Friday, February 24
Mobile, Ala.
12:30 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Tulsa
Bulldogs Close Season-Opening Road Trip In Mobile
February 23, 2023 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State will wrap up a 15-game season-opening road stretch with five games at the South Alabama Invitational in Mobile, Alabama this weekend.
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State (6-4) is set to meet Tulsa, South Alabama, Louisiana Tech and Furman in a pair of games on Friday and Saturday before a final game with the Paladins on Sunday.
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The Bulldogs have played all four teams under head coach Samantha Ricketts. Last year, MSU split with South Alabama and Furman in Starkville. State last played Louisiana Tech in Ruston, in 2021. MSU has won 11 straight meetings with the Lady Techsters.
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MSU's last meeting with Tulsa came in the shortened 2020 season, when a wild pitch proved to be the difference in a 2-1 defeat that was one of State's only three losses on the season.
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The weekend should provide tight pitching matchups, with three of the five teams boasting ERAs below 2.00 and three averaging more than 6.0 strikeouts per game.
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12:30 p.m. – vs. Tulsa | Live Stats
5:30 p.m. – at South Alabama | Live Stats | ESPN+
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Saturday, Feb. 25
12:30 p.m. – vs. Louisiana Tech | Live Stats
3 p.m. – vs. Furman | Live Stats
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Sunday, Feb. 26
11:15 a.m. – vs. Furman | Live Stats
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STARTS WITH #1: Macy Graf has reached base in 11-of-14 leadoff chances, which is tied for second in the SEC and third among Power 5 programs. It's the most of any freshman in the Power 5.
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TAKING DOWN THE TOP 10: State defeated No. 10 Arizona, 6-3, at the Clearwater Invitational (2/17). The Bulldogs have now won three straight against Top 10 teams by a combined score of 13-5.
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BULLDOG BATS: MSU collected 21 extra-base hits while at the Clearwater Invitational (2/17-19), which ranked second among all teams at the event behind only No. 4 Oklahoma State (28).
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GOING THE DISTANCE: Aspen Wesley and Josey Marron have already combined for three complete games this season. MSU had just 11 complete games in all of 2022.
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MARRON'S HIGH MARKS: Opponents are 0-for-16 with two outs against Marron this season. She's currently averaging 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings and boasts a 7.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
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ROAD DAWGS: State is closing out a 15-game road trip to open the season while construction continues on its new indoor facility.
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Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Crissy Strimple | at TUL: 61-62-1 (4th Year) | Career: 61-62-1 (4th Year)
Batting Average: .275; Runs Per Game: 4.5; Hits Per Game: 7.3; Slugging Percentage: .370
ERA: 3.69; K/7: 6.5; K/BB Ratio: 2.0; Opp. Batting Avg: .249
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South Alabama (6-4, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Becky Clark | at USA: 501-335-1 (17th Year) | Career: 501-335-1 (17th Year)
Batting Average: .286; Runs Per Game: 4.4; Hits Per Game: 7.2; Slugging Percentage: .357
ERA: 1.67; K/7: 7.7; K/BB Ratio: 4.1; Opp. Batting Avg: .198
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Louisiana Tech (7-3, 0-0 C-USA)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Josh Taylor | at LATC: 46-23 (2nd Year) | Career: 166-132 (7th Year)
Batting Average: .278; Runs Per Game: 4.8; Hits Per Game: 6.8; Slugging Percentage: .392
ERA: 1.71; K/7: 2.8; K/BB Ratio: 1.1; Opp. Batting Avg: .239
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Furman (4-5, 0-0 SoCon)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Stacey Johnson-Whitfield | at FUR: 26-38 (2nd Year) | Career: 26-38 (2nd Year)
Batting Average: .292; Runs Per Game: 5.4; Hits Per Game: 7.8; Slugging Percentage: .454
ERA: 3.85; K/7: 5.4; K/BB Ratio: 1.7; Opp. Batting Avg: .264
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State (6-4) is set to meet Tulsa, South Alabama, Louisiana Tech and Furman in a pair of games on Friday and Saturday before a final game with the Paladins on Sunday.
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The Bulldogs have played all four teams under head coach Samantha Ricketts. Last year, MSU split with South Alabama and Furman in Starkville. State last played Louisiana Tech in Ruston, in 2021. MSU has won 11 straight meetings with the Lady Techsters.
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MSU's last meeting with Tulsa came in the shortened 2020 season, when a wild pitch proved to be the difference in a 2-1 defeat that was one of State's only three losses on the season.
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The weekend should provide tight pitching matchups, with three of the five teams boasting ERAs below 2.00 and three averaging more than 6.0 strikeouts per game.
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Game Coverage
Friday, Feb. 2412:30 p.m. – vs. Tulsa | Live Stats
5:30 p.m. – at South Alabama | Live Stats | ESPN+
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Saturday, Feb. 25
12:30 p.m. – vs. Louisiana Tech | Live Stats
3 p.m. – vs. Furman | Live Stats
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Sunday, Feb. 26
11:15 a.m. – vs. Furman | Live Stats
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Leading Off
MAGIC NUMBER: MSU was 24-1 last season when the Bulldogs scored more than five runs. State has scored at least five in every win of 2023 and is 6-1 when doing so.Â
STARTS WITH #1: Macy Graf has reached base in 11-of-14 leadoff chances, which is tied for second in the SEC and third among Power 5 programs. It's the most of any freshman in the Power 5.
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TAKING DOWN THE TOP 10: State defeated No. 10 Arizona, 6-3, at the Clearwater Invitational (2/17). The Bulldogs have now won three straight against Top 10 teams by a combined score of 13-5.
Â
BULLDOG BATS: MSU collected 21 extra-base hits while at the Clearwater Invitational (2/17-19), which ranked second among all teams at the event behind only No. 4 Oklahoma State (28).
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GOING THE DISTANCE: Aspen Wesley and Josey Marron have already combined for three complete games this season. MSU had just 11 complete games in all of 2022.
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MARRON'S HIGH MARKS: Opponents are 0-for-16 with two outs against Marron this season. She's currently averaging 9.8 strikeouts per seven innings and boasts a 7.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
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ROAD DAWGS: State is closing out a 15-game road trip to open the season while construction continues on its new indoor facility.
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About the Opponents
Tulsa (5-5, 0-0 AAC)Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Crissy Strimple | at TUL: 61-62-1 (4th Year) | Career: 61-62-1 (4th Year)
Batting Average: .275; Runs Per Game: 4.5; Hits Per Game: 7.3; Slugging Percentage: .370
ERA: 3.69; K/7: 6.5; K/BB Ratio: 2.0; Opp. Batting Avg: .249
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South Alabama (6-4, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Becky Clark | at USA: 501-335-1 (17th Year) | Career: 501-335-1 (17th Year)
Batting Average: .286; Runs Per Game: 4.4; Hits Per Game: 7.2; Slugging Percentage: .357
ERA: 1.67; K/7: 7.7; K/BB Ratio: 4.1; Opp. Batting Avg: .198
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Louisiana Tech (7-3, 0-0 C-USA)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Josh Taylor | at LATC: 46-23 (2nd Year) | Career: 166-132 (7th Year)
Batting Average: .278; Runs Per Game: 4.8; Hits Per Game: 6.8; Slugging Percentage: .392
ERA: 1.71; K/7: 2.8; K/BB Ratio: 1.1; Opp. Batting Avg: .239
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Furman (4-5, 0-0 SoCon)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Stacey Johnson-Whitfield | at FUR: 26-38 (2nd Year) | Career: 26-38 (2nd Year)
Batting Average: .292; Runs Per Game: 5.4; Hits Per Game: 7.8; Slugging Percentage: .454
ERA: 3.85; K/7: 5.4; K/BB Ratio: 1.7; Opp. Batting Avg: .264
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On Deck
Mississippi State returns to Starkville for its home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The Bulldogs will host Mississippi Valley State for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. CT. Both games will be available on SEC Network+.Â
Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."Â
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