Softball Crosses State Line For Another Top-Five Matchup

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State is once again set to meet a top-five opponent this week when the Bulldogs travel to No. 2 Alabama on April 14-16.

With three games against the Crimson Tide, which is ranked No. 3 in the latest NFCA poll, State will reach 10 games against NFCA top-five opponents this season. The only other season in which MSU (26-14, 7-5 SEC) saw that many top-five squads was the 2016 campaign (16).

In their last series in Tuscaloosa, the Bulldogs upset then-No. 4 Alabama in an extra-innings matchup in the final game of the series.

MSU has hit its stride in conference play this season. The Bulldogs' .292 batting average in SEC games is third in the league and their pitching staff has allowed the third-fewest runs (54) in conference games.

Chloe Malau'ulu has been at the center of that push, leading the team with a .444 betting average and .750 slugging percentage in league games. State has also gotten a boost from Paige Cook who is leading the team with 16 two-out RBIs. More than half of MSU's RBI's in SEC games have come with two outs.

Game Coverage

Leading Off

Captain Chloe: Chloe Malau'ulu is fourth in the SEC in batting average (.444) and fifth in on-base percentage (.524) in league play. Her slugging percentage (.750) leads the team.

Let's Go Streaking: Mia Davidson is riding the 20th reached base streak of 20 or more games in school history. She is two games shy of her career-long streak of 22 games.

Multiples For Mia: Davidson holds the school record with 53 career multi-RBI games, and her 64 career multi-hit games are fifth in MSU history.

All Hail The Queen: Davidson's 85 career homers are the most in SEC baseball or softball history and tied for seventh in NCAA softball history.

Success In SEC Series: MSU has won five of its last seven SEC series, sweeping three. The Bulldogs are 14-6 in their last seven regular-season SEC series dating back to 2021.

Sending Them Packing: Annie Willis (9.11) and Kenley Hawk (8.30) are averaging more than 8.0 strikeouts per 7 innings (min. 50 IP). This would be just the third season in program history with multiple pitchers posting a K/7 above 8.0 in the same year.

Two-Out Rallies: State is hitting .385 with two outs in conference play, which leads the SEC. MSU's .316 two-out average in all games, trails only Georgia (.317). 27 of MSU's 50 RBIs in SEC games have come with two outs.

Facing The Top Five: Including this week's series at No. 3 Alabama, MSU will have played 10 games against NFCA top-five teams in 2022, which is second-most in school history behind 2016 (10).

Lineup Log: Samantha Ricketts has used 30 different batting orders and 19 different defensive alignments to start the game through 40 contests.

About Alabama (33-6, 10-5 SEC)

Rankings: NFCA Coaches – 3 | USA Softball – 2 | D1Softball – 2 | Softball America – 2
Head Coach: Patrick Murphy | Record at ALA: 1179-325-4 (24th Year) | Career Record: 1207-345-4 (25th Year)
Batting Average: .310 | Runs Per Game: 6.1 | Hits Per Game: 7.9 | Slugging Pct: .494
ERA: 2.22 | K/7: 8.6 | K/BB Ratio: 3.5 | Opp. Batting Avg: .206

Series History
Overall: 12-62 | Home: 7-25 | Away: 4-31 | Neutral: 1-6
Current Streak: Lost 1 | Last Meeting: Mar. 3, 2021 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (MSU 0, ALA 4)

Scouting the Crimson Tide
The Bulldogs' last series win over a top-five Alabama team came in 2014. The Crimson Tide has scored six or more runs in nine of its last 11 games. Alabama's pitching staff leads the SEC with a 2.22 ERA and is second in the conference in strikeouts (312). Both the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide like to score early. Alabama has outscored its opponents 45-5 in the first inning and is 14-2 when scoring in the first. State is 15-1 when scoring in the first with a 46-17 margin in first innings and a 97-27 margin in the first two frames.

On Deck

MSU will have two midweek games next week. The Bulldogs host ULM at 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 19. That game will air on SEC Network+. State then hits the road for a makeup contest against UT Marting in Lexington, Tennessee, on Wednesday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m.

Follow the Bulldogs

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."

Softball Crosses State Line For Another Top-Five Matchup

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Mia Davidson

Kenley Hawk

Chloe Malau'ulu

Annie Willis

Mississippi State University Athletics

Softball Crosses State Line For Another Top-Five Matchup

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Mia Davidson

Kenley Hawk

Chloe Malau'ulu

Annie Willis

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