A late-season push was not enough from the Mississippi State softball team to be selected in the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs (28-25, 7-16 SEC) were not one of the 64 teams that heard their name called in Sunday night’s selection show, marking the first time since 2016, and the first time under head coach Samantha Ricketts, that their season won’t end in the NCAA Tournament. They were the only team out of the Southeastern Conference not to be selected.
Last season, the Bulldogs won their first regional in program history before falling to Arizona in Super Regional play.
MSU won four of its final six regular season games, which included a sweep of Kentucky and one win at Auburn, to get itself back in the NCAA Tournament conversation. However, the Bulldogs, the No. 12 seed in this past week’s Southeastern Conference Tournament, fell 3-1 to Missouri, the No. 13 seed, ending their season.
Ultimately, it was the Bulldogs’ slow start in SEC action, which played a major role in their tournament snub. MSU, which finished with an RPI of 47, lost 14 straight league games from March 24 to April 23, before going on its late run.
Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss and Auburn were selected to this year’s NCAA Tournament, with the No. 4 seed Vols, the No. 5 seed Crimson Tide, No. 10 seed LSU, No. 11 seed Razorbacks, No. 13 seed Bulldogs hosting regionals.
Justin Frommer is the Mississippi State sports reporter for The Dispatch.
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