Bulldogs Head To Atlanta For Georgia Tech Buzz Classic
May 25, 2016 | Softball
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Fresh off a 9-0 mercy rule victory over visiting Southern Miss on Wednesday evening in Starkville, the Mississippi State softball team will pack up its show once again this weekend as the Bulldogs head to Atlanta, Ga., for the Georgia Tech-hosted Buzz Classic.
MState (12-6) will face four teams in round-robin pool play on Friday and Saturday before championship bracket play begins Saturday evening. MSU will begin its portion of pool play on Saturday afternoon against Florida A&M (11-13) at 1 p.m. before closing out first-day play against St. Francis, PA (0-7) at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will close out pool play with a day-night doubleheader on Saturday as well, facing Virginia Tech (15-2) at 10 a.m. and Troy (13-5) in the twilight game at 6.
Tallying eight base knocks en route to the most lopsided victory for either side in the history of State's 31-game series with Southern Miss, the Bulldogs have now tallied seven or more hits in 15 of 18 outings this season. Currently boasting a .317 team batting clip, the Maroon and White possess one of the top offensive squads in the Southeastern Conference, but could be tested this weekend, likely drawing all four teams' staff aces.
Florida A&M, who upset then-nationally ranked Florida State earlier this season in Tallahassee, Fla., are a very balanced club who attack opponents with a steady dose of capable hitters. Junior Kenycia Byrd currently paces the Rattlers with a .333 batting clip, but ranks second (14) on the team in the RBI column behind senior Ruby Nugent (.246, 2 HR, 15 RBI).
FAMU could throw any of three pitchers at the Bulldogs on Friday, but are likely to start junior righthander Danielle Brown (5-5, 3.55 ERA) who has gotten a bulk of the work from the circle for the Orange and Green this season.
The Red Flash, who finished tied for ninth in the Northeast Conference in 2004, are still looking for their first victory in 2005. St. Francis has totaled a collective .124 batting average, led by a pair of hitters at or above the .250 plateau including senior Melissa Mackel who currently boasts a team-best .267 batting clip with a lone RBI on a solo homer. Opponents are hitting .450 against the Red Flash's two-armed pitching staff, with sophomore righthander Jeanine Gargiulo suffering the least damage, turning in a 0-4 record and a 7.79 ERA.
Ragan Blake (1-1, 1.31) is slated to get her first collegiate start against the Rattlers on Saturday, with Melissa Massey (4-2, 2.19) scheduled to take the circle against the Red Flash
