Bulldogs Close Out Homestand Against Samford
May 25, 2016 | Softball
With a perfect February now all but a memory, the Bulldogs (13-0) will face Samford (5-10) for the first time in three years, and the first time in Starkville since dropping a 2-0 setback to the Red and Blue on April 25, 2000. MSU took an abbreviated 15-4 decision from Samford in the last meeting between the squads on Feb. 16, 2003 at the Ole Miss-hosted Rebel/Easton Invitational and leads the all-time series by a 9-1 count, including a 6-1 edge in Starkville.
Wednesday's twinbill can be followed in progress via a live stats link at the official Internet home for the MSU athletic department, www.MStateAthletics.com. Admission to all 2006 MSU Softball home games is free.
Fresh off its third consecutive perfect run through a tournament, State tallied four wins at the rain-shortened Bulldog Round-Robin in picking up its seventh-straight home tournament championship. On the weekend, the Maroon and White turned in a .323 team batting clip, while accumulating a 1.08 ERA from the pitching circle.
Hayle Guess continues to lead the MState offensive tirade, batting at a .488 (21-for-43) mark with nine extra-base hits and seven RBI, as well as posting team bests in runs scored (15) and stolen bases (11). The team RBI lead is maintained by Courtney Bures (.486, HR, 14 RBI), with sophomore Nakita Boyce hitting .474 with seven RBI and 13 runs scored.
Fresh off her first career no-hitter on Sunday, Ragan Blake (7-0, 0.47 ERA) is leading the ?€˜Dogs from the circle, but has combined with fellow righthanders Stephanie Comeaux (6-0, 0.92) and Sara Hickerson (0-0, 0.00) in posting the SEC's second best cumulative ERA (0.67).
Samford is ripe from a 3-2 showing at the Stetson University tournament where the Bulldogs of the Ohio Valley Conference defeated Marist, Western Michigan and Winthrop. Samford is paced offensively by junior rightfielder Shelley Stanley who maintains a team best .326 (14-for-43) batting average that complements seven extra-base hits and 10 RBI. Jessica Owens (.304, 4 RBI) has proven successful on six of eight stolen base attempts this season, while turning in a team-best 10 runs scored.
Righthander Stephanie Royall (2-3, 2.90) has appeared in 13 of Samford's 15 games this season, but the club is led in the ERA column by junior Susanna Meyer (0-4, 2.86) who was expected to get the start against MSU on February 22 in Birmingham, Ala. That game was declared a rain out early in the day.
Following Wednesday afternoon's twinbill in Starkville, Mississippi State will return to action this weekend when it travels to Waco, Texas, for the Compass Bank Invitational. The Bulldogs will open their portion of tournament play on Friday at 12:30 p.m. against #14 Washington (12-3) before taking on the host and 18th-ranked Baylor Bears (9-5) at 5:30. Saturday's action will include a game against Bowling Green (6-0) at 10 a.m., as well as a rematch with the Huskies at 12:30 p.m.
