For the first time since 2016, Mississippi State softball earned a spot in the Top 25 in either national poll.
Big Weekend Propels Softball into ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25
February 27, 2018 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After an impressive showing at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic and picking up two wins over ranked foes, Mississippi State softball (12-3) checks in at No. 25 in this week's ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll.
This marks the first time the Bulldogs have cracked the Top 25 in either major softball poll since March 22, 2016. MSU is also currently receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs are now one of 11 teams in the Southeastern Conference to be ranked nationally.
Mississippi State continued its nonconference slate last weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, one the premier tournaments in the sport, in Palm Springs, Calif. Over the weekend, the Bulldogs faced three straight ranked opponents, earning a run-rule victory over No. 23 Nebraska, 9-0, before coming from behind to top No. 16 Oklahoma State, 6-4. MSU's suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of No. 15 Arizona State as the Sun Devils plated two unearned runs in the first inning to open the tournament.
Entering the fourth week of the season, Mississippi State's pitching staff has been dominating in the circle, leading the SEC and ranking second nationally with a 0.63 earned run average. The Bulldogs have allowed just nine earned runs over 100.0 innings for work. Senior Cassady Knudsen leads the staff with a 0.23 ERA and 54 strikeouts. She leads the country with a 12.3 strikeouts per seven inning average.
Freshman Mia Davidson has been the breakout star of MSU's offense as she leads all SEC freshmen and ranks fifth overall in the conference with 23 hits. Davidson holds a team-leading .989 slugging percentage with five doubles, two triples and four home runs this season.
State returns to action this weekend, hosting the Bulldog Slamboree at Nusz Park. MSU opens the tournament on Friday, March 2 versus Lamar at 3:30 p.m. The Bulldogs will also face Mercer and Sam Houston State over the three-day tournament.
For more information on the MSU softball program, follow "HailStateSB" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all-access coverage of the Bulldogs on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
This marks the first time the Bulldogs have cracked the Top 25 in either major softball poll since March 22, 2016. MSU is also currently receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs are now one of 11 teams in the Southeastern Conference to be ranked nationally.
Mississippi State continued its nonconference slate last weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, one the premier tournaments in the sport, in Palm Springs, Calif. Over the weekend, the Bulldogs faced three straight ranked opponents, earning a run-rule victory over No. 23 Nebraska, 9-0, before coming from behind to top No. 16 Oklahoma State, 6-4. MSU's suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of No. 15 Arizona State as the Sun Devils plated two unearned runs in the first inning to open the tournament.
Entering the fourth week of the season, Mississippi State's pitching staff has been dominating in the circle, leading the SEC and ranking second nationally with a 0.63 earned run average. The Bulldogs have allowed just nine earned runs over 100.0 innings for work. Senior Cassady Knudsen leads the staff with a 0.23 ERA and 54 strikeouts. She leads the country with a 12.3 strikeouts per seven inning average.
Freshman Mia Davidson has been the breakout star of MSU's offense as she leads all SEC freshmen and ranks fifth overall in the conference with 23 hits. Davidson holds a team-leading .989 slugging percentage with five doubles, two triples and four home runs this season.
State returns to action this weekend, hosting the Bulldog Slamboree at Nusz Park. MSU opens the tournament on Friday, March 2 versus Lamar at 3:30 p.m. The Bulldogs will also face Mercer and Sam Houston State over the three-day tournament.
For more information on the MSU softball program, follow "HailStateSB" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all-access coverage of the Bulldogs on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
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