Mississippi State maintained a spot in the NFCA Coaches Poll after a strong opening weekend performance.
Softball Maintains Top 25 Ranking in NFCA Coaches Poll
February 12, 2019 | Softball
by Taylor Shirey, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – After a strong performance during the Bulldog Kickoff Classic over opening weekend, Mississippi State softball (4-1) earned a spot in the first USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll of the regular season.
The Bulldogs checked in at No. 25 in the publications latest rankings and was one of 11 Southeastern Conference squads to be ranked after the first week of the season. MSU is also receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll.
MSU picked up four wins over the Bulldog Kickoff Classic, highlighted by the debut of junior outfielder Fa Leilua in a Maroon and White uniform. The Hawthorne, California, native tallied five hits, three of which were home run, and currently ranks fifth in the SEC in RBIs with nine.
Junior pitcher Alyssa Loza dazzled in the circle over opening weekend. In her first start as a Bulldog, Loza tossed just the third perfect game in Mississippi State history as she blanked Valparaiso, 10-0, behind four strikeouts.
Returning to the field after being sidelined last season with an injury, redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson led MSU over opening weekend in hits (7), doubles (3) and batting average (.538). Her sister, sophomore Mia Davidson, slugged two home runs, including her first career grand slam, to bring her career total to 21 homers, which is good for eighth all-time in program history.
The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, Feb. 14 as State travels across the border for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. MSU opens the tournament with a 10 a.m. CT contest versus Southern Illinois before facing its first Top 25 test of the season with a 6 p.m. CT contest against 2018 Women's College World Series runner-up No. 5/5 Washington.
State will also face Sacramento State and UCF over the three-day tournament.
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."
STARKVILLE – After a strong performance during the Bulldog Kickoff Classic over opening weekend, Mississippi State softball (4-1) earned a spot in the first USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll of the regular season.
The Bulldogs checked in at No. 25 in the publications latest rankings and was one of 11 Southeastern Conference squads to be ranked after the first week of the season. MSU is also receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll.
MSU picked up four wins over the Bulldog Kickoff Classic, highlighted by the debut of junior outfielder Fa Leilua in a Maroon and White uniform. The Hawthorne, California, native tallied five hits, three of which were home run, and currently ranks fifth in the SEC in RBIs with nine.
Junior pitcher Alyssa Loza dazzled in the circle over opening weekend. In her first start as a Bulldog, Loza tossed just the third perfect game in Mississippi State history as she blanked Valparaiso, 10-0, behind four strikeouts.
Returning to the field after being sidelined last season with an injury, redshirt sophomore Montana Davidson led MSU over opening weekend in hits (7), doubles (3) and batting average (.538). Her sister, sophomore Mia Davidson, slugged two home runs, including her first career grand slam, to bring her career total to 21 homers, which is good for eighth all-time in program history.
The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, Feb. 14 as State travels across the border for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. MSU opens the tournament with a 10 a.m. CT contest versus Southern Illinois before facing its first Top 25 test of the season with a 6 p.m. CT contest against 2018 Women's College World Series runner-up No. 5/5 Washington.
State will also face Sacramento State and UCF over the three-day tournament.
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."
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