STARKVILLE — The national spotlight continues to shine of the Mississippi State softball program as the calendar hits the second half of the season.
In the initial Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) figures released Monday by the NCAA, the Bulldogs are ranked 18th. It is the highest MSU has been positioned in the initial rankings. The Bulldogs have cracked the top 15 one time.
Typically, being in that top 18 gives a team a chance to play host to one of 16 NCAA regional tournaments in late May. In most seasons, a team or two in the top 16 isn’t able to host due to poor facilities or other campus conflicts.
MSU (25-4) will try to protect that ranking at 6 tonight (SEC Network) when Central Arkansas (13-12) comes to Nusz Park. It is the first of a four-game homestand, as Georgia comes to town for conference play this weekend.
“It is a very big week,” MSU coach Vann Stuedeman said. “To have national exposure is a good thing. Not everyone is playing on a Wednesday night, so it gives you an opportunity to get your name out in front of more people.”
In the latest national rankings, MSU slipped despite a 4-1 week. In the ESPN.com/USA Softball rankings, MSU fell from No. 20 to No. 21, while being ranked for a fourth straight week. In the NFCA Top 25, MSU fell from No. 21 to No. 23 in its second-straight week in the poll.
MSU opened Southeastern Conference play by taking two games at Missouri this past weekend. It was the first time MSU opened conference play with a series win since 2011.
The Bulldogs have won 13 of their last 14 games and are off to the program’s best start through 29 games. The previous mark was a 23-6 record in 2006.
MSU has 11 shutouts this season and a 1.19 earned run average. The ERA is fourth in the league and eighth nationally.
Senior Holly Ward picked up both wins against Missouri, and has 10 wins with three saves. Her 0.73 ERA is fifth best in the league.
“We are pitching it with a lot of confidence,” Stuedeman said. “The offense has been producing some runs, so the pitchers know they don’t have to be perfect to every batter. If you can get a couple of people going at the same time, it’s a good thing. In the circle and at the plate, we have a lot of confidence players.”
Freshman Mia Davidson leads the offense with 10 home runs, which placed her eighth on the school’s all-time single-season list. Senior Morgan Bell has driven in 18 runs in the last 10 games.
Davidson and Bell are each tied for the team lead with 29 RBIs.
The weekend task will be a tall one. Georgia, also scheduled to play Georgia Southern tonight at home, is 26-2 and 2-1 in league play. To open conference play, Georgia took a series from Florida. The Bulldogs won 5-4 and 11-1 (in five innings) before the Gators won 5-1 Sunday to snap the Bulldogs’ 25-game winning streak.
The Florida series win moved Georgia to No. 7 in both national polls.
The weekend series in Starkville will be Georgia’s first true road games of the season.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.