Bulldogs Return Home To Host MVSU At 5 p.m. Tuesday
April 18, 2011 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State returns home from a modest four-game road trip to host a midweek, non-conference softball game against Mississippi Valley State. First pitch for the in-state tilt is set for 5 p.m. at the MSU Softball Field.
The Dawgs will be meeting the Delta Devilettes for the second-straight week after head coach Jay Miller's squad claimed a 5-1 victory in Itta Bena a week ago.
Mississippi State brings a 21-24 record into the game after falling three times to No. 3 Alabama in an SEC road series over the weekend.
Senior Ali Bainbridge leads the Bulldogs, who are 16-4 at home this season, with a .358 batting average. The Vestavia Hills, Ala., native also tops the team with 42 runs scored and four triples, while her 11 doubles are tied for the most on the squad.
Junior Ka'ili Smith had a stellar week at the plate, hitting .462 (6-for-13) with a double and three RBI. On the season, the Kapolei, Hawaii, native has compiled a team-high 46 hits and .346 batting average to go along with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 23 RBI.
Senior Courtney Nesbit, a .326 batter, tops MSU with eight home runs and 38 RBI. The Acworth, Ga., native belted two doubles last week to bring her 2011 tally to nine.
Sophomore Kylie Vry continues to pace the Bulldogs with eight victories this season. The Des Moines, Iowa, native has compiled a 4.22 ERA while striking out 81 over 112.2 innings.
Fellow second-year hurler Stephanie Becker has been stellar as of late in the circle. She owns six victories and a 4.61 ERA to go along with 66 strikeouts. Junior Misty Flesher has also notched six victories while topping the SEC with four saves. Flesher has K'd 59 in 80.1 innings.
MVSU brings a 22-19 record into Tuesday's game. Angelica Robertson leads the Delta Devilettes with a .383 batting average. Her 26 RBI are second on the team, seven back of leader Nicole Burr, a .287 batter.
Robertson, Burr and Rashundra Brass top Mississippi Valley State with five home runs each.
Kim Spivey has been the top hurler for her team this season. Spivey, who suffered the loss against MSU last Tuesday, owns a 14-11 record and 2.89 ERA. She has struck out 122 in 147.2 innings.
Following Tuesday's game, the Dawgs load the bus and head to Knoxville for a three-game SEC series against No. 6 Tennessee. The series runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday due to the Easter weekend, and the first two games of the set will be broadcast on SportSouth.
