Bulldogs Open Six-Game Spring Break Homestand Tuesday

STARKVILLE – No. 12/17 Mississippi State returns home this week to begin a six-game homestand. After playing the last 11 games on the road or at neutral sites while posting a 10-1 record, the Bulldogs welcome Southeast Missouri to Nusz Park for a Tuesday doubleheader.

Spring break will be busy for the Bulldogs. In addition to Tuesday's 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT first pitches, State will host No. 1/1 Tennessee to open SEC play over the weekend.

MSU has registered its highest ranking ever in two of the four polls this year and now has earned its highest RPI in program history at No. 9 in the first iteration released by the NCAA on Monday. The Bulldogs are looking to enter SEC play with their best winning percentage on record should they win both games on Tuesday.

Southeast Missouri's schedule has been derailed recently. The Redhawks' opening series of conference play saw one of the three games canceled and the other two are being played as a Monday doubleheader. The series was originally set to be their home opener, but weather has forced the games to be played on the road, and Southeast Missouri still has yet to play a home game.

Leading Off

Record Rankings: The Bulldogs are No. 9 in the first NCAA RPI release of the season. That is MSU's highest mark in the RPI in program history. Previously, State had climbed as high as No. 19 in the final selection rankings of 2008. State is No. 10 in the first KPI release of the year.

Commanding Non-Conference: State has the opportunity to post its best record entering conference play in program history this season. The Bulldogs are currently 24-2 (.923), which would be their best mark, but could open SEC play with a 26-2 (.929) record with two wins on Tuesday. The previous record was posted in 2014 when MSU was 19-2 (.905).

Swing And Miss: Mississippi State leads the nation in strikeouts (237) and strikeouts looking (54). Alyssa Faircloth is a big reason why. She entered the season with one career double-digit strikeout game and now boasts four this year. Faircloth ranks second nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (12.69) and fourth in total strikeouts (107).

Ki Is Key: Kiarra Sells has an extra-base hit in 12 of the last 14 games with eight doubles and six homers in that span. She already boasts double-digit home runs for the second year in a row.

Offensive Pace: This year's current batting average (.332), slugging percentage (.580) and on-base percentage (.414) would all be school records. State is on pace for a school-record 98 doubles and 77 home runs in the regular season alone.

Going Grand: Nadia Barbary tied the MSU career grand slams record with her third against Samford on Saturday in Mobile.

Sacrificial Swings: The Bulldogs have 17 sacrifice flies this year, already tied for third in program history. MSU hit a school-record 21 in each of the past two seasons.

How You Respond: MSU has returned the favor for its two losses, winning against the same squad the following days. The Bulldogs largest deficit so far this season was just three runs in the 3-0 loss at Clemson.

Dawgs' Depth: Depth is a hallmark of State this year. A dozen Bulldogs have hit a home run, and seven different players have rotated through the outfield. In the circle, MSU has used three different starters with no pitcher throwing more than 37 percent of the team's innings.

About Southeast Missouri (4-13, 0-0 OVC)

Series History

Notables

Southeast Missouri will be coming off of a Monday doubleheader at Western Illinois. The Redhawks' home series with Western Illinois saw Friday's game washed out and the series was moved to Marion, Illinois, on Monday to play the remaining games. As such, Southeast Missouri has yet to play a home game. Madison Winkler has reached base safely in 24 games, dating back to 2025. She has a hit in 15 of the Redhawks' 17 games. Winkler and Kamden Hutton have combined for 42 percent of the team's hits this year. Winkler and Brooklyn Saysoff were All-OVC selections last spring.

On Deck

Mississippi State welcomes No. 1/1 Tennessee to Nusz Park on Friday, March 13 for its SEC opener at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs and Lady Vols will play three games on March 13-15 with all three airing on SEC Network+. Saturday is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch with the series concluding at noon on Sunday.

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Bulldogs Open Six-Game Spring Break Homestand Tuesday

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Players Mentioned

Nadia Barbary

Alyssa Faircloth

Kiarra Sells

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldogs Open Six-Game Spring Break Homestand Tuesday

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nadia Barbary

Alyssa Faircloth

Kiarra Sells

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