Softball Welcomes Competitive Field For Bulldog Invitational

STARKVILLE – A talented field, including No. 1 Oklahoma, awaits Mississippi State softball at this weekend's Bulldog Invitational. State will play five games in four days on March 9-12. The Bulldogs only doubleheader will come on Saturday, March 11, against the Sooners and Omaha.

State (16-5) open the event on Thursday night against Southeastern Louisiana in the only game of the day. That day is also MSU's Greek Attendance Challenge for members of fraternities and sororities on campus. The Bulldogs are 8-1 all-time against the Lions. Southeastern (18-2) will play Wednesday night before coming to Starkville.

MSU then meets the No. 1 Sooners (17-1) for the third and fourth times under head coach Samantha Ricketts who played in Norman from 2006-09 and was a two-time All-American. The Friday night game features a bucket hat giveaway that is limited to students. Saturday's game is a nationally-televised matchup on the SEC Network, and fans in attendance will receive free rally towels.

Also on Saturday, MSU meets Omaha (10-5) for the first time since 2018 and just the third time in school history. On Sunday, the Bulldogs will play East Tennessee State (3-12) who will wrap up a doubleheader on Wednesday night before traveling to Starkville for the tournament. The Bulldogs are 3-0 all-time against the Buccaneers with the last meeting coming in 2010.

All MSU games will be streamed on SEC Network+. Admission to all games at Nusz Park is free. Additional parking and fan information was announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Game Coverage

Leading Off

Nothing Easy: The Bulldog hitters are averaging just 2.67 strikeouts per game, which ranks sixth nationally and second in the SEC. Three Bulldogs are among the 10 toughest to strike out in the SEC.

Take A Walk: Riley Hull is averaging 0.94 per game, which ranks fifth nationally. As a team, State's 78 walks rank 16th nationally.

Marron's Marks: Josey Marron is currently among the top 25 nationally in hits per seven innings (3.41; 17th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (12.20; 15th) and strikeouts per seven innngs (10.41; 24th).

Beat It Out: State has 34 infield singles so far this year. Brylie St. Clair leads the way with 12, while Kiersten Landers has 10. State is 11-for-13 when bunting for a hit.

Taking On Top Teams: Mississippi State has already played three NFCA-ranked teams this year, going 1-2 in those games despite outscoring teams a combined 15-14 in them.

Magic Number: State has scored at least five runs in 15 of its 16 wins of 2023 and is 15-1 when doing so.

About the Opponents

Southeastern Louisiana (18-2, 0-0 Southland)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Rick Fremin | at SELA: 526-350 (18th Year) | Career: 199-122 (7th Year)
Batting Average: .326; Runs Per Game: 6.2; Hits Per Game: 8.0; Slugging Percentage: .508
ERA: 2.08; K/7: 7.2; K/BB Ratio: 2.6; Opp. Batting Avg: .193

Oklahoma (17-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – 1 | USA Softball – 1 | D1Softball – 1 | Softball America – 1
Head coach: Patty Gasso | at OU: 1412-345-2 (29th Year) | Career: 1412-345-2 (29th Year)
Batting Average: .391; Runs Per Game: 9.0; Hits Per Game: 9.6; Slugging Percentage: .709
ERA: 0.93; K/7: 9.3; K/BB Ratio: 4.5; Opp. Batting Avg: .162

Omaha (10-5, 0-0 Summit)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Mike Heard | at OMA: 42-19 (2nd Year) | Career: 194-115 (8th Year)
Batting Average: .244; Runs Per Game: 4.3; Hits Per Game: 6.5; Slugging Percentage: .378
ERA: 2.08; K/7: 6.7; K/BB Ratio: 1.9; Opp. Batting Avg: .230

East Tennessee State (3-12, 0-0 SoCon)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NR
Head coach: Cheryl Milligan | at ETSU: 3-12 (1st Year) | Career: 544-220-1 (19th Year)
Batting Average: .279; Runs Per Game: 3.1; Hits Per Game: 7.8; Slugging Percentage: .382
ERA: 4.33; K/7: 4.3; K/BB Ratio: 0.9; Opp. Batting Avg: .301

On Deck

Mississippi State will host Purdue on Wednesday, March 15 at 4 p.m. CT with the game streaming on SEC Network+. Following that, State opens SEC play at home, hosting South Carolina on March 17-19 at Nusz Park.

Follow the Bulldogs

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

Softball Welcomes Competitive Field For Bulldog Invitational

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Riley Hull

Kiersten Landers

Josey Marron

Brylie St. Clair

Mississippi State University Athletics

Softball Welcomes Competitive Field For Bulldog Invitational

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Riley Hull

Kiersten Landers

Josey Marron

Brylie St. Clair

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