State Returns Home To Host The Bulldog Invitational Presented By C Spire

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State softball remains ranked in all four polls as the No. 24/23 Bulldogs prepare to host the Bulldog Invitational presented by C Spire this weekend. Joining State in Starkville will be in-state foes, Southern Miss and Alcorn State, along with Troy and Samford.

The Bulldogs are 27-4 against teams from Mississippi under head coach Samantha Ricketts. They've outscored in-state foes, 187-63, in her tenure.

State (11-3) has seen its season highlighted by the pitching staff early on. Bulldogs have already combined to throw six complete games after tossing just eight all of last season. The Bulldog staff is among the top 25 nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio, walks per seven innings, walk rate, walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) and fielding independent pitching.

Defensively, State turned four double plays in five games last week, and now has six on the year through 14 contests. MSU turned 15 in 53 games a year ago.

Game Coverage

Leading Off

Going The Distance: Josey Marron and Aspen Wesley accounted for six of State's eight complete games in 2023, and they already have four this season. As a team, MSU has thrown six complete games already.

Nation-Leading Arms: State's staff is among the top 25 nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.80; 1st), walks per seven innings (0.79; 1st), walk rate (2.8 percent; 1st), WHIP (0.92; 10th) and fielding independent pitching (2.87; 11th).

Clutch Kylee: Kylee Edwards has a 1.125 OPS when hitting with two strikes, which ranks third in the SEC. Her .500 batting average is ninth. Edwards' 1.089 OPS leads the team.

Home Sweet Home: Since 2016, MSU is 170-68 in Nusz Park (.714).

Sierra Sets The Table: Sierra Sacco has reached base safely in 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) leadoff plate appearances. Her 26.4 percent walk rate ranks 35th in the NCAA.

Magic Number: MSU is 57-2 since the start of 2022 when scoring five or more runs. State scored at least five in 25 of its 27 wins of 2023 and has done so in eight of 11 wins in 2024.

1,000 Wins: State's victory against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday was the Bulldogs' 1,000 in program history. The Bulldogs reached the milestone in 1,760 games.

Turning Two: State has turned six double plays, which is tied for fourth in the SEC. MSU has turned four double plays in the last four games. Last year, State turned 15 in 53 games.

About The Opponents

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (5-8, 0-0 Sun Belt)

Troy Trojans (14-4, 0-0 Sun Belt)

Alcorn State Lady Braves (5-10, 0-0 SWAC)

Samford Bulldogs (2-12, 0-0 Southern)

On Deck

The Bulldogs will open conference play next week on the road at in-state rival Ole Miss. State opens the series on March 8 at 6 p.m. CT and returns to play in Oxford on March 9 at 3 p.m. Both of those games will air on SEC Network+. The series finale on Sunday is set for 3 p.m. on SEC Network.

Follow the Bulldogs

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

State Returns Home To Host The Bulldog Invitational Presented By C Spire

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kylee Edwards

Josey Marron

Sierra Sacco

Aspen Wesley

Mississippi State University Athletics

State Returns Home To Host The Bulldog Invitational Presented By C Spire

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kylee Edwards

Josey Marron

Sierra Sacco

Aspen Wesley

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