwestern State at 12:30 p.m. then face New Mexico again at 3 p.m. They'll close the weekend at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday with a rematch against Northwestern State.

Follow the Bulldogs

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

Softball Returns To Nusz Park To Open 11-Game Homestand

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Raelin Chaffin

Kylee Edwards

Delainey Everett

Sierra Sacco

Lexi Sosa

Morgan Stiles

Mississippi State University Athletics

Softball Returns To Nusz Park To Open 11-Game Homestand

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Raelin Chaffin

Kylee Edwards

Delainey Everett

Sierra Sacco

Lexi Sosa

Morgan Stiles

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