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Vann Stuedeman and the Mississippi State Bulldogs have fought their way into the national rankings. In the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 rankings, Mississippi State has earned the #25 spot. This ranking comes after receiving votes in this poll and the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll for the past few weeks.
RELEASE | Big Weekend Propels Softball into @espn.com/@USASoftball Top 25
— MSU Softball (@HailStateSB) February 27, 2018
: https://t.co/n56a7YwpBa#HailState pic.twitter.com/fFFcguzpmb
The ranking was earned in large part by going 3-2 in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic out in California this past weekend. In their time out west against ranked opponents, Mississippi State dropped a 3-1 game to then #15 Arizona State, beat then #23 Nebraska in a run rule 9-0 victory through 5 innings, and upended then #16 Oklahoma State 9-4 in a comeback victory. This ranking is the first time that MSU has been ranked since early in the 2016 season.
Mississippi State is returning to action this weekend in the Bulldog Slamboree. MSU will host Lamar on Friday, Mercer and Sam Houston State in a double header on Saturday, and then Sam Houston State to close out the weekend on Sunday.