Excitement For Bulldog Softball Escalates

STARKVILLE – As the 2024 softball season rapidly approaches, members of the Mississippi State softball team had the exciting opportunity to deliver season tickets and interact with purchasers in Starkville.

Morgan Bernardini, Sierra Sacco and Madisyn Kennedy were part of a group of players welcomed into the homes of the Bulldog faithful with open arms.

"It was so much fun being welcomed by our season ticket holders," Bernardini said. "Some made us cookies. Some had snacks ready. It was the best time ever. I felt like I was just walking into a family member's house. They were really welcoming, and it was such an exciting time to be there."

The support displayed by the MSU fan base is evident through the many record-setting crowds that have shown up to cheer on the Bulldogs at Nusz Park.

In the Starkville Super Regional against Arizona in 2022, the all-time attendance record was demolished. An astonishing 2,299 fans showed up for Game 2 against the Wildcats, which broke the previous record set just the day before in the opening game of the series.

The outpouring of admiration for women's sports at MSU has been a welcome sign for newcomers who will be representing the Maroon and White for the first time this season.

"It [was] important to me to come into a spot that does feel like home," Sacco, a transfer from Louisiana Tech said. "With the fan base that we have, it's very welcoming. It's very comforting being a new person on the team. It's nice to have support, and it feels good."

Not only has MSU grown its culture tremendously, but the world of college softball continues to grow every day. The plethora of national coverage and record-breaking viewership continues to grow around the game.

"It's super cool to see the support throughout the country with the TV viewership," Kennedy said. "It's awesome to know that softball is one of the top viewership sports and see how much the game is growing. I'm excited to see where it continues to go in the future."

Sometimes the future is closer than you think.

For Bernardini, seeing the youth in attendance showing their support and discussing their dream of becoming a softball player with her has left a long-lasting impact.

"It's amazing to think that I was that little girl one day watching college softball," Bernardini said. "It melts my heart for those little girls who are just standing at the fence, watching us warm up, watching us as we're walking out before the game. It makes me excited and very grateful to have that opportunity to set an example and be a role model for those little ones."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Excitement For Bulldog Softball Escalates

Players Mentioned

Morgan Bernardini

Madisyn Kennedy

Sierra Sacco

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