Bulldogs Head To UAB For Final Conference Tuneup
May 25, 2016 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Coming off a 4-2 weekend that saw it advance to the quarterfinals of the Buzz Classic championship bracket, the Mississippi State softball team will head to Birmingham, Ala., Tuesday afternoon to battle UAB in its final tuneup before beginning conference play this weekend.
The Bulldogs (16-8) and Blazers (11-14) will meet at 4 p.m. inside George Ward Park in Birmingham. Live statistics will not be available for this event but admission is free. The two will meet for the sixth time in a series dominated by the Maroon and White, 4-1.
Fresh off a weekend that saw it record a .307 team batting clip, MState will look to extend its winning streak over the Blazers out to four games, while UAB will be seeking out its first triumph in the series since a 3-0 blanking of the Maroon and White on April 22, 2003, in Starkville. The Blazers are riding an emotional high after besting Samford, 2-1, in the championship game of the Magic City Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday evening's game will be the first of a pair of meetings between the two squads this season, with the second leg of the home-and-home series set to take place on March 22 at the MSU Softball Field. The contest will also mark State's final tune-up before conference season begins this weekend with a three-game series against Georgia in Starkville.
"I am happy with where we are from a hitting perspective, but we aren't where we need to be defensively," said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. "However, I see us improving week after week and I'm pleased with that. Historically, UAB has always given us a tough game so tomorrow night will be a good test for us to see where we are at heading into SEC play this weekend against Georgia."
Currently carrying a .198 team batting average, UAB will offer its strongest offense from the top to middle part of its order where the Blazers boast a pair of .280 hitters in freshman Leigh Walker (.283, 4 RBI) and sophomore Holly Krzan (.280, HR, 4 RBI). From the circle, senior Erica Mascarenas possesses team-bests with both record (4-1) and ERA (1.56) and has tallied a pair of shutouts.
The Bulldogs will take on the Red and Black of Georgia this weekend at home, beginning with a 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon doubleheader and commencing with a single game on Sunday, also at 1 p.m. Admission to all 2005 MSU Softball home games is free.
