Bulldogs Host Three-Game Set With Auburn
Maroon and White Close Out 10-Game Homestand
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State softball team (27-15, 7-8 SEC) will close out a 10-game homestand this weekend as the Bulldogs suit up to take on visiting Auburn (19-23, 7-11) in a three-game series at the Mississippi State Softball Field.
State and Auburn will open their annual set with a 5 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and will close out the series on Sunday in a regionally-televised game slated for a 1:09 p.m. first pitch. Sunday's series finale has been tabbed "Pack the Park Day" when the Bulldogs and Tigers battle on SEC-TV and the first 50 fans to the stadium will receive free Mississippi State Softball ball point bat pens.
Saturday's series opener will mark the 24th meeting in a series dominated by the Bulldogs, 17-6. The Maroon and White have taken nine of 11 Starkville meetings, but have only a slight edge in Auburn, 7-4. The Tigers took the series in Auburn last season, taking games two and three of the set.
Auburn will roll into Starkville days removed after dropping all three games of its series at No. 18 Alabama on Wednesday and Thursday. Mississippi State is fresh off an upset loss at the hands of Southern Miss in Madison Thursday evening at the inaugural M&F Bank Fastpitch Classic.
Although carrying just a .220 team clip, Auburn looks to be dangerous throughout its batting order. Freshman Ashley Griffin paces the Tigers with a .296 (36-for-123) that includes an SEC-leading 16 doubles, and nine RBI. Sophomore Sara Dean is the only other Auburn player hitting above the .250 plateau as Dean currently totes a .280 (33-for-118) average with 11 extra-base hits and 14 RBI. Sophomore Shannon Anderson is the basis for Auburn's speed on the paths, toting a perfect 14-for-14 edge on stolen base attempts to go along with a .242 (31-for-128) batting average and a team-leading 19 runs scored.
From the circle, Auburn has taken its lumps this season and will carry a 3.18 team ERA into this weekend's series. Freshman Jenny Diaz leads the club with a 6-2 record and a 2.94 ERA, while fellow frosh Janet Spivey ranks second with a 7-10 tally and a 2.99 ERA. Kristin Keyes, ast season's conference saves runner-up, is currently 5-11 with a 3.76 ERA.