Bulldogs Face Must Win As Ole Miss Rolls Into Starkville
May 25, 2016 | Softball
State (30-25, 4-19 SEC) and Ole Miss (17-33, 4-19) will renew their rivalry for the 34th time and the third time this season when the squads meet in Starkville on Wednesday. Although the Maroon and White lead the all-time series by a 20-13 count, the Rebels have already clinched the 2006 series with a 2-1 victory in Ridgeland on April 5, as well as a come-from-behind victory over MSU in Oxford on April 11.
First pitch of the contest has been slated for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast by WMSV 91.1 FM with Stephen Cole handling all the balls and strikes. The game can also be followed via a live statistics and live streaming audio link at the official Internet home of the MSU athletic department, www.MStateAthletics.com. Admission to all 2006 MSU Softball home games is free.
With a log jam at the bottom of the Southeastern Conference standings, both teams will face a must-win situation in Starkville as it pertains to securing one of eight spots in the SEC Tournament. South Carolina currently stands in eighth place, holding a two-game cushion over both State and Ole Miss. The Bulldogs have participated in eight consecutive SEC Tournaments, while the Rebels are still seeking their first qualifying berth.
This game is big for us in a lot of ways, said Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller. They beat us in the first two games of the series, so you have a little bit of a revenge factor. Playing Ole Miss at home is another one. But, the biggest factor for us is getting back into the SEC Tournament and giving ourselves a chance for (NCAA) postseason. It's a key game for us and one that we need to come out strong and play well in.
State and Ole Miss have gone in the same direction in the month of April with the Rebels posting a 4-11 mark, including a pair of wins over MState, a Sunday win over South Carolina and an extra-inning victory at Mississippi Valley State. The Bulldogs have gone 0-17 in the previous 24 days of the month, including a 0-3 mark in the current homestand.
Lefthander Mary Jane Callahan (7-16, 3.27 ERA) has tallied a save in the first meeting of the season, while collecting the win in State's 6-5 loss in Oxford, despite surrendering eight hits and five earned runs. Callahan has also done most of the damage in the series for the Rebels from the plate, hitting .750 (3-for-4) with one home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Ole Miss has put together a .347 team batting average in the series.
Courtney Bures, Katie Cooley and Hayle Guess have all tagged home runs this season against Ole Miss, with Cooley, Guess and catcher Blair Geddings all posting batting clips at .429 or better. From the circle, righthander Ragan Blake has collected both decisions for the Bulldogs, striking out eight and allowing eight earned runs in two losses.
Following Wednesday evening's action at the MSU Softball Field, the Bulldogs will wrap up the home portion of its 2006 schedule this weekend when it welcomes fifth-ranked Alabama (40-7, 18-3) to Starkville for a three-game series. The two will open up the weekend with a 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon doubleheader before closing out the set on Sunday at 1 p.m. as well. State will honor its lone senior, Callye Williams, prior to Sunday's first pitch at the MSU Softball Field.
