Bulldog Faithful Creating Electric Environment At Nusz Park
April 15, 2024 | Softball
It was a record-setting weekend at the home of State softball.
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State faithful created an exuberant atmosphere at Nusz Park as a record-setting 4,042 fans filled the stands during this past weekend's series against fourth-ranked Tennessee. It was the largest crowd for a three-day series in program history.
Maroon and White pom-poms waved in the air rapidly across the park during each game, as the fans showed their undeniable support for the Bulldogs.
"It's awesome [to see the support]," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It's just so exciting when we can look up and see 1,500-plus fans showing up in Starkville on a Saturday for us. We've come a long way and to see standing room only at the top and on the deck – we're really thankful [and] grateful for the support."
In Saturday afternoon's contest against the Lady Vols, the 1,572 fans that packed the park etched their mark into history as the fifth-best attendance all-time at Nusz Park.
Experienced players like fifth-year Paige Cook are thrilled to see the years of hard work and dedication put into the program pay off through the support of the fans.
"We talked about it a lot this weekend – just seeing how far we've come with all of our fans out there supporting us because we've always talked about how we're such an energy-based team," Cook said. "When the crowd brings that energy, it lifts us up even more."
The veterans on the squad are not the only players who have noticed the outpouring of support from the fans. Junior transfer Jessie Blaine noticed the overwhelming amount of admiration the welcoming fans in Starkville have for the staff and players.
"We have all the gratitude for everybody that comes out and supports us," Blaine said. "We're hoping to [continue] to get that support."
State holds a 16-6 record at home this season with multiple Top-25 wins to boot.
The kids that line the rails waiting for autographs from the players outside the park, the plethora of MSU students that line the outfield deck and the thousands of other fans that fill the stands are appreciated by every member of the MSU softball team.
"It's so exciting for us [to see] and when you talk, especially to the upperclassmen, the staff like myself and coach [Tyler] Bratton who've been here for so long, we're [grateful]," Ricketts said. "It's really special because we remember the days where that was not the case. It feels like an environment [and] it feels exciting. We're really proud and appreciative and it's our goal to go out there and give them the best that we can on the field."
The Bulldogs are back at Nusz Park for a pair of midweek games this week. State hosts Memphis on Tuesday at 5 p.m., then welcomes South Alabama to Starkville on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
