Wednesday, February 12
Starkville
2:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Alabama State
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Softball’s Home Opener Moved to 2 p.m. First Pitch
February 11, 2020 | Softball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Bulldog softball is back in Starkville as Mississippi State will host Alabama State for its home opener on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch has been moved to 2 p.m. CT in light of thunderstorms in the forecast.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 4-0 weekend that saw them claim the NFCA Leadoff Classic title with wins over three teams that were also receiving votes in the preseason polls. While MSU remains receiving votes in this week's major polls, Justin's World of Softball has coach Samantha Ricketts' squad at No. 13 in its rankings.
State's pitching staff recorded two shutouts over the weekend and boasts the second-best ERA in the SEC at 0.52. The Bulldogs are averaging 9.3 strikeouts per seven innings and just 2.1 walks. Grace Fagan leads the conference with a 0.94 opponent's batting average, and her 0.70 ERA is fourth.
A pitching duel may be in store, however, as Alabama State's Skyler Sullivan has not allowed a run or a hit through 11.0 innings of work this season.
Live Stats
Rolling Under Ricketts: First-year head coach Samantha Ricketts is a perfect 4-0, making her the second coach in program history to start with four consecutive victories. The program record for the best start by a head coach is six straight wins.
Lulu Long Balls: Chloe Malau'ulu sent her first career hit deep over the center field wall on opening day for what would prove to be the game-winning run. Of her three career hits, two have left the yard, and she boasts a .818 slugging percentage, which ranks second on the team.
Up the Middle: Madisyn Kennedy and Aquana Brownlee have forced their way into the lineup in the middle of the Bulldog infield. The freshman duo has combined to go 6-for-19 (.316) at the plate.
Denis Driving the Offense: Candace Denis has been a spark atop the lineup, with a .385 average, five runs scored and five runs driven in. She has led off an inning five times this year and reached base in three of those plate appearances.
Ain't It Grand: After tying the MSU single-season record with five grand slams last year, State already has a pair this season. The two long balls came on consecutive days at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Fa Leilua and Chloe Malau'ulu hit the 42nd and 43rd grand slams in school history against Liberty and NC State, respectively.
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America - NR
Head coach: Todd Bradley, 1st Year | Record at ALST: 2-3 (1st Year) | Career Record: 2-3 (1st Year)
Batting Average: .235; Runs Per Game: 3.4; Hits Per Game: 5.6; Slugging Percentage: .252
ERA: 4.74; K/7: 5.9; K/BB Ratio: 1.3; Opp. Batting Avg.: 260
STARKVILLE – Bulldog softball is back in Starkville as Mississippi State will host Alabama State for its home opener on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch has been moved to 2 p.m. CT in light of thunderstorms in the forecast.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 4-0 weekend that saw them claim the NFCA Leadoff Classic title with wins over three teams that were also receiving votes in the preseason polls. While MSU remains receiving votes in this week's major polls, Justin's World of Softball has coach Samantha Ricketts' squad at No. 13 in its rankings.
State's pitching staff recorded two shutouts over the weekend and boasts the second-best ERA in the SEC at 0.52. The Bulldogs are averaging 9.3 strikeouts per seven innings and just 2.1 walks. Grace Fagan leads the conference with a 0.94 opponent's batting average, and her 0.70 ERA is fourth.
A pitching duel may be in store, however, as Alabama State's Skyler Sullivan has not allowed a run or a hit through 11.0 innings of work this season.
Game Coverage
Watch on SEC Network+Live Stats
Leading Off
We Are the Champions: The Bulldogs won the NFCA Leadoff Classic last weekend with a 4-0 record and plus-5.5 average run differential. MSU defeated Missouri State, Liberty, Louisville and NC State. Three of those teams were receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Softball preseason poll.Rolling Under Ricketts: First-year head coach Samantha Ricketts is a perfect 4-0, making her the second coach in program history to start with four consecutive victories. The program record for the best start by a head coach is six straight wins.
Lulu Long Balls: Chloe Malau'ulu sent her first career hit deep over the center field wall on opening day for what would prove to be the game-winning run. Of her three career hits, two have left the yard, and she boasts a .818 slugging percentage, which ranks second on the team.
Up the Middle: Madisyn Kennedy and Aquana Brownlee have forced their way into the lineup in the middle of the Bulldog infield. The freshman duo has combined to go 6-for-19 (.316) at the plate.
Denis Driving the Offense: Candace Denis has been a spark atop the lineup, with a .385 average, five runs scored and five runs driven in. She has led off an inning five times this year and reached base in three of those plate appearances.
Ain't It Grand: After tying the MSU single-season record with five grand slams last year, State already has a pair this season. The two long balls came on consecutive days at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Fa Leilua and Chloe Malau'ulu hit the 42nd and 43rd grand slams in school history against Liberty and NC State, respectively.
About the Opponent
Alabama State Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America - NR
Head coach: Todd Bradley, 1st Year | Record at ALST: 2-3 (1st Year) | Career Record: 2-3 (1st Year)
Batting Average: .235; Runs Per Game: 3.4; Hits Per Game: 5.6; Slugging Percentage: .252
ERA: 4.74; K/7: 5.9; K/BB Ratio: 1.3; Opp. Batting Avg.: 260
Admission/Promotions
Admission to all MSU softball home games is free. Free T-shirts are available on the outfield deck.Weather Forecast
Feb. 12 – Thunderstorms, High of 71, Low of 42On Deck
MSU remains home to host the Bulldog Kickoff Classic on Feb. 14-16. State will welcome Tulsa, North Alabama and Tennessee State for two days of round robin play leading into a four-team bracket.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
SS/3B
/ Softball
OF
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