Wednesday, February 24
Starkville
4:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Mississippi Valley State
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
No. 16 Bulldogs Close Homestand On Wednesday
February 23, 2021 | Softball
STARKVILLE – No. 16 Mississippi State will wrap up a seven-game season-opening homestand on Wednesday, when the Bulldogs host Mississippi Valley State. First pitch on SEC Network+ is set for 4 p.m. CT.
Â
The two teams met on Monday night, with the Bulldogs claiming a 10-1 victory in five innings. Mia Davidson, Montana Davidson and Brylie St. Clair all recorded multi-hit games in that contest. Annie Willis threw 3.0 innings and earned the win while Grace Fagan tossed the final 2.0.
Â
The Devilettes have opened the year 0-3 while being outscored, 20-4. MVSU has played its entire season in Starkville, competing at The Snowman this weekend with its other two games coming against Missouri State and Southern Illinois.
Â
State is 36-1 all-time against MVSU and has won the last 29 meetings. Nine of the last 12 meetings have ended in a run-rule for the Bulldogs.
Â
MSU is ranked No. 16 in the latest Softball America poll and No. 18 by D1Softball.com. The Bulldogs are No. 25 in the USA Softball/ESPN poll and receiving votes in the NFCA Coaches' Poll.
Â
Â
Circle Shutdown: Emily Williams posted a 0.00 ERA in 6.0 innings of work during The Snowman (Feb. 21-22) and held opponents to a .048 batting average in her two appearances.
Aspen On The Attack: Aspen Wesley threw 5.0 scoreless innings against Missouri State (Feb. 22), striking out a career-high eight batters in her season debut.
Â
Scorching The Snowman: Montana Davidson batted .636 over the four games of The Snowman (7-for-11) with a .909 slugging percentage and four RBIs. She leads the team with a .471 average and is second on the team with a .647 slugging percentage.
Â
Let's Go Streaking: Anna Kate Segars (13 games) and Chloe Malau'ulu (11 games) are both riding career-long reached base streaks.
Â
Thunder and Lightning: Mia Davidson (54) and Fa Leilua (52) rank sixth and seventh respectively among the NCAA's active career leaders in home runs. The duo is the one of two pairs of teammates in the country to boast 50-plus career homers (Arizona).
Â
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head Coach: Lee Smith | Record at MVSU: 410-515 (19th Year) | Career Record: 410-515 (19th Year)2020 Batting Average: .214; Runs Per Game: 1.3; Hits Per Game: 5.0; Slugging Percentage: .267
ERA: 5.35; K/7: 2.9; K/BB Ratio: 0.6; Opp. Batting Avg: .296
Â
Â
Admission to all MSU softball home games remains free. State Stand-Ins are available for purchase at MaroonMemories.com. For more information visit: HailState.com/gameday.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
The two teams met on Monday night, with the Bulldogs claiming a 10-1 victory in five innings. Mia Davidson, Montana Davidson and Brylie St. Clair all recorded multi-hit games in that contest. Annie Willis threw 3.0 innings and earned the win while Grace Fagan tossed the final 2.0.
Â
The Devilettes have opened the year 0-3 while being outscored, 20-4. MVSU has played its entire season in Starkville, competing at The Snowman this weekend with its other two games coming against Missouri State and Southern Illinois.
Â
State is 36-1 all-time against MVSU and has won the last 29 meetings. Nine of the last 12 meetings have ended in a run-rule for the Bulldogs.
Â
MSU is ranked No. 16 in the latest Softball America poll and No. 18 by D1Softball.com. The Bulldogs are No. 25 in the USA Softball/ESPN poll and receiving votes in the NFCA Coaches' Poll.
Â
Leading Off
Paige's Performance: Paige Cook has started every game at second after playing in just six games with no starts as a freshman. She is hitting .313 and leads the team with seven RBIs.Â
Circle Shutdown: Emily Williams posted a 0.00 ERA in 6.0 innings of work during The Snowman (Feb. 21-22) and held opponents to a .048 batting average in her two appearances.
Aspen On The Attack: Aspen Wesley threw 5.0 scoreless innings against Missouri State (Feb. 22), striking out a career-high eight batters in her season debut.
Â
Scorching The Snowman: Montana Davidson batted .636 over the four games of The Snowman (7-for-11) with a .909 slugging percentage and four RBIs. She leads the team with a .471 average and is second on the team with a .647 slugging percentage.
Â
Let's Go Streaking: Anna Kate Segars (13 games) and Chloe Malau'ulu (11 games) are both riding career-long reached base streaks.
Â
Thunder and Lightning: Mia Davidson (54) and Fa Leilua (52) rank sixth and seventh respectively among the NCAA's active career leaders in home runs. The duo is the one of two pairs of teammates in the country to boast 50-plus career homers (Arizona).
Â
About the Opponent
Mississippi Valley StateRankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head Coach: Lee Smith | Record at MVSU: 410-515 (19th Year) | Career Record: 410-515 (19th Year)2020 Batting Average: .214; Runs Per Game: 1.3; Hits Per Game: 5.0; Slugging Percentage: .267
ERA: 5.35; K/7: 2.9; K/BB Ratio: 0.6; Opp. Batting Avg: .296
Â
Admission/Attendance Guidelines
Mississippi State has announced that Nusz Park will be limited to a maximum capacity of 25 percent of available seating. Properly spaced and marked grandstand seating will be available in two- and four-seat pods. Also, a limited number of spaced and marked boxes on the outfield deck will be made available for up to four individuals from the same household. Face coverings over the nose and mouth shall be required for all guests during ingress, egress, and movement throughout the stadium.Â
Admission to all MSU softball home games remains free. State Stand-Ins are available for purchase at MaroonMemories.com. For more information visit: HailState.com/gameday.
Â
On Deck
MSU heads to Texas following Wednesday night's contest. The Bulldogs are set to play in the Lone Star State Invitational with true road games against No. 7/7 Texas and No. 23/21 Baylor. MSU opens the weekend at Texas State on Friday before meeting the Longhorns and Houston on Saturday. The trips wraps up in Waco against the Bears on Sunday.Â
Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."Â
Â
Players Mentioned
3B/UTL
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16