STARKVILLE — Things are shaping up nicely for a very important 20-game stretch of the Mississippi State softball team.
MSU continues to nibble at the edges of the national rankings. The Ratings Percentage Index figures also remain strong.
The Bulldogs checked in at No. 23 in the latest RPI released Monday by the NCAA. MSU then backed that ranking by knocking off Lipscomb 1-0 Tuesday night in a non-conference matchup at Draper Field in Nashville.
MSU improved to 26-10 overall with the win. The Bulldogs presently have 17 games left on the schedule after Tuesday’s makeup. As many as three more games could be added to enhance MSU’s ranking and to get the team back out to the maximum number of 56 games allowed by the NCAA.
“Our numbers are good,” MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said. “We have played some really good softball and people are beginning to take notice. We have built a tradition here of making it to the postseason. I think the girls understand what it takes to win and have success on a high level. Now, the job is to gain and maintain.”
MSU has made three straight regional appearances under Stuedeman. The Bulldogs appear to be in good shape to make it four straight with a 5-7 mark in Southeastern Conference play and a 5-6 mark against ranked opponents. The Bulldogs were ranked themselves two weeks ago before losing a series to Ole Miss.
MSU then found itself second on the receiving votes list last week and third Tuesday in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association rankings.
Making the postseason is the first goal. However, MSU is making a strong push to earn hosting consideration in the regional round.
To accomplish that, MSU would need a Top 16 finish in the RPI.
“We have some really outstanding opportunities,” Stuedeman said. “We just have to focus on the task at hand.”
The final 17 games include three-game SEC series with RPI No. 8 Missouri, RPI No. 15 Tennessee and non-conference games with RPI No. 2 LSU and RPI No. 24 South Alabama.
Mackenzie Toler drove in the game’s only run Tuesday night a fifth-inning RBI-single.
SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week Alexis Silkwood (19-7) pitched a two-hitter while becoming the SEC’s first pitcher to win 19 games.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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