Bulldogs Host Tigers In Midst Of Nine-Game Homestand
May 25, 2016 | Softball
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State To Battle SEC's Defending Champs For 33rd Time On Wednesday
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Coming off a perfect weekend in Southeastern Conference play by virtue of a series sweep of Kentucky at home, the Mississippi State softball team will continue its season-long nine-game homestand on Wednesday and Thursday when the Bulldogs suit up to host 22nd-ranked LSU in a three-game series at the MSU Softball Field.
Mississippi State (21-15, 3-6 SEC) and the five-time league champion Tigers (17-11, 1-8) will renew their rivalry for the 33rd time in a 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon doubleheader, before closing out the set on Thursday at 5 p.m. With Anthony Craven handling the play-by-play duties, WMSV 91.1 FM will broadcast the first two games of the series and all three games can be followed in progress via a live stats link at the official Internet home of the MSU athletic department, www.MStateAthletics.com.
Having played LSU more times than any other of its opponents in school annals, State has collected just three victories in the 32 game series, but has managed a bit more success over the last handful of seasons. LSU claimed 23 of the first 24 victories between the two squads from 1982 to 2002, but the Bulldogs have posted two victories since that time. Claiming results almost a near mirror-image to one another, both will look to gain a leg up this week in key meetings in terms of divisional standings in the SEC West.
LSU is a well-coached team who is very talented and capable of beating anybody in the country, said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. Like us, they lost some talent with graduation and have had to deal with growing pains as well.
Coping with the loss of Kristin Schmidt, last year's staff ace and the MVP of the 2004 NCAA Women's College World Series, the Tigers have felt a sting from the pitcher's circle where the Purple and Gold carry an uncharacteristic 2.73 staff ERA. Sophomore Emily Turner is the ace of the LSU pitching staff. With an 8-6 record, she has made 18 appearances with a 2.48 earned run average, two shutouts and 90 strikeouts while opponents hit just .190 against her. The Tigers, as a team, have recorded a 2.73 ERA with seven shutouts and a .209 batting average against.
Offensively, the Tigers are loaded with the return of both Stephanie Hill and Leslie Klein, both of whom posted 50 or more RBI in LSU's run to the postseason in 2004. Rookie Quinlan Duhon currently paces the LSU offense with a .395 average that complements 16 extra-base hits and 24 RBI. Boasting one of the SEC's best hitting teams, the Tigers also boast four other hitters in their order carrying batting clips of .359 or better. Freshman Vanessa Soto paces the Purple and Gold in the RBI column (29) on the strength of 12 doubles and four home runs.
