Mississippi State softball preparing for SEC play
Mississippi State softball wrapped up its non-conference schedule far ahead of where most experts thought the team would be at this point in the season. Now, the Bulldogs will turn their eyes towards SEC play and a cross-state rival.
Mississippi State softball (17-3) will square off against Ole Miss (15-5) in a three game series in Oxford this weekend as both teams’ first conference matchup. Ole Miss just opened their new facility, and the Bulldogs will try and bring a housewarming gift of their own when the series kicks off on Friday at 6 p.m. with games continuing on Saturday and Sunday, both at 3 p.m. All games will be aired on the SEC Network+.
Coming in ranked differently in almost every top 25 poll there is, the Bulldogs sit at 17th in the nation in the D1 Softball rankings on the heels of a six game win streak.
Ole Miss pitching
It’s been a by-committee approach for the Rebels so far in the circle this season. Makenna Klierthermes leads the squad in innings pitched by a good margin with 41.1, but that’s only a portion of the total 129.1 that the team has thrown thus far this season.
Nobody that has seen action so far this season for the Rebels boasts higher than a 3.04 ERA, though, and that’s been one of the biggest reasons Ole Miss has notched 15 quick wins already. The Bulldogs pose the biggest threat that the Rebels have seen yet at the plate, though, as the squad currently has zero ranked wins on the year.
One comment opponent between the two is Clemson, who Mississippi State managed to edge out during the Puerto Vallarta tournament 6-3. Ole Miss lost to the same Clemson team twice by a combined 13 runs while only managing to put up one run over the course of those two games.
By the numbers, non-conference play has been kind to the Rebels’ rotation. Mississippi State will be trying to set the tone for conference play and change that narrative.
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Ole Miss hitting
The Rebels have been just as hot at the plate as Mississippi State outside of a few games, though. They’ve totaled 170 hits on the season already, and have 15 home runs as a team. Junior catcher Lexie Brady has six of those herself, despite hitting .279 on the season so far.
Leading the team in batting average is Jaden Pone, a junior utility player from Hope Mills, North Carolina. Pone made an impact immediately as a transfer from Longwood, and is slashing .418 with a .455 slug and .522 OBP. She and Aynslie Furbush (.405/.524/.500) lead the charge offensively for the Rebels.
That’s not to say others aren’t producing, though. Senior INF Paige Smith has been lights out in her senior season up to this point and boasts an impressive 1.020 OPS on the year. Jalia Lassiter has started all 20 games for the Rebels, and is currently hitting .389 at the dish.
Aspen Wesley, Josey Marron and the rest of the Bulldog pitching staff will have plenty to compete against this weekend, but whoever comes out on top will earn the softball bragging rights for the Magnolia State for the next year.
Prediction
Ole Miss avoids a sweep on Sunday, but just barely. Mississippi State takes the series 2-1 and moves up even farther in the rankings.
