Cowbell Corner

No. 23 Bulldogs Cruise to Win

MSU starts Bulldog Invitational with dominant win against Southern Miss

Taylor Hodges

No. 23 Bulldogs Cruise to Win
No. 23 Bulldogs Cruise to Win /

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State hasn’t lost to a team from the Magnolia State since the 2021 season and the cold front that swept through the state didn’t cool off the streak.

The No. 23 Bulldogs (12-4) made quick work of instate foe Southern Miss (5-9) to cap off the first day of the Bulldog Invitational. Behind their hot bats at the plate and a dominant pitching performance from Josey Marron, Mississippi State defeated the Golden Eagles in just five innings, 9-0.

The Bulldogs fell three spots in the USA Softball/ESPN.com Poll (No. 24 in NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll) after a 3-2 performance at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, but bounced back in a dominating way back home.

Madisyn Kennedy and Nadia Barbary hit big home runs in each of the first two innings to help MSU build a 6-0 lead after two innings. Kennedy struck first with a two-run home run to center field. 

An Aquana Brownlee RBI single in the first inning made it 3-0 before Barbary smashed a three-run home run to left field. 

MSU scored three more runs in the fourth inning on a Paige Cook RBI double and Salen Hawkins two-run single.

Marron (5-0) allowed just three hits while striking out eight Golden Eagle batters in a complete game performance, the sixth for the MSU pitching staff this season.

Next up for MSU at their own tournament will be Troy (14-4), who will be playing their second game of the day after a 10 a.m. game against Samford, at 3 p.m. Friday. The Bulldogs will then play twice on Saturday (Alcorn State at 11:30 a.m. and Troy at 2 p.m.) and Sunday (Alcorn State at 12:30 p.m. and Samford at 3 p.m.) to end the Bulldog Invitational.

Where Mississippi State Softball is Ranked After Week 3

Published
Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

Home/All Things State