Looking Back on Mississippi State Softball’s Historical Season

Mississippi State’s softball program had a rocky begin to the 2022 season, but it surely ended the 12 months by making historical past and setting new precedents for the long run. 

The Bulldogs ended the 12 months with a 37-27 total document, together with 10-14 in SEC play. They swept in-state rival Ole Miss to open convention play and picked up one other collection victory over Missouri, in addition to varied wins scattered in between. 

MSU bought heated heading into postseason play within the Tallahassee Regional. Regardless of dropping the primary sport of the regional to South Florida, the Bulldogs fought by the loser’s bracket with a shutout of Howard and a revenge victory in opposition to South Florida. They performed a doubleheader in opposition to Florida State — the No. 2 nationwide seed — and gained each video games to grow to be the Regional Champions for the primary time in program historical past. 

Not solely did the Bulldogs get to go to the primary Tremendous Regional in workforce historical past, however additionally they bought to host it on their house area. The Arizona Wildcats traveled to Starkville and had been greeted with document crowds of maroon and white. Greater than 2,200 followers piled into each nook and crevice of Nusz Park to look at historical past unfold. 

Arizona in the end gained the Mississippi State Tremendous Regional. The Wildcats tallied a 3-2 victory in Recreation 1 on Friday morning and sealed a visit to the Girls’s Faculty World Collection with a 7-1 win on Saturday afternoon. MSU fell only some runs in need of persevering with its unbelievable run at a championship look. 

Even with the loss, the willpower that the Bulldogs confirmed can solely assist them in years to come back. 

State returns a slew of skilled gamers subsequent season. Head coach Samantha Ricketts has additionally recruited some gifted new faces that may proceed main this system in a brand new route. That does not imply that every thing can be good: Mississippi State can be dropping a number of stars within the offseason. Mia Davidson — the star catcher who totaled essentially the most house runs in SEC historical past — and lights-out pitcher Annie Willis don’t have any extra eligibility and may select to take their abilities to knowledgeable degree. 

Some large steps had been made in 2022, however there’s nonetheless loads of potential for the Bulldogs. The following few years might be big for the workforce and alter the way forward for the game at Mississippi State. 

That is one thing coach Samantha Ricketts appears to be retaining in thoughts.

“The message was to maintain their heads up, that they need to be pleased with what they’ve finished for this program and thanking the seniors for the entire onerous work they’ve finished and for shifting this program ahead, and to not be happy. To know that each time we get the prospect to get again on this area shifting ahead, to have these 4 in thoughts.”