Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Softball Earns 16th NCAA Tournament Bid, Bound For Stillwater
May 16, 2021 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's softball program is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for its fourth consecutive appearance. The Bulldogs (33-23, 8-15 SEC) will start their road to Oklahoma City as the No. 2 seed in the Stillwater Regional.
MSU will open the double-elimination regional on Friday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m. CT against Boston University at Cowgirl Stadium. Along with the Bulldogs and the Terriers, the Stillwater Regional features host Oklahoma State, which earned the fifth overall national seed, and Campbell.
"We are excited to get on the road to Stillwater and get back to postseason after the shortened 2020 season," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Oklahoma State has had a great year. There's definitely a challenge in front of us with them, but we can't overlook Boston University or Campbell. They've had great seasons too with the success that they've had in their conferences. We're looking to continue what we've been doing in the month of May. That's taking care of the little things, timely hitting, pitching with our whole staff and taking care of the details. We're continuing to build out confidence at the right time of the year. We're excited to get going and get back to practice."
The Bulldogs' first game of the regional will be aired nationally on ESPN3, which can be accessed online through WatchESPN or the ESPN app. Television assignments for the remaining games of the regional will be announced later this week.
The winner of the Stillwater Regional will advance to Super Regionals to face the winner of the Austin Regional, hosted by No. 12 Texas. Also competing in the Austin Regional are Oregon, Texas State and Saint Francis.
State has won eight of its last 10 games, including its final seven SEC matchups. The Bulldogs have won five of their last six against NFCA-ranked teams, and MSU's five-game winning streak against ranked squads was the second-longest in school history.
MSU finished the season ranked No. 29 in the NCAA RPI. The Bulldogs played eight-toughest schedule in the nation, and 16 of its 23 losses came to teams ranked in the latest NFCA Coaches' poll.
State is making its 16th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs have made every tournament bracket since 2017 and eight of the last nine fields. All 16 appearances have come since 2000. MSU has won at least one regional game in five of its last six tournament appearances and is aiming to make its first NCAA Super Regional appearance in program history.
In their last NCAA Tournament appearance, the Bulldogs fell to host Washington, 8-0, in the Regional final.
Game 1: Oklahoma State vs. Campbell – 1 p.m.
Game 2: Boston University vs. Mississippi State – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 22
Game 3: Game One Winner vs. Game Two Winner – 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game One Loser vs. Game Two Loser – 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game Three Loser vs. Game 4 Winner – 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 23
Game 6: Game Three Winner vs. Game Five Winner – 1 p.m.
Game 7: If Necessary – 3:30 p.m.
Series History: 1-3 overall, First meeting in Stillwater
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2018 in Cathedral City, Calif. (MSU 9, OSU 4)
Current Streak: Mississippi State won 1
Boston University (36-2)
Series History: 1-0 overall, 1-0 at neutral sites
Last Meeting: Mar. 11, 2000 in Tampa, Fla. (MSU 4, BU 2)
Current Streak: Mississippi State won 1
Campbell (27-17)
Series History: First meeting
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
MSU will open the double-elimination regional on Friday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m. CT against Boston University at Cowgirl Stadium. Along with the Bulldogs and the Terriers, the Stillwater Regional features host Oklahoma State, which earned the fifth overall national seed, and Campbell.
"We are excited to get on the road to Stillwater and get back to postseason after the shortened 2020 season," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Oklahoma State has had a great year. There's definitely a challenge in front of us with them, but we can't overlook Boston University or Campbell. They've had great seasons too with the success that they've had in their conferences. We're looking to continue what we've been doing in the month of May. That's taking care of the little things, timely hitting, pitching with our whole staff and taking care of the details. We're continuing to build out confidence at the right time of the year. We're excited to get going and get back to practice."
The Bulldogs' first game of the regional will be aired nationally on ESPN3, which can be accessed online through WatchESPN or the ESPN app. Television assignments for the remaining games of the regional will be announced later this week.
The winner of the Stillwater Regional will advance to Super Regionals to face the winner of the Austin Regional, hosted by No. 12 Texas. Also competing in the Austin Regional are Oregon, Texas State and Saint Francis.
State has won eight of its last 10 games, including its final seven SEC matchups. The Bulldogs have won five of their last six against NFCA-ranked teams, and MSU's five-game winning streak against ranked squads was the second-longest in school history.
MSU finished the season ranked No. 29 in the NCAA RPI. The Bulldogs played eight-toughest schedule in the nation, and 16 of its 23 losses came to teams ranked in the latest NFCA Coaches' poll.
State is making its 16th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs have made every tournament bracket since 2017 and eight of the last nine fields. All 16 appearances have come since 2000. MSU has won at least one regional game in five of its last six tournament appearances and is aiming to make its first NCAA Super Regional appearance in program history.
In their last NCAA Tournament appearance, the Bulldogs fell to host Washington, 8-0, in the Regional final.
Stillwater Regional Schedule (All Times Central)
Friday, May 21Game 1: Oklahoma State vs. Campbell – 1 p.m.
Game 2: Boston University vs. Mississippi State – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 22
Game 3: Game One Winner vs. Game Two Winner – 1 p.m.
Game 4: Game One Loser vs. Game Two Loser – 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game Three Loser vs. Game 4 Winner – 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 23
Game 6: Game Three Winner vs. Game Five Winner – 1 p.m.
Game 7: If Necessary – 3:30 p.m.
About the Stillwater Regional Field
No. 5 Oklahoma State (42-9)Series History: 1-3 overall, First meeting in Stillwater
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2018 in Cathedral City, Calif. (MSU 9, OSU 4)
Current Streak: Mississippi State won 1
Boston University (36-2)
Series History: 1-0 overall, 1-0 at neutral sites
Last Meeting: Mar. 11, 2000 in Tampa, Fla. (MSU 4, BU 2)
Current Streak: Mississippi State won 1
Campbell (27-17)
Series History: First meeting
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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