Thursday, February 20
Palm Springs, Calif.
12:30 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Oregon State
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Ranked Matchup Awaits Bulldogs at Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
February 19, 2020 | Softball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director, Communications
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – A West Coast test awaits the Mississippi softball team at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in California this weekend.
The Bulldogs will meet Pac-12 foes Oregon State and No. 15/17 Oregon on Thursday, Feb. 20. First pitch against the Beavers is set for 12:30 p.m. CT before the Ducks take the field at 3 p.m.
On Saturday, MSU meets UC Riverside at 5:30 p.m. An afternoon and evening tilt are in store on Sunday, with first pitch against BYU slated for 4:30 p.m. and State's final game of the weekend against San Diego State scheduled for 9:30 p.m.
State comes into the weekend with a 9-1 record and a No. 24 ranking in the USA Softball/ESPN.com poll. The Bulldogs are receiving votes in the NFCA poll.
Locking It Down: The Bulldogs have allowed just two runs in the fourth inning or later. By comparison, State has scored 37 runs in those innings. MSU's pitchers have struck out 47 batters in the fourth inning or later while allowing just two extra base hits.
Bulldogs in The Circle: Josh Johnson's staff currently leads the SEC with a 0.74 ERA and .154 opponent's batting average. The Dawgs are averaging 9.97 strikeouts per seven innings and allowing just 1.91 walks per seven.
Starting From The Top: The Bulldogs have gotten off to quick starts, outscoring opponents 13-1 in the first two innings this year. State's leadoff hitters have reached base in 48.3 percent of their opportunities. Candace Denis has reached base in 8-of-16 leadoff plate appearances.
No. RV/24 Mississippi State vs. Oregon State – 12:30 p.m. CT
No. RV/24 Mississippi State vs. No. 15/17 Oregon – 3 p.m. CT
Friday, Feb. 21
UC Riverside vs. No. RV/24 Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 22
BYU vs. No. RV/24 Mississippi State – 4:30 p.m. CT
San Diego State vs. No. RV/24 Mississippi State – 9:30 p.m. CT
Head Coach: Laura Berg (199-177-1 at Oregon State – 8th year)
Batting: .293 avg., 3.8 runs/game, 8.8 hits/game, .407 slugging pct.
Pitching: 1.19 ERA, 9.73 K/7, 4.1 K/BB ratio, .135 opp. avg.
Oregon (9-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Head Coach: Melyssa Lombardi (31-30 at Oregon – 2nd year)
Batting: .328 avg., 8.2 runs/game, 8.8 hits/game, .523 slugging pct.
Pitching: 1.35 ERA, 9.82 K/7, 6.7 K/BB ratio, .146 opp. avg.
UC Riverside (6-4, 0-0 Big West)
Head Coach: Nikki Palmer (98-79 at UC Riverside – 4th year)
Batting: .311 avg., 6.8 runs/game, 8.7 hits/game, .557 slugging pct.
Pitching: 4.10 ERA, 4.10 K/7, 0.8 K/BB ratio, .277 opp. avg.
BYU (5-4, 0-0 West Coast)
Head Coach: Gordon Eakin (676-323 at BYU – 18th year)
Batting: .223 avg., 4.1 runs/game, 5.4 hits/game, .327 slugging pct.
Pitching: 1.63 ERA, 4.4 K/7, 3.5 K/BB ratio, .248 opp. avg.
San Diego State (9-3, 0-0 Mountain West)
Head Coach: Kathy Van Wyk (818-602-1 at San Diego State – 26th year)
Batting: .321 avg., 5.3 runs/game, 8.7 hits/game, .435 slugging pct.
Pitching: 2.13 ERA, 7.43 K/7, 2.6 K/BB ratio, .214 opp. avg.
Feb. 20 – Mississippi State vs. No. 15/17 Oregon – 3 p.m. CT
Feb. 21 – UC Riverside vs. Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m. CT
Feb. 22 – BYU vs. Mississippi State – 4:30 p.m. CT
Feb. 22 – San Diego State vs. Mississippi State – 9:30 p.m. CT
Feb. 21 – Sunny, High of 80, Low of 53
Feb. 22 – Partly cloudy, High of 66, Low of 51
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – A West Coast test awaits the Mississippi softball team at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in California this weekend.
The Bulldogs will meet Pac-12 foes Oregon State and No. 15/17 Oregon on Thursday, Feb. 20. First pitch against the Beavers is set for 12:30 p.m. CT before the Ducks take the field at 3 p.m.
On Saturday, MSU meets UC Riverside at 5:30 p.m. An afternoon and evening tilt are in store on Sunday, with first pitch against BYU slated for 4:30 p.m. and State's final game of the weekend against San Diego State scheduled for 9:30 p.m.
State comes into the weekend with a 9-1 record and a No. 24 ranking in the USA Softball/ESPN.com poll. The Bulldogs are receiving votes in the NFCA poll.
Leading Off
Rolling Under Ricketts: Samantha Ricketts is off to the best 10-game start by any first-year head coach in program history at 9-1. In fact, Rickett's record through 10 games is the best by any active SEC head coach through the first 10 games of their career. At their current school, only Auburn's Mickey Dean can top her with a 10-0 start to his tenure on the Plains in 2018.Locking It Down: The Bulldogs have allowed just two runs in the fourth inning or later. By comparison, State has scored 37 runs in those innings. MSU's pitchers have struck out 47 batters in the fourth inning or later while allowing just two extra base hits.
Bulldogs in The Circle: Josh Johnson's staff currently leads the SEC with a 0.74 ERA and .154 opponent's batting average. The Dawgs are averaging 9.97 strikeouts per seven innings and allowing just 1.91 walks per seven.
Starting From The Top: The Bulldogs have gotten off to quick starts, outscoring opponents 13-1 in the first two innings this year. State's leadoff hitters have reached base in 48.3 percent of their opportunities. Candace Denis has reached base in 8-of-16 leadoff plate appearances.
Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 20 No. RV/24 Mississippi State vs. Oregon State – 12:30 p.m. CT
No. RV/24 Mississippi State vs. No. 15/17 Oregon – 3 p.m. CT
Friday, Feb. 21
UC Riverside vs. No. RV/24 Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 22
BYU vs. No. RV/24 Mississippi State – 4:30 p.m. CT
San Diego State vs. No. RV/24 Mississippi State – 9:30 p.m. CT
About the Opponents
Oregon State (7-2, 0-0 Pac-12)Head Coach: Laura Berg (199-177-1 at Oregon State – 8th year)
Batting: .293 avg., 3.8 runs/game, 8.8 hits/game, .407 slugging pct.
Pitching: 1.19 ERA, 9.73 K/7, 4.1 K/BB ratio, .135 opp. avg.
Oregon (9-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Head Coach: Melyssa Lombardi (31-30 at Oregon – 2nd year)
Batting: .328 avg., 8.2 runs/game, 8.8 hits/game, .523 slugging pct.
Pitching: 1.35 ERA, 9.82 K/7, 6.7 K/BB ratio, .146 opp. avg.
UC Riverside (6-4, 0-0 Big West)
Head Coach: Nikki Palmer (98-79 at UC Riverside – 4th year)
Batting: .311 avg., 6.8 runs/game, 8.7 hits/game, .557 slugging pct.
Pitching: 4.10 ERA, 4.10 K/7, 0.8 K/BB ratio, .277 opp. avg.
BYU (5-4, 0-0 West Coast)
Head Coach: Gordon Eakin (676-323 at BYU – 18th year)
Batting: .223 avg., 4.1 runs/game, 5.4 hits/game, .327 slugging pct.
Pitching: 1.63 ERA, 4.4 K/7, 3.5 K/BB ratio, .248 opp. avg.
San Diego State (9-3, 0-0 Mountain West)
Head Coach: Kathy Van Wyk (818-602-1 at San Diego State – 26th year)
Batting: .321 avg., 5.3 runs/game, 8.7 hits/game, .435 slugging pct.
Pitching: 2.13 ERA, 7.43 K/7, 2.6 K/BB ratio, .214 opp. avg.
Watch Live
Live streams are available on FloSoftball.com with a subscription. Plans start at $12.49 per month.Live Stats
Feb. 20 – Mississippi State vs. Oregon State – 12:30 p.m. CTFeb. 20 – Mississippi State vs. No. 15/17 Oregon – 3 p.m. CT
Feb. 21 – UC Riverside vs. Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m. CT
Feb. 22 – BYU vs. Mississippi State – 4:30 p.m. CT
Feb. 22 – San Diego State vs. Mississippi State – 9:30 p.m. CT
Admission
Tickets are available at MaryNutterClassic.com or by clicking here. Tickets are $32 per day for adults and $6 per day for children 10 and under. Student and senior admission costs $12 per day. A tournament pass is available for $80.Weather Forecast
Feb. 20 – Sunny, High of 80, Low of 55Feb. 21 – Sunny, High of 80, Low of 53
Feb. 22 – Partly cloudy, High of 66, Low of 51
On Deck
MSU returns to Starkville on Wednesday, Feb. 26 to host Central Arkansas. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. with free king cake available for fans.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
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