No. 17 Mississippi State hosts No. 20 LSU in final home series
Mississippi State’s softball team will play its final three regular-season games at Nusz Park this weekend, hosting No. 20 LSU in a series during Super Bulldog Weekend, according to the university’s athletics department.
This series marks the Bulldogs’ seventh consecutive against a ranked opponent, with six of those contests featuring teams ranked inside the top 15 in at least one poll. The series also includes special events celebrating seniors and Samoan Heritage Day.
On Friday, the Bulldogs will hold a pregame graduation ceremony to honor players completing their degrees. Saturday’s Senior Day festivities will recognize players approximately 20 minutes before first pitch. Sunday’s game will feature MSU’s annual Samoan Heritage Day, honoring head coach Samantha Ricketts, players Kiarra Sells and Kalani Sells, and graduate assistant Matalasi Faapito. MSU has had at least one Samoan player on its roster each season for the past decade, with as many as four in 2023.
The series schedule includes a Friday night game at 5 p.m., Saturday’s game at 2 p.m., and Sunday’s contest at 11 a.m. All games will be streamed on SEC Network+ and available via live stats and radio on HailState.com, with tickets priced from $5 to $10.
Senior standout Nadia Barbary is among the top 10 in MSU career history in home runs, doubles, and total bases. Kiarra Sells ranks in the top five for slugging, on-base percentage, and OPS. Relief pitcher Delainey Everett returns after missing the first 16 games due to injury, having pitched 8.2 scoreless innings this season.
Offensively, Sells has reached base in 17 straight games, and Kinley Keller has posted her second three-hit game of the season. Xiane Romero hit her first career grand slam last weekend, contributing to her career-high five RBIs. Alyssa Faircloth is close to her 200th strikeout season, needing five more to reach that milestone.
Mississippi State enters the series with a .983 fielding percentage, ranking sixth nationally. The Bulldogs have faced a tough schedule, with every SEC series against a ranked opponent and six of seven losses coming against top-50 teams in RPI. The team’s next opponent, LSU, holds a 32-14 record and is ranked 15th by USA Softball.
LSU recently swept Ole Miss, with pitcher Paytn Monticelli earning SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. The Tigers lead the SEC with 18 triples and are active on the base paths with 52 stolen bases. Outfielder Jalia Lassiter leads LSU hitters with a .343 batting average, 48 hits, and 50 runs scored. LSU has played the No. 7 toughest schedule nationally this season under head coach Beth Torina.
After hosting LSU, Mississippi State will close its regular season at Ole Miss next weekend, with games scheduled Thursday through Sunday. All series details and streaming options are available through the university’s athletics channels.
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