Saturday, February 17
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
#8 Clemson
Bulldogs Arrive In Mexico For Puerto Vallarta College Challenge
February 15, 2024 | Softball
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Mississippi State softball has arrived in Mexico for the 2024 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. The Bulldogs are set to play UC Davis and UC San Diego on Friday before two ranked matchups on Saturday night against No. 13/16 Utah and No. 8/7 Clemson.
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State is coming off of a doubleheader sweep against No. 23/23 Louisiana. MSU won the first game of the doubleheader in six innings, marking its first run-rule victory against a ranked team since 2008.
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As a team, the Bulldogs enter the weekend boasting the SEC's top batting average at .421, which ranks fifth nationally. MSU is also fifth nationally in on-base percentage and among the top 20 in slugging percentage. In the circle, MSU has allowed just two earned runs for a 0.40 ERA that ranks eighth nationally. Perhaps more impressive, State has walked just one batter in six games while striking out 39.
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Jessie Blaine has been hot lately, registering a career-long six-game hitting streak. She's hitting .625 during the streak with a .938 slugging percentage and eight RBIs. Nadia Barbary and Salen Hawkins are also riding three-game hitting streaks and batting above .400 in those games.
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10 a.m. – vs. UC Davis | Watch on FloSoftball | Live Stats
3 p.m. – vs. UC San Diego | Watch on FloSports | Live Stats
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Saturday, Feb. 17
6 p.m. – vs. No. 13/16 Utah | Watch on FloSoftball | Live Stats
8:30 p.m. – vs. No. 8/7 Clemson | Watch on FloSoftball | Live Stats
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Speedy State: MSU already has 10 stolen bases after swiping just 29 all of last year. State's current rate of 1.66 stolen bases per game would be its highest since 2015 (1.77) when MSU finished the year with 101 bags swiped, which was tied for the fifth-most in program history.
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The Taryne Treatment: Under new pitching coach Taryne Mowatt-McKinney, the Bulldogs have allowed just one walk, tied for the national lead, and they have recorded 39 strikeouts. Their 39.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio leads the nation. MSU's 0.40 team ERA ranks eighth nationally.
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A Blast With Blaine: Jessie Blaine ranks 34th nationally and fifth in the SEC with a .600 batting average. She is 5-for-9 (.556) with runners in scoring position, and also ranks 38th in the NCAA in on-base percentage.
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Hot Bats: State ranks fifth nationally with a .421 batting average. The Bulldogs also boast a .497 on-base percentage that is fifth nationally and a .607 slugging percentage that's 15th.
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Magic Number: MSU is 54-2 over the last two years when scoring five or more runs. State scored at least five in 25 of its 27 wins of 2023 and has done so in five of six wins in 2024.
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Back Below The Border: Mississippi State last played in Mexico in 2019. State lost two games on its first day in Mexico to Southern Illinois and Washington before defeating Sacramento State and UCF.
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Head Coach: Erin Thorpe | Record at UCD: 210-225 (10th Year) | Career Record: 434-517-1 (21st Year)
Batting Average: .223 | Runs Per Game: 3.0 | Hits Per Game: 5.3 | Slugging Pct: .266
ERA: 3.00 | K/7: 3.8 | K/BB Ratio: 3.0 | Opp. Batting Avg: .287
Series History: 0-1 | Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-1 | Current Streak: Lost 1
Last Meeting: Feb. 16, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada (MSU 1, UCD 2)
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Head Coach: Patti Gerckens | Record at UCSD: 843-695 (32nd Year) | Career Record: Same
Batting Average: .228 | Runs Per Game: 3.0 | Hits Per Game: 5.6 | Slugging Pct: .309
ERA: 3.66 | K/7: 4.6 | K/BB Ratio: 2.6 | Opp. Batting Avg: .289
Series History: First Meeting
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Head Coach: Amy Hogue | Record at UTAH: 444-395-1 (17th Year) | Career Record: Same
Batting Average: .345 | Runs Per Game: 5.8 | Hits Per Game: 10.0 | Slugging Pct: .421
ERA: 1.60 | K/7: 4.4 | K/BB Ratio: 3.7 | Opp. Batting Avg: .264
Series History: 2-4 | Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 2-4 | Current Streak: Won 1
Last Meeting: Feb. 26, 2005, in Palm Springs, California (MSU 10, UTAH 3)
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Head Coach: John Rittman | Record at CU: 158-46 (5th Year) | Career Record: 908-397-3 (23rd Year)
Batting Average: .313 | Runs Per Game: 5.2 | Hits Per Game: 8.0 | Slugging Pct: .469
ERA: 1.97 | K/7: 7.4 | K/BB Ratio: 11.3 | Opp. Batting Avg: .244
Series History: First Meeting
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State is coming off of a doubleheader sweep against No. 23/23 Louisiana. MSU won the first game of the doubleheader in six innings, marking its first run-rule victory against a ranked team since 2008.
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As a team, the Bulldogs enter the weekend boasting the SEC's top batting average at .421, which ranks fifth nationally. MSU is also fifth nationally in on-base percentage and among the top 20 in slugging percentage. In the circle, MSU has allowed just two earned runs for a 0.40 ERA that ranks eighth nationally. Perhaps more impressive, State has walked just one batter in six games while striking out 39.
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Jessie Blaine has been hot lately, registering a career-long six-game hitting streak. She's hitting .625 during the streak with a .938 slugging percentage and eight RBIs. Nadia Barbary and Salen Hawkins are also riding three-game hitting streaks and batting above .400 in those games.
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Game Coverage
Friday, Feb. 1610 a.m. – vs. UC Davis | Watch on FloSoftball | Live Stats
3 p.m. – vs. UC San Diego | Watch on FloSports | Live Stats
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Saturday, Feb. 17
6 p.m. – vs. No. 13/16 Utah | Watch on FloSoftball | Live Stats
8:30 p.m. – vs. No. 8/7 Clemson | Watch on FloSoftball | Live Stats
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Leading Off
Statement Made: State swept No. 23 Louisiana in a doubleheader on Feb. 13. The Bulldogs won the first game 9-1 in six innings, marking MSU's first run-rule victory against a ranked team since April 19, 2008, against then No. 21 Georgia (10-0 [5 inn.]).Â
Speedy State: MSU already has 10 stolen bases after swiping just 29 all of last year. State's current rate of 1.66 stolen bases per game would be its highest since 2015 (1.77) when MSU finished the year with 101 bags swiped, which was tied for the fifth-most in program history.
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The Taryne Treatment: Under new pitching coach Taryne Mowatt-McKinney, the Bulldogs have allowed just one walk, tied for the national lead, and they have recorded 39 strikeouts. Their 39.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio leads the nation. MSU's 0.40 team ERA ranks eighth nationally.
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A Blast With Blaine: Jessie Blaine ranks 34th nationally and fifth in the SEC with a .600 batting average. She is 5-for-9 (.556) with runners in scoring position, and also ranks 38th in the NCAA in on-base percentage.
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Hot Bats: State ranks fifth nationally with a .421 batting average. The Bulldogs also boast a .497 on-base percentage that is fifth nationally and a .607 slugging percentage that's 15th.
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Magic Number: MSU is 54-2 over the last two years when scoring five or more runs. State scored at least five in 25 of its 27 wins of 2023 and has done so in five of six wins in 2024.
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Back Below The Border: Mississippi State last played in Mexico in 2019. State lost two games on its first day in Mexico to Southern Illinois and Washington before defeating Sacramento State and UCF.
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About The Opponents
UC Davis (2-2, 0-0 Big West)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Erin Thorpe | Record at UCD: 210-225 (10th Year) | Career Record: 434-517-1 (21st Year)
Batting Average: .223 | Runs Per Game: 3.0 | Hits Per Game: 5.3 | Slugging Pct: .266
ERA: 3.00 | K/7: 3.8 | K/BB Ratio: 3.0 | Opp. Batting Avg: .287
Series History: 0-1 | Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-1 | Current Streak: Lost 1
Last Meeting: Feb. 16, 2007, in Las Vegas, Nevada (MSU 1, UCD 2)
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UC San Diego (1-4, 0-0 Big West)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Patti Gerckens | Record at UCSD: 843-695 (32nd Year) | Career Record: Same
Batting Average: .228 | Runs Per Game: 3.0 | Hits Per Game: 5.6 | Slugging Pct: .309
ERA: 3.66 | K/7: 4.6 | K/BB Ratio: 2.6 | Opp. Batting Avg: .289
Series History: First Meeting
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Utah (4-1, 0-0 Pac-12)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Amy Hogue | Record at UTAH: 444-395-1 (17th Year) | Career Record: Same
Batting Average: .345 | Runs Per Game: 5.8 | Hits Per Game: 10.0 | Slugging Pct: .421
ERA: 1.60 | K/7: 4.4 | K/BB Ratio: 3.7 | Opp. Batting Avg: .264
Series History: 2-4 | Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 2-4 | Current Streak: Won 1
Last Meeting: Feb. 26, 2005, in Palm Springs, California (MSU 10, UTAH 3)
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Clemson (4-1, 0-0 ACC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: John Rittman | Record at CU: 158-46 (5th Year) | Career Record: 908-397-3 (23rd Year)
Batting Average: .313 | Runs Per Game: 5.2 | Hits Per Game: 8.0 | Slugging Pct: .469
ERA: 1.97 | K/7: 7.4 | K/BB Ratio: 11.3 | Opp. Batting Avg: .244
Series History: First Meeting
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On Deck
The Bulldogs remain on the road next week, playing five games at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Feb. 22-24 in Cathedral City, California. State is slated to open that tournament against UCF and Notre Dame on Thursday, Feb. 22. The Bulldogs will meet top-ranked Oklahoma on Friday before closing the tournament with games against Cal State Fullerton and Fresno State on Saturday, Feb. 24.Â
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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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Players Mentioned
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