Mississippi State Opens SEC Play With Kentucky
March 06, 2014 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After playing 21 non-conference contests, Mississippi State begins the Southeastern Conference portion of the 2014 slate with three games against No. 8/10 Kentucky. The Bulldogs are 19-2 overall, good for the best 21-game start in program history.
At Friday's series opener, autographed 2014 team posters will be given away while supplies last. Prior to Saturday's contest, Hail State foam fingers will be given away while supplies last. Every Sunday this spring at the MSU Softball Stadium is Kids Day. At the field will be FREE face tattoos and ice cream for fans, and kids in eighth grade and under can run the bases after the game.
Mississippi State holds a 27-19 advantage in the all-time series with the Wildcats. The home team has swept the series the last three years. MSU also holds a 16-5 record in Starkville versus Kentucky.
A year ago in Lexington, the Wildcats claimed 5-4, 3-2 and 7-0 triumphs. The opener went 10 innings as Alice O'Brien hit a walk-off home run to lead off the bottom of the 10th. In game two, a two-run home run from Griffin Joiner gave UK a 2-0 lead in the first. MSU got a run back in the second with a Briana Bell RBI double before a Nikki Sagermann solo long ball in the fourth put the Wildcats up 3-1. Ashley Phillips provided a two-out run-scoring single in the seventh but a groundout ended the contest. Two home runs from Maisie Steed and a long ball from Emily Jolly carried Kentucky to the win in the finale.
Heading into this weekend's series, Mississippi State owns the SEC's lowest team earned-run average (0.64) and batting average against (.132) while also having the league's most strikeouts (181) and fewest hits allowed (64). The Bulldogs are tied for the league lead in fewest walks surrendered with 24.
Following the set with UK, MSU heads to Georgia for the week, playing five games in six days. The Bulldogs start the trek with a Tuesday contest at Kennesaw State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT.
