Friday, March 6
Starkville
3:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Bryant
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Softball Wraps Up Tournament Season with Bulldog Slamboree
March 05, 2020 | Softball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Softball fans have plenty of opportunities to catch the No. 24/22 Mississippi State softball team at Nusz Park this weekend at the Bulldog Slamboree.
Samantha Ricketts' squad has won tournament titles in three of the four tournaments it has played in this season and will look for a fifth title on March 6-8, when Bryant, Mississippi Valley State and SE Missouri State come to town.
With a 19-3 record, the Bulldogs are ranked in all three major polls at once for the first time in program history. If the Bulldogs can win their first game of the tournament, Ricketts would become the fastest head coach in program history to register 20 wins, doing so in 23 games. With a pair of victories, the Bulldogs will have put together the 11th 10-game winning streak in school history.
State boasts a potent offense with 11 players hitting .300 or better and a .552 team slugging percentage that ranks 13th in the nation. In the circle, the Bulldogs have been one of the most dominant teams in the SEC, with a team ERA of 1.50 that is eighth nationally.
Sweeping SEC Awards: Chloe Malau'ulu, Annie Willis and Madisyn Kennedy were each recognized along with a trio of Auburn Tigers as SEC Co-Player, Co-Pitcher and Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday (3/2). The awards mark the first time State has had multiple players honored in the same week since March 30, 2009, when Ali Bainbridge earned Player of the Week recognition and Lindsey Dunlap was named the league's Freshman of the Week.
An MSU Win Would…: If State wins its opening game of the Bulldog Slamboree, Ricketts would become the fastest head coach to 20 wins in program history (23 games). If the Bulldogs win their first two games, they will have put together the 11th 10-game winning streak in program history.
Pitching Turn Around: MSU is currently second in the SEC with a 1.50 ERA and 181 strikeouts. State is also third with a .174 opponent's batting average. Last season, MSU finished with a 3.36 ERA that ranked second-to-last in the league.
Shut Them Down: Emily Williams has been dominant in the circle this year. She boasts a 0.56 ERA and averages 11.6 strikeouts per seven innings, both of which rank seventh nationally.
Fab February: State tied the MSU record with 16 wins in February (2004).
SE Missouri State vs. MVSU – 10 a.m.
Bryant vs. SE Missouri State – 12:30 p.m.
Bryant vs. Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
MVSU vs. Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
MVSU vs. Bryant – 10 a.m.
SE Missouri State vs. Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed – 3 p.m.
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Consolation – 11 a.m.
Championship – 1:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Nick French (14-39 at BRY, Second year)
Batting Average: .196; Run/Game: 3.0; Hits/Game: 4.9, Slugging Pct.: .322
ERA: 7.70; K/7: 5.9; K/BB Ratio: 1.2; Opp. Batting Average: .330
Mississippi Valley State (3-11, 0-0 SWAC)
Head Coach: Lee Smith (408-507 at MVSU, 19th year)
Batting Average: .278; Run/Game: 5.0; Hits/Game: 7.4, Slugging Pct.: .370
ERA: 4.66; K/7: 3.8; K/BB Ratio: 1.3; Opp. Batting Average: .299
SE Missouri State (9-3, 0-0 OVC)
Head Coach: Mark Redburn (146-129 at SEMO, Sixth year)
Batting Average: .333; Run/Game: 7.8; Hits/Game: 9.2, Slugging Pct.: .573
ERA: 3.04; K/7: 5.9; K/BB Ratio: 1.7; Opp. Batting Average: .218
Mar. 6 – MVSU at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Mar. 8 – Mississippi State Championship/Consolation – 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Mar. 6 – Bryant at SE Missouri State
Mar. 6 – Bryant at Mississippi State
Mar. 6 – MVSU at Mississippi State
Mar. 7 – MVSU at Bryant
Mar. 7 – SE Missouri State at Mississippi State
Mar. 7 – No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed
Mar. 7 – No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed
Mar. 8 – Consolation
Mar. 8 – Championship
This weekend features trivia at each MSU game of the tournament. Each individual trivia game winner will be entered to win a grand prize at the end of the season, with more wins earning contestants more entries. The Bulldog Slamboree's trivia will focus on various movies and movie series throughout the weekend.
On Friday the Bulldogs will have a cereal bar for all fans as the team celebrates National Cereal Day.
Mar. 7 – Sunny, High of 57, Low of 35
Mar. 8 – Partly cloudy, High of 62, Low of 44
STARKVILLE – Softball fans have plenty of opportunities to catch the No. 24/22 Mississippi State softball team at Nusz Park this weekend at the Bulldog Slamboree.
Samantha Ricketts' squad has won tournament titles in three of the four tournaments it has played in this season and will look for a fifth title on March 6-8, when Bryant, Mississippi Valley State and SE Missouri State come to town.
With a 19-3 record, the Bulldogs are ranked in all three major polls at once for the first time in program history. If the Bulldogs can win their first game of the tournament, Ricketts would become the fastest head coach in program history to register 20 wins, doing so in 23 games. With a pair of victories, the Bulldogs will have put together the 11th 10-game winning streak in school history.
State boasts a potent offense with 11 players hitting .300 or better and a .552 team slugging percentage that ranks 13th in the nation. In the circle, the Bulldogs have been one of the most dominant teams in the SEC, with a team ERA of 1.50 that is eighth nationally.
Leading Off
Half A Century: Mia Davidson became the 23rd player in SEC history to hit 50 career home runs in the win against UT Martin (3/2). Fa Leilua is sitting at 49 career home runs, but only 30 have come as an SEC player at MSU.Sweeping SEC Awards: Chloe Malau'ulu, Annie Willis and Madisyn Kennedy were each recognized along with a trio of Auburn Tigers as SEC Co-Player, Co-Pitcher and Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday (3/2). The awards mark the first time State has had multiple players honored in the same week since March 30, 2009, when Ali Bainbridge earned Player of the Week recognition and Lindsey Dunlap was named the league's Freshman of the Week.
An MSU Win Would…: If State wins its opening game of the Bulldog Slamboree, Ricketts would become the fastest head coach to 20 wins in program history (23 games). If the Bulldogs win their first two games, they will have put together the 11th 10-game winning streak in program history.
Pitching Turn Around: MSU is currently second in the SEC with a 1.50 ERA and 181 strikeouts. State is also third with a .174 opponent's batting average. Last season, MSU finished with a 3.36 ERA that ranked second-to-last in the league.
Shut Them Down: Emily Williams has been dominant in the circle this year. She boasts a 0.56 ERA and averages 11.6 strikeouts per seven innings, both of which rank seventh nationally.
Fab February: State tied the MSU record with 16 wins in February (2004).
Bulldog Slamboree Schedule
Friday, March 6SE Missouri State vs. MVSU – 10 a.m.
Bryant vs. SE Missouri State – 12:30 p.m.
Bryant vs. Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
MVSU vs. Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
MVSU vs. Bryant – 10 a.m.
SE Missouri State vs. Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed – 3 p.m.
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Consolation – 11 a.m.
Championship – 1:30 p.m.
About the Opponents
Bryant (1-7, 0-0 Northeast)Head Coach: Nick French (14-39 at BRY, Second year)
Batting Average: .196; Run/Game: 3.0; Hits/Game: 4.9, Slugging Pct.: .322
ERA: 7.70; K/7: 5.9; K/BB Ratio: 1.2; Opp. Batting Average: .330
Mississippi Valley State (3-11, 0-0 SWAC)
Head Coach: Lee Smith (408-507 at MVSU, 19th year)
Batting Average: .278; Run/Game: 5.0; Hits/Game: 7.4, Slugging Pct.: .370
ERA: 4.66; K/7: 3.8; K/BB Ratio: 1.3; Opp. Batting Average: .299
SE Missouri State (9-3, 0-0 OVC)
Head Coach: Mark Redburn (146-129 at SEMO, Sixth year)
Batting Average: .333; Run/Game: 7.8; Hits/Game: 9.2, Slugging Pct.: .573
ERA: 3.04; K/7: 5.9; K/BB Ratio: 1.7; Opp. Batting Average: .218
Watch Live
Mar. 6 – Bryant at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.Mar. 6 – MVSU at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Mar. 8 – Mississippi State Championship/Consolation – 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Live Stats
Mar. 6 – SE Missouri State at MVSUMar. 6 – Bryant at SE Missouri State
Mar. 6 – Bryant at Mississippi State
Mar. 6 – MVSU at Mississippi State
Mar. 7 – MVSU at Bryant
Mar. 7 – SE Missouri State at Mississippi State
Mar. 7 – No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed
Mar. 7 – No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed
Mar. 8 – Consolation
Mar. 8 – Championship
Admission/Promotions
Admission to all MSU softball home games is free.This weekend features trivia at each MSU game of the tournament. Each individual trivia game winner will be entered to win a grand prize at the end of the season, with more wins earning contestants more entries. The Bulldog Slamboree's trivia will focus on various movies and movie series throughout the weekend.
On Friday the Bulldogs will have a cereal bar for all fans as the team celebrates National Cereal Day.
Weather Forecast
Mar. 6 – Sunny, High of 57, Low of 30Mar. 7 – Sunny, High of 57, Low of 35
Mar. 8 – Partly cloudy, High of 62, Low of 44
On Deck
After playing their last dozen games in the friendly confines of Nusz Park, the Bulldogs head on the road for a final midweek tune-up before conference play begins. MSU will play at Southern Miss on Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. CT.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
C/INF
/ Softball
SS/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
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