Bulldogs Set To Take On Ole Miss In Fifth Annual M&F Bank Fastpitch Classic
May 25, 2016 | Softball
Tickets are available for $6 at metro Jackson area M&F Bank branches and are also available for sell from any of the high school softball teams. Children age 10 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Any high school team that would like to come to the game needs to contact Joe Iupe, game chairman at 601-942-1689.
MState is 1-3 all-time at the Classic and have lost the last two years to Ole Miss, 4-0 in 2005 and 2-1 in 2006. MSU faced Southern Miss in the first two Classics, with USM winning the inaugural game, 8-5 in 2003, and State taking the second game, 6-3 in 2004.
Mississippi State leads the all-time series with Ole Miss, 20-14. In Starkville, MSU leads 12-4, while in Oxford, the series is tied 8-8. Ole Miss holds a 2-0 advantage when played on a neutral field. MSU has outscored the Rebels, 145-87. Last year, UM swept a three-game series, 2-1, 6-5, and 1-0, and have won the last four meetings.
Chelsea Bramlett looks to keep her strong start to her collegiate career going. The freshman leads MSU in hitting with a .397 batting average. She also leads the team in runs (34) and hits (48), and is second in the conference in stolen bases with 29 which sets a new MSU all-time freshman record.
Kelli Miller leads the Bulldogs from the mound with a 8-6 record and a1.27 ERA. In 77.0 innings of work, the senior has struck out 38 batters.Kelsey Nurnberg is 6-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 58.0 innings of work.
Ole Miss enters Tuesday's contest with a 14-20 overall record, and 5-6 in the SEC. The Rebels are coming off a weekend that saw them drop two of three games to Kentucky. As a team, Ole Miss is batting .259 with 36 doubles and 24 home runs. UM has also stolen 15 bases in only 26 attempts. Offensively, the Rebels are led by Lauren Grill. The freshman his hitting .327 with six doubles, 11 home runs, 22 runs and 20 RBI. Mary Jo Callahan has added two home runs, five doubles and 18 RBI, while hitting .305. Lauren Rowe has four home runs and 16 RBI. From the pitching circle, Ole Miss is led by a trio of pitchers. Mary Jane Callahan leads the team with an 8-6 record and a 1.65 ERA. She also has eight complete games, while striking out 77 batters. Tara Willitt is4-4 with a 2.72 ERA with 40 strikeouts. Becky Nye has struck out 55 batters, but is just 2-10 on the year. Opponents are hitting just .244 against Rebel pitching.
Following Wednesday's game, the Bulldogs return home for a three-game series with South Carolina. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 31, followed by a single game on Sunday. Game times for both days are set for 1 p.m. (CT).
