Tuesday, March 27
Montgomery, Ala.
5:00 PM
Mississippi State
at
Alabama State
Reggie Harrison ranks 10th in the Southeastern Conference, averaging 0.63 walks per game.
Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics
No. 21 Bulldog Softball Readies for Midweek Tilt at Alabama State
March 26, 2018 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Coming off a back-and-forth conference series against No. 7 Georgia, No. 21 Mississippi State softball (27-6, 3-3 SEC) returns to nonconference action on Tuesday with a short trek to Montgomery, Ala., to face Alabama State (11-21, 3-3 SWAC).
Tuesday's contest at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex is set for a 5 p.m. CT first pitch. There will be no live streaming available for Tuesday's contest.
Tomorrow will mark the fourth time in program history that Mississippi State has faced Alabama State in program history and will be the first time the Bulldogs have made the trip to Montgomery. Mississippi State has won all three previous contests by run-rule victory and has not allowed an Alabama State run scored or hit in those three contests.
The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking series against No. 7 Georgia to open Southeastern Conference play at Nusz Park. The Bulldogs took a lead into the seventh inning in all three contests, but Georgia rallied to either score the go-ahead or tying run in the top of the seventh and ultimately took the series two games to one.
Pitching continues to be the most dominate factor in the Bulldogs' success through the first half of the season. As a staff, MSU has tossed 12 shutouts to hold a blistering 1.36 earned run average, which is good for fifth in the SEC and 11th nationally. MSU also ranks sixth in the conference with a 3.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Senior Holly Ward continues to be the anchor of the pitching staff, ranking eighth in the conference with a 0.98 ERA. Ward has notched 10 wins and three saves this season and ranks eighth in the conference with 93 strikeouts. Senior Cassady Knudsen holds seventh place in the SEC with 99 strikeouts, already the fifth-most recorded by a Bulldog senior in school history. Knudsen ranks ninth in the country with a 10.4 strikeouts per seven innings average this season.
Offensively, freshman Mia Davidson continues to put together one of the best freshmen classes in over a decade. Davidson is the only Bulldogs this season to record 30 or more runs scored, RBIs and hits this season. She ranks eighth in MSU single-season history and second in the SEC with 11 home runs this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bulldogs closed its first home SEC series of the 2018 season, dropping a 3-2 game to No. 7 Georgia on Sunday. Sarai Niu plated both runs of the game, knocking a home run to lead off the second inning and picking up an RBI off a fielder's choice to the sixth to put MSU's ahead 2-1. The home run was the first allowed by Georgia pitching ace Brittany Gray this season.
Holding on to a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh, Georgia rallied with a two-RBI single by Ciara Bryan to take a 3-2 advantage before Gray tossed a perfect frame to clinch the series in favor of Georgia.
Friday, March 23
No. 7 Georgia def. No. 21 Mississippi State, 4-2 (Box Score, Recap)
Saturday, March 24
No. 21 Mississippi State def. No. 7 Georgia, 5-4 (Box Score, Recap)
Sunday, March 25
No. 7 Georgia def. No. 21 Mississippi State, 3-2 (Box Score, Recap)
SERIES HISTORY
Against Alabama State
Overall: Mississippi State leads 3-0
In Montgomery: First Meeting
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Alabama State, 10-0 (5)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, +3
HORNET REPELLANT
Not only has Mississippi State's three previous meetings against Alabama State have been shutouts, but all three games have also been no-hitters. Mississippi State has won all three contests via run rule and have outscored the Hornets, 58-0.
HURTS SO GOOD
For the 33rd time in her career, Sarai Niu was hit by a pitch, which moves her into a tie for third all-time in program history. Niu has tied Keri McCallum, who was also hit 33 times over the 1997-2000 seasons. Briana Bell (2008-13) holds the program of 55.
BOMB SQUAD
As a team the Bulldogs have hit 30 home runs, which ranks tied for fifth in the Southeastern Conference and have turned in 10 multi-home run performances this season. Freshman Mia Davidson leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with a total of 11 home runs through the first 33 games of the season.
Three Bulldogs have also knocked the first home runs of their career this season: Carmen Carter, Macey Petrey and Bevia Robinson.
WARD UP
Holly Ward's impressive start to her senior season has moved her into the MSU career record book. With a strong showing over MSU's series against No. 7 Georgia, Ward moved into seventh in career strikeouts and ranks in the top 10 in six pitching categories.
T6th Shutouts 9
T6th Solo No-Hitters 1
7th Opponent Batting Avg. .235
7th Strikeouts 292
T7th Saves 6
9th Strikeouts per 7 inn. 5.57
MAMA MIA!
To say that Mia Davidson has had hot start to her freshman season would be an understatement. Not only has Davidson proven to be a spark to MSU offense's early success, but she has also ranks as one of the top hitters amongst the conference.
Davidson currently ranks in the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference in eight offensive categories, including first in total bases (92), second in home runs (11), third in slugging percentage (.876) and fifth in hits (45).
MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
In her seventh season at the helm of Mississippi State softball, Vann Stuedeman has notched 230 wins to surpass Kathy Arendsen (1997-2002) for the second-most victories in program history. Jay Miller (2003-211) holds the program record at 295.
WEATHER
Tuesday, March 24 – 73 Degrees; Cloudy (20%)
LIVE STATS
Alabama State will provide live stats for Tuesday's contest, which may be accessed through the link below:
Mississippi State at Alabama State Live Stats
ADMISSION
Admission for Tuesday's contest at Barbara Williams Softball Complex is free.
ON DECK
Mississippi State returns to conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Arkansas, beginning Friday, March 30 at 6 p.m. CT. Both Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 contests are set for 1 p.m. CT start times. All three games will be streamed on the SEC Network+.
FOLLOW THE DAWGS
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".
Tuesday's contest at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex is set for a 5 p.m. CT first pitch. There will be no live streaming available for Tuesday's contest.
Tomorrow will mark the fourth time in program history that Mississippi State has faced Alabama State in program history and will be the first time the Bulldogs have made the trip to Montgomery. Mississippi State has won all three previous contests by run-rule victory and has not allowed an Alabama State run scored or hit in those three contests.
The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking series against No. 7 Georgia to open Southeastern Conference play at Nusz Park. The Bulldogs took a lead into the seventh inning in all three contests, but Georgia rallied to either score the go-ahead or tying run in the top of the seventh and ultimately took the series two games to one.
Pitching continues to be the most dominate factor in the Bulldogs' success through the first half of the season. As a staff, MSU has tossed 12 shutouts to hold a blistering 1.36 earned run average, which is good for fifth in the SEC and 11th nationally. MSU also ranks sixth in the conference with a 3.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Senior Holly Ward continues to be the anchor of the pitching staff, ranking eighth in the conference with a 0.98 ERA. Ward has notched 10 wins and three saves this season and ranks eighth in the conference with 93 strikeouts. Senior Cassady Knudsen holds seventh place in the SEC with 99 strikeouts, already the fifth-most recorded by a Bulldog senior in school history. Knudsen ranks ninth in the country with a 10.4 strikeouts per seven innings average this season.
Offensively, freshman Mia Davidson continues to put together one of the best freshmen classes in over a decade. Davidson is the only Bulldogs this season to record 30 or more runs scored, RBIs and hits this season. She ranks eighth in MSU single-season history and second in the SEC with 11 home runs this season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bulldogs closed its first home SEC series of the 2018 season, dropping a 3-2 game to No. 7 Georgia on Sunday. Sarai Niu plated both runs of the game, knocking a home run to lead off the second inning and picking up an RBI off a fielder's choice to the sixth to put MSU's ahead 2-1. The home run was the first allowed by Georgia pitching ace Brittany Gray this season.
Holding on to a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh, Georgia rallied with a two-RBI single by Ciara Bryan to take a 3-2 advantage before Gray tossed a perfect frame to clinch the series in favor of Georgia.
Friday, March 23
No. 7 Georgia def. No. 21 Mississippi State, 4-2 (Box Score, Recap)
Saturday, March 24
No. 21 Mississippi State def. No. 7 Georgia, 5-4 (Box Score, Recap)
Sunday, March 25
No. 7 Georgia def. No. 21 Mississippi State, 3-2 (Box Score, Recap)
SERIES HISTORY
Against Alabama State
Overall: Mississippi State leads 3-0
In Montgomery: First Meeting
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Alabama State, 10-0 (5)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, +3
HORNET REPELLANT
Not only has Mississippi State's three previous meetings against Alabama State have been shutouts, but all three games have also been no-hitters. Mississippi State has won all three contests via run rule and have outscored the Hornets, 58-0.
HURTS SO GOOD
For the 33rd time in her career, Sarai Niu was hit by a pitch, which moves her into a tie for third all-time in program history. Niu has tied Keri McCallum, who was also hit 33 times over the 1997-2000 seasons. Briana Bell (2008-13) holds the program of 55.
BOMB SQUAD
As a team the Bulldogs have hit 30 home runs, which ranks tied for fifth in the Southeastern Conference and have turned in 10 multi-home run performances this season. Freshman Mia Davidson leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with a total of 11 home runs through the first 33 games of the season.
Three Bulldogs have also knocked the first home runs of their career this season: Carmen Carter, Macey Petrey and Bevia Robinson.
WARD UP
Holly Ward's impressive start to her senior season has moved her into the MSU career record book. With a strong showing over MSU's series against No. 7 Georgia, Ward moved into seventh in career strikeouts and ranks in the top 10 in six pitching categories.
T6th Shutouts 9
T6th Solo No-Hitters 1
7th Opponent Batting Avg. .235
7th Strikeouts 292
T7th Saves 6
9th Strikeouts per 7 inn. 5.57
MAMA MIA!
To say that Mia Davidson has had hot start to her freshman season would be an understatement. Not only has Davidson proven to be a spark to MSU offense's early success, but she has also ranks as one of the top hitters amongst the conference.
Davidson currently ranks in the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference in eight offensive categories, including first in total bases (92), second in home runs (11), third in slugging percentage (.876) and fifth in hits (45).
MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
In her seventh season at the helm of Mississippi State softball, Vann Stuedeman has notched 230 wins to surpass Kathy Arendsen (1997-2002) for the second-most victories in program history. Jay Miller (2003-211) holds the program record at 295.
WEATHER
Tuesday, March 24 – 73 Degrees; Cloudy (20%)
LIVE STATS
Alabama State will provide live stats for Tuesday's contest, which may be accessed through the link below:
Mississippi State at Alabama State Live Stats
ADMISSION
Admission for Tuesday's contest at Barbara Williams Softball Complex is free.
ON DECK
Mississippi State returns to conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Arkansas, beginning Friday, March 30 at 6 p.m. CT. Both Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 contests are set for 1 p.m. CT start times. All three games will be streamed on the SEC Network+.
FOLLOW THE DAWGS
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
P
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