After a rough start to Southeastern Conference play, the Mississippi State softball team could have used a “do-over,” coach Samantha Ricketts said.

Now, in a way, the Bulldogs are getting one.

Mississippi State — the winner of its final seven regular-season conference games — has a chance to stay hot and make amends for its poor early play this week in the SEC tournament. The Bulldogs (32-22, 8-15 SEC) earned the No. 9 seed in the event and will face No. 8 Ole Miss (34-19, 12-12) at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A win would set up a date with No. 1 seed Florida at 11 a.m. Thursday.

It’s the ultimate chance for Mississippi State, which was swept in succession by the Rebels and Gators to begin the year, to prove things have changed for good.

“It is nice to kind of go back to where we started and knowing that we’re a much different team than we were then,” Ricketts said. “We’re excited going in, and we want to make sure that we continue to play our best ball at the right time of the year.”

So far, Ricketts’ squad has picked perhaps the perfect portion of the season to not only hold its own but scorch its conference competition. After dropping its first game at South Carolina on April 30, the Bulldogs won the following two to claim the series, swept a doubleheader with No. 19 Tennessee on Wednesday at Nusz Park and swept then-No. 22 Georgia over the weekend in Starkville.

Ricketts said her team’s success started with a May 1 conversation in which she outlined what the Bulldogs would need to do to qualify for NCAA Regional play. Mississippi State still controlled its own destiny, and Ricketts told her team going at least .500 in its final 10 games — a big factor for the selection committee — would be paramount. With a high RPI (currently No. 30 in the country) mostly because of a strong schedule, the Bulldogs just needed a couple signature wins to bolster their case.

Ricketts got what she asked for — and more. The Bulldogs powered their way through their final nine days of playing, winning all seven games in that time span and earning those trademark victories against Tennessee and Georgia.

Any further wins to come, Ricketts said, would only strengthen her team’s tournament case.

“I think anything we do this week is just kind of a bonus and just adding into that category,” she said. “Really, every team we’re going to face moving forward is going to be a top 25 on our team sheet and is going to help kind of build our résumé for the selection committee.”

That won’t come easily against an Ole Miss team looking to rebound from a sweep by No. 3 Alabama at the same stadium serving as the host site for the conference tournament.

The Rebels won their prior four series, including a nonconference sweep of then-No. 25 UCF in Oxford. Ricketts praised their defense, hitting and strong pitching staff

“They’re a great team,” Ricketts said. “I think they’re a very well-rounded team. … It’s going to take us continuing to play our best softball to make it a good game with them. We’re going to have to pitch well, play defense and have timely hitting, which is three things we really weren’t doing back in March.”

When the two teams opened SEC play in Oxford from March 13-15, the Rebels held the Bulldogs to a single run in the three-game sweep. Left-hander Anna Borgen pitched a pair of shutouts to bookend the series and pitched in relief in the middle game as well. The following series, Florida ace Elizabeth Hightower did the same against the Bulldogs in Starkville as the Gators got the sweep.

“I think we learned from that weekend and then the following what some of the glaring weaknesses are in our lineup, especially when we’re a pretty right-handed dominant offensive lineup,” Ricketts said.

Ricketts credited her players for refusing to give up even after the Bulldogs’ losing streak hit 13 conference games to open the season. Now, Mississippi State has another shot against its in-state rivals.

“I think they’ve done a great job of continuing to work hard and believe and not just to give up and give in when things are tough and not going our way,” Ricketts said. “We’re excited. We’re excited to get another crack at Ole Miss after the way we started SEC play, so we’re ready to get back on the field.”

MSU sends off seniors

Mississippi State honored its three seniors — outfielder Christian Quinn, reliever Alyssa Loza and first baseman Fa Leilua — during the weekend’s series against Georgia at Nusz Park.

Each game was dedicated to one of the three Bulldogs, with a bigger ceremony Sunday honoring all three.

Ricketts said she appreciated that all three seniors, none of whom began their careers in Starkville, chose Mississippi State. Quinn transferred from Florida SouthWestern State College, and Loza and Leilua came in from Arizona State.

Ricketts said being able to give her seniors, who all used the NCAA waiver for an extra year of eligibility, that celebration after the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2020 season was important.

“I thought it was just a really special moment,” Ricketts said.

Cook, Malau’ulu earn SEC honors

Sophomore infielder Paige Cook and junior outfielder Chloe Malau’ulu earned SEC honors on Tuesday.

Cook, in her first season playing every day for the Bulldogs at second base, was named to the All-SEC Newcomer team.

“To have Paige recognized for her first year as a full-time starter is really exciting, especially knowing she has three years in front of her,” Ricketts said.

Malau’ulu has played all three outfield positions but was recognized for her play in right field. She had 49 defensive chances and three assists, while no other nominated right fielder had more than 20 chances.

“Chloe’s done an outstanding job in the outfield,” Ricketts said. “I think she had a lot more chances and really did a good job with those when she did get them.”

Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.