University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, April 12
Starkville, MS
7 PM
University of Tennessee
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Mississippi State
SB Preview: #4 Lady Vols Ready for Top-20 Road Series at #16 Mississippi State
April 11, 2024 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following a key SEC series victory of No. 3 Georgia, the fourth-ranked Lady Vols head out on the road to face No. 16 Mississippi State in Starkville.
Tennessee (30-6, 10-2 SEC) enters the weekend atop the conference standings but faces a tough road test against a potent Bulldog offense.
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday and Sunday's contests will stream on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app. Saturday's matchup will air on SEC Network with Jenn Hildreth (play-by-play) and Danielle Lawrie (analyst) describing the action.
Fans can listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice call the series all weekend long on AM990 or stream through UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app.
NOTABLE
CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Since its final series of 2022 against Auburn, Tennessee has had a stranglehold on the conference. Dating to May 7-8, 2022, UT has won 12 of its 13 SEC series – holding a league record of 32-7.
That run includes sweeps of Auburn (2022), Ole Miss, LSU, Kentucky and Florida in 2023, with sweeps of Missouri and South Carolina this season.
STATE OUR BUSINESS
Having won 68 percent of its matchups against the Bulldogs, Tennessee holds a 45-21 record over Mississippi State and has won eight of its last 10 series versus MSU.
BOO GIBSON
McKenna Gibson has had no shortage of offensive power this season and leads the team with 32 RBIs, 41 hits and a .376 batting average.
With the most plate appearances among the Lady Vols (109), Boo has recorded six doubles and six home runs in her 41 hits.
In her most recent outing, the Santa Clarita, California, native hit .500 against No. 3 Georgia, knocking a timely home run and posting three RBIs on the weekend.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Head Coach (Record at MSU): Samantha Ricketts (153-90)
2024 Record: 28-10 (8-7 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 45-21
Last Meeting: W, 1-0 (13) on 5/12/22 at the 2022 SEC Tournament in Gainesville, Florida
Key Stat: Having won 28 of their 38 matchups, Mississippi State is 8-7 in conference play and holds a 15-4 record at home this season. The Bulldogs have notable series wins over No. 18 Arkansas and No. 22 South Carolina.
MSU ranks ninth in the nation and second in the SEC in scoring, averaging 7.08 runs per game.
UP NEXT
Tennessee is back at home next weekend as it plays host to LSU April 19-21 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (30-6, 10-2 SEC) enters the weekend atop the conference standings but faces a tough road test against a potent Bulldog offense.
FOLLOW LIVE
Friday and Sunday's contests will stream on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app. Saturday's matchup will air on SEC Network with Jenn Hildreth (play-by-play) and Danielle Lawrie (analyst) describing the action.
Fans can listen to Voice of the Lady Vols Brian Rice call the series all weekend long on AM990 or stream through UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app.
NOTABLE
CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Since its final series of 2022 against Auburn, Tennessee has had a stranglehold on the conference. Dating to May 7-8, 2022, UT has won 12 of its 13 SEC series – holding a league record of 32-7.
That run includes sweeps of Auburn (2022), Ole Miss, LSU, Kentucky and Florida in 2023, with sweeps of Missouri and South Carolina this season.
STATE OUR BUSINESS
Having won 68 percent of its matchups against the Bulldogs, Tennessee holds a 45-21 record over Mississippi State and has won eight of its last 10 series versus MSU.
BOO GIBSON
McKenna Gibson has had no shortage of offensive power this season and leads the team with 32 RBIs, 41 hits and a .376 batting average.
With the most plate appearances among the Lady Vols (109), Boo has recorded six doubles and six home runs in her 41 hits.
In her most recent outing, the Santa Clarita, California, native hit .500 against No. 3 Georgia, knocking a timely home run and posting three RBIs on the weekend.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Head Coach (Record at MSU): Samantha Ricketts (153-90)
2024 Record: 28-10 (8-7 SEC)
Series Record: Tennessee leads 45-21
Last Meeting: W, 1-0 (13) on 5/12/22 at the 2022 SEC Tournament in Gainesville, Florida
Key Stat: Having won 28 of their 38 matchups, Mississippi State is 8-7 in conference play and holds a 15-4 record at home this season. The Bulldogs have notable series wins over No. 18 Arkansas and No. 22 South Carolina.
MSU ranks ninth in the nation and second in the SEC in scoring, averaging 7.08 runs per game.
UP NEXT
Tennessee is back at home next weekend as it plays host to LSU April 19-21 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
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Players Mentioned
INF
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