Tuesday, April 10
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Alcorn State
Mississippi State will look to record its 30th win of the season on Tuesday, marking the sixth time of the last seven season MSU's has won at least 30 games.
Photo by: Trevor Birchett/MSU Athletics
No. 22 MSU Welcomes Alcorn State Softball for Midweek Tilt
April 09, 2018 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Off the heels of a tight series with No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 22 Mississippi State (29-11) returns to nonconference play with a midweek tilt versus Alcorn State (7-23) Tuesday evening at Nusz Park.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT. Tuesday's midweek contest will be streamed on the SEC Network + via Watch ESPN and the WatchESPN app. The midweek clash is also a "No One Fights Alone" contest as the Bulldogs will sport teal uniforms to bring awareness to ovarian cancer and freshman Alex Wilcox's battle with the disease.
Tuesday will mark the seventh time in school history that MSU has faced the Lady Braves. The Bulldogs have never lost to Alcorn State and have won five of the six previous meeting via the run rule. State is looking to rebound after dropping the weekend finale and the series to No. 10 Texas A&M after falling in Sunday's extra-inning showdown, 4-1.
Pitching continues to be a major key in State's success heading into the third month of the season. The Bulldog staff has tossed 13 shutouts to hold a blistering 1.68 ERA in the circle, which is good for fifth in the Southeastern Conference and 14th in all of Division I softball.
Senior Holly Ward anchors the pitching staff with a 10-4 record and a 1.57 earned run average over a team-leading 102.1 innings pitched. The righter has struck out 105, while issuing just 28 walks to hold a 3.75 strikeouts-to-walk ratio, which is good for 13th in the conference.
On the offensive side of the ball, freshman Mia Davidson continues to be the clubhouse leader and is the lone Bulldogs to record 30 or more hits, runs scored and RBIs this season. Davidson leads the SEC in total bases (107) and slugging percentage (.843) and ranks second in the league with 13 home runs.
LAST TIME OUT
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, junior Taylor Kelly knocked a pitch-hit RBI single to tie No. 10 Texas A&M and send the series to its second extra-inning game. With help of a close call at home plate and a two-run home run in the eighth, the Aggies were able to bounce back for a 4-1 to claim the series victory.
Saturday, April 7
No. 10 Texas A&M def. No. 22 Mississippi State, 1-3 (Recap, Box Score)
No 22 Mississippi State def. No. 10 Texas A&M, 4-3 (10 inn.) (Recap, Box Score)
Sunday, April 8
No. 10 Texas A&M def. No. 22 Mississippi State, 4-1 (8 inn.) (Recap, Box Score)
SERIES HISTORY
Against Alcorn State
Overall: Mississippi State leads 6-0
In Starkville: Mississippi State leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Alcorn State, 6-0 (April 18, 2017 in Lorman, Miss.)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, +6
VANNTASTIC START FOR THE BULLDOGS
With 29 wins over its first 40 games, Mississippi State is off to the program's best start since the 2015 when the Bulldogs picked up 30 wins over the first 40 contests of the season. MSU also earned 30 wins over that span in both 2000 and 2006.
Most Wins Over First 40 Games
1. 2015 30-10
2006 30-10
2000 30-10
4. 2018 29-11
2008 29-11
BOLD INDICATES UNDER VANN STUEDEMAN ERA
HURTS SO GOOD
Being struck by a pitch eight times her junior season, Sarai Niu has now recorded 34 career hit by pitches, which moves her into third all-time in program history. Briana Bell (2008-13) holds the program of 55.
SLUGGING TOWARDS SEASON RECORD
Just 40 games into her freshman season, Mia Davidson has already etched her name into the record books. Davidson slugged her 13th home run of the season during the series finale at Arkansas, which moves her into a tie for fifth all-time in single-season history with Caroline Seitz (2015), Kellie Wilkerson (1999) and Logan Foulks (2013).
Her 13 home runs also tie Kellie Wilkerson (1999) for the second-most ever hit by a MSU freshman. Davidson now ranks only behind Courtney Bures (17, 2005).
BOMB SQUAD
As a team the Bulldogs have hit 35 home runs, which ranks tied for fifth in the Southeastern Conference and have turned in 12 multi-home run games this season. Freshman Mia Davidson leads the team and is second in the SEC with a total of 13 home runs through the first 40 games of the season.
Four Bulldogs have also knocked the first home runs of their career this season: Grace Dabbs, 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. Ward became just the sixth pitcher in MSU history to record over 300 strikeouts in a career after fanning seven over MSU's weekend series with No. 10 Texas A&M.
6th Strikeouts 304
T6th Shutouts 9
T6th Solo No-Hitters 1
T7th Saves 6
8th Opponent Batting Avg. .238
9th Strikeouts per 7 inn. 5.55
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 11 in the Southeastern Conference in nine offensive categories, including first in slugging percentage (.843) and total bases (107), second in home runs (13), third in hits (52), fifth in doubles (12) and ninth in batting average (.409).
MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
In her seventh season at the helm of Mississippi State softball, Vann Stuedeman has notched 232 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, April 10 – 65 Degrees; Mostly Sunny (10%)
LIVE STREAM
Tuesday's contest will be streamed on the SEC Network + via WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.
No. 22 Mississippi State vs. Alcorn State
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for Tuesday's midweek contest, which may be accessed through the link below.
No. 22 Mississippi State vs. Alcorn State Live Stats
ADMISSION
Admission to all regular-season home games at Nusz Park is free.
ON DECK
Mississippi State returns to conference play this weekend, squaring off with in-state rival Ole Miss in Oxford. The series will begin Saturday, April 14 at 4 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +. The final two games of the weekend series will receive national broadcast as Sunday's 6 p.m. showdown will be broadcasted on ESPN2 and Monday's series finale aired 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".
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT. Tuesday's midweek contest will be streamed on the SEC Network + via Watch ESPN and the WatchESPN app. The midweek clash is also a "No One Fights Alone" contest as the Bulldogs will sport teal uniforms to bring awareness to ovarian cancer and freshman Alex Wilcox's battle with the disease.
Tuesday will mark the seventh time in school history that MSU has faced the Lady Braves. The Bulldogs have never lost to Alcorn State and have won five of the six previous meeting via the run rule. State is looking to rebound after dropping the weekend finale and the series to No. 10 Texas A&M after falling in Sunday's extra-inning showdown, 4-1.
Pitching continues to be a major key in State's success heading into the third month of the season. The Bulldog staff has tossed 13 shutouts to hold a blistering 1.68 ERA in the circle, which is good for fifth in the Southeastern Conference and 14th in all of Division I softball.
Senior Holly Ward anchors the pitching staff with a 10-4 record and a 1.57 earned run average over a team-leading 102.1 innings pitched. The righter has struck out 105, while issuing just 28 walks to hold a 3.75 strikeouts-to-walk ratio, which is good for 13th in the conference.
On the offensive side of the ball, freshman Mia Davidson continues to be the clubhouse leader and is the lone Bulldogs to record 30 or more hits, runs scored and RBIs this season. Davidson leads the SEC in total bases (107) and slugging percentage (.843) and ranks second in the league with 13 home runs.
LAST TIME OUT
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, junior Taylor Kelly knocked a pitch-hit RBI single to tie No. 10 Texas A&M and send the series to its second extra-inning game. With help of a close call at home plate and a two-run home run in the eighth, the Aggies were able to bounce back for a 4-1 to claim the series victory.
Saturday, April 7
No. 10 Texas A&M def. No. 22 Mississippi State, 1-3 (Recap, Box Score)
No 22 Mississippi State def. No. 10 Texas A&M, 4-3 (10 inn.) (Recap, Box Score)
Sunday, April 8
No. 10 Texas A&M def. No. 22 Mississippi State, 4-1 (8 inn.) (Recap, Box Score)
SERIES HISTORY
Against Alcorn State
Overall: Mississippi State leads 6-0
In Starkville: Mississippi State leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Alcorn State, 6-0 (April 18, 2017 in Lorman, Miss.)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, +6
VANNTASTIC START FOR THE BULLDOGS
With 29 wins over its first 40 games, Mississippi State is off to the program's best start since the 2015 when the Bulldogs picked up 30 wins over the first 40 contests of the season. MSU also earned 30 wins over that span in both 2000 and 2006.
Most Wins Over First 40 Games
1. 2015 30-10
2006 30-10
2000 30-10
4. 2018 29-11
2008 29-11
BOLD INDICATES UNDER VANN STUEDEMAN ERA
HURTS SO GOOD
Being struck by a pitch eight times her junior season, Sarai Niu has now recorded 34 career hit by pitches, which moves her into third all-time in program history. Briana Bell (2008-13) holds the program of 55.
SLUGGING TOWARDS SEASON RECORD
Just 40 games into her freshman season, Mia Davidson has already etched her name into the record books. Davidson slugged her 13th home run of the season during the series finale at Arkansas, which moves her into a tie for fifth all-time in single-season history with Caroline Seitz (2015), Kellie Wilkerson (1999) and Logan Foulks (2013).
Her 13 home runs also tie Kellie Wilkerson (1999) for the second-most ever hit by a MSU freshman. Davidson now ranks only behind Courtney Bures (17, 2005).
BOMB SQUAD
As a team the Bulldogs have hit 35 home runs, which ranks tied for fifth in the Southeastern Conference and have turned in 12 multi-home run games this season. Freshman Mia Davidson leads the team and is second in the SEC with a total of 13 home runs through the first 40 games of the season.
Four Bulldogs have also knocked the first home runs of their career this season: Grace Dabbs, 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. Ward became just the sixth pitcher in MSU history to record over 300 strikeouts in a career after fanning seven over MSU's weekend series with No. 10 Texas A&M.
6th Strikeouts 304
T6th Shutouts 9
T6th Solo No-Hitters 1
T7th Saves 6
8th Opponent Batting Avg. .238
9th Strikeouts per 7 inn. 5.55
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 11 in the Southeastern Conference in nine offensive categories, including first in slugging percentage (.843) and total bases (107), second in home runs (13), third in hits (52), fifth in doubles (12) and ninth in batting average (.409).
MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
In her seventh season at the helm of Mississippi State softball, Vann Stuedeman has notched 232 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, April 10 – 65 Degrees; Mostly Sunny (10%)
LIVE STREAM
Tuesday's contest will be streamed on the SEC Network + via WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.
No. 22 Mississippi State vs. Alcorn State
LIVE STATS
Mississippi State will provide live stats for Tuesday's midweek contest, which may be accessed through the link below.
No. 22 Mississippi State vs. Alcorn State Live Stats
ADMISSION
Admission to all regular-season home games at Nusz Park is free.
ON DECK
Mississippi State returns to conference play this weekend, squaring off with in-state rival Ole Miss in Oxford. The series will begin Saturday, April 14 at 4 p.m. CT on the SEC Network +. The final two games of the weekend series will receive national broadcast as Sunday's 6 p.m. showdown will be broadcasted on ESPN2 and Monday's series finale aired 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
OF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
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