Bulldogs Open Key Three-Game SEC Series Against Ole Miss Friday
March 31, 2011 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State has won 10-straight games at the MSU Softball Field, and the Bulldogs look to continue that run this weekend as in-state rival Ole Miss comes to campus for a three-game SEC series beginning at 5 p.m. Friday.
The final two games of the series are set for 1 p.m. first pitches on Saturday and Sunday. Admission to every game is free, and a live audio stream will be available at www.mstateathletics.com/m2mlive.
Mississippi State enters the series 17-17 overall and 5-5 in SEC play after a Tuesday sweep of Alcorn State that put Bulldog head coach Jay Miller at 997 career victories. Currently in his 29th season as a head coach, Miller can become the 13th NCAA Division I coach and 18th among all divisions to reach the 1,000-win milestone.
Miller will be looking for another strong outing from his ballclub after it out-scored the Lady Braves 21-3 on Tuesday.
Senior Ali Bainbridge continues to pace the Bulldogs at the plate, hitting .389 with an SEC third-most 11 doubles, two triples and three home runs. The Vestavia Hills, Ala., native has scored a team-high 33 times while driving in 11 runs.
Since moving to the leadoff spot in the order on Feb. 23, Bainbridge has hit at a .400 clip with 10 doubles and 24 runs scored.
During that same 15-game stretch, junior Ka'ili Smith has been red hot at the plate, hitting .418 with 11 RBI and 16 runs. On the season, the Kapolei, Hawaii, native has tallied a .360 average and 18 RBI. She also ranks second on the squad with 20 runs scored.
Freshman Sam Lenahan has been a key part of State's 13-1 home start. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native has hit .469 (15-for-32) at the MSU Softball Field this season, and she collected the first two triples of her career on Tuesday to go along with a .318 average, five home runs and nine doubles in her rookie season. Her 25 RBI rank three back of team leader Courtney Nesbit, who paces MSU with seven home runs.
Senior Chelsea Raines, an Ackerman, Miss., native, hit a pair of home runs on Tuesday to raise her 2011 tally to six. Raines has compiled a .306 average and eight doubles while driving in 22 runs.
The MSU bats provided plenty of support as the Mississippi State hurlers limited Alcorn to three runs and four hits in the midweek twinbill.
Sophomore Kylie Vry notched her team-leading sixth win in the opening game. The Des Moines, Iowa, native has also collected two saves this season while striking out a team-best 74 over 93.2 innings.
Junior Misty Flesher relieved Vry and collected her third save of the season. The Lone Grove, Okla., native has record 52 strikeouts over 66.1 innings.
Mississippi State's pitchers will be facing an Ole Miss squad that is hitting .254 as a unit this season.
RT Cantillo leads the way with a .322 average and nine doubles. Her 15 RBI are tied with Cali Overbeck (.305, 5 2B, 4 HR) and Londen Ladner (.301, 8 2B, 3 HR) for second on the squad behind Brittany Barnhill, who has 16 this season while hitting .247.
Lindsey Perry leads the Rebels in the circle with a 9-3 record and 2.69 ERA. She has tossed 80.2 innings and struck out 72.
