Looking Back On 2014
May 21, 2014 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - With momentum growing heading into the 2014 season, the Mississippi State softball team did not disappoint, turning in one of the strongest campaigns in program history.
The Bulldogs returned to the Southeastern Conference Tournament and qualified for their third-straight NCAA Tournament, winning a game at the NCAA event for the second consecutive campaign.
Below are some highlights from the 2014 season.
Win Total Is Rising ...
Mississippi State recorded 39 wins, tied for the third most in a year in program history. The squad trailed only the 2000 (44 victories) and 2008 (41 victories) teams for the most wins by an MSU club.
Eight Wins Against Ranked Teams ...
Mississippi State claimed eight wins against ranked opponents in 2014 (1/No. 8 Kentucky, 1/No. 21 Auburn, 1/No. 16 Missouri, 2/No. 3 Alabama, 2/No. 4 Tennessee, 1/No. 25 LSU). The total is tied with the 2002 squad for the second most in a year in program history, just two behind the 2004 team. In the last two years combined, the Bulldogs had claimed six victories against top-25 opponents.
Three In Three ...
Head coach Vann Stuedeman has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of her three years at the helm. She joins Alabama's Patrick Murphy, Florida's Tim Walton, Missouri's Ehren Earleywine and LSU's Beth Torina as the only active SEC coaches to make the big dance in their first three years as head coach.
The three consecutive tournament trips are the most for the Bulldogs since going to the NCAA's main event from 2007-09.
Lots Of Whiffs ...
Against Texas Southern, freshman pitcher Alexis Silkwood tallied a Mississippi State freshman-record 13 strikeouts. The 13 whiffs tied senior Alison Owen's NCAA Tournament single-game record. Of Silkwood's first 16 outs of the game, 10 were whiffs.
Setting The Freshman Record ...
The performance against Texas Southern by Silkwood increased her strikeout total to 167 to set the record for the most in a year by a freshman in program history. The total is also good for the fifth most in a year by any MSU hurler.
Dogs On The Run ...
Mississippi State stole four bases against Texas Southern, tied for the most in program history during an NCAA Tournament game. The Bulldogs also swiped four against California on May 15, 2009.
A Successful SEC Season ...
The Bulldogs finished the SEC season with 10 wins, the most since recording 12 in 2012. The total was tied for the second most in the last five seasons.
Lots Of Non-Conference Wins ...
Mississippi State tallied 28 non-league wins during the regular season, its most since taking 28 in 2008.
Three-Straight Wins Over Top-Five Opponents ...
With a 2-0 victory on April 18 at No. 4/4 Tennessee, Mississippi State earned its third-straight victory against a top-five opponent after downing No. 3/2 Alabama on April 12-13.
It was the first time the Bulldogs had won three consecutive games against ranked foes since taking seven straight from April 9-May 13, 2004, and the first time ever winning three straight against top-five opponents.
From Rare To Common ...
Mississippi State won four games versus top-five opponents in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll this season. Prior to the set versus No. 3 Alabama on April 11-13, the Bulldogs had won five games in program history versus top-five opponents.
Rare Series Wins Versus Alabama And Tennessee ...
With consecutive series victories against No. 3/2 Alabama and No. 4/4 Tennessee, Mississippi State became the first program to win the series against both Southeastern Conference powers in the same season since Florida took two-of-three games from Alabama and swept Tennessee in 2011.
MSU became just the fourth program in the last 10 years to accomplish the feat, joining Florida (2011 and 2009), LSU (2007) and Georgia (2005).
An Unusual Road Series Victory ...
With two wins at No. 4/4 Tennessee April 18 and 20, the Bulldogs became the first unranked team to hand the Lady Vols a home three-game SEC series loss since MSU accomplished the feat March 28-29, 2009.
Reversing The Curses ...
Before winning the series against No. 3/2 Alabama, MSU had gone 1-29 in the last 30 meetings with the Crimson Tide. Prior to taking two-of-three games in Knoxville, the Bulldogs had lost six-of-seven meetings with the Lady Vols.
Three Straight In The SEC ...
By taking two-of-three games against Arkansas April 25-27, two-of-three contests at No. 4/4 Tennessee April 18-20 and two-of-three games from No. 3/2 Alabama April 11-13, Mississippi State earned three-straight Southeastern Conference series wins for the first time since winning two-of-three at Arkansas and then sweeping Ole Miss and Kentucky from April 6-21, 2012.
Seitz A Top 25 Finalist For Freshman Of The Year ...
Freshman Caroline Seitz was a Top 25 Finalist for the inaugural NFCA Freshman of the Year Award. She topped the Bulldogs with a .340 batting average, 64 hits, 20 doubles, 19 multiple-hit games and a .617 slugging percentage.
Seitz An All-Region Selection ...
Prior to the NCAA Tournament, Seitz received NFCA All-South Region First Team honors. She is the sixth freshman in program history to earn all-region honors and first since Ka'ili Smith in 2009. The Bulldogs have had at least one NFCA All-Region honoree for three-straight years and 22 of the last 23 seasons.
Seitz And Silkwood Named To SEC All-Freshman Team ...
Seitz and Silkwood were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. The pair of selections are tied for the most in a year in Bulldog history. MSU also had two SEC All-Freshman honorees in 2007 and 2011.
Seitz and Silkwood are the 11th and 12th players in program history, and second and third under Stuedeman, to earn the recognition from the SEC.
Silkwood Nets Trio Of SEC Weekly Honors ...
Silkwood was named the April 21 Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week. It was the first such honor of her career and her third league award this year as she was selected as the SEC Freshman of the Week on Feb. 17 and March 3.
Owen Gets SEC Pitcher Of The Week Honor ...
Owen was named the April 14 SEC Pitcher of the Week. It was the first honor this season for Owen and the third of her career as she picked up the award Feb. 25 and March 4, 2013. She is the only pitcher in program history to win the award more than once in her career.
Weekly Pitching Honors From The League On The Rise ...
Mississippi State received two SEC Pitcher of the Week awards this season and has had at least one such honoree for three-straight years, the longest stretch for the program since 2001-04.
Prior to Stuedeman taking over the program in 2012, MSU had seven total SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. In the three-year Stuedeman era, the Bulldogs have won five.
Four Weekly Honors ...
The Bulldogs' four weekly honors from the SEC this season are tied with the 2008 and 2004 squads for the second most in program history. Only the 2009 team has received more honors with five.
