BULLDOG BITS
Men’s Tennis
Mississippi State men's tennis opens its Southeastern Conference slate today with a top 20 matchup on tap.
The 18th-ranked Bulldogs are set to host No. 19 Florida at 3 p.m. at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre with free t-shirts to the first 100 fans in attendance. In the case of inclement weather, matches will be moved indoors to the Rula Tennis Pavilion.
Although today's match marks the SEC opener for both teams, it will be the second time the two have squared off this season. The Gators claimed a 4-2 win in Gainesville on Jan. 28 as part of ITA Kickoff Weekend.
The loss is the only blemish on the Bulldogs' record this season as head coach Matt Roberts' squad enters conference play at 11-1 overall. MSU is coming off a doubleheader sweep of Tennessee Tech (7-0) and UAB (5-2) this past Saturday.
History could be made during the match as Gregor Ramskogler vies to become the Bulldogs' all-time leader in dual match doubles wins. Ramskogler is currently tied with his former teammate Niclas Braun (2016-19) with 60 such victories.
Ramskogler is also knotted with Jeremy Bayon (19972000) for third all-time at State with 82 overall doubles wins.
The Bulldogs are led on the singles side by No. 107 Petar Jovanovic and No. 113 Carles Hernandez. Jovanovic is 17-3 overall has won 14 of his last 15 matches dating back to the fall while Hernandez is 15-3 and has prevailed in nine of his last 10 outings.
Hernandez and doubles partner Nemanja Malesevic are currently ranked 33rd nationally and have won five consecutive matches together. They have already knocked off three ranked tandems this season in addition to being tied for the team lead with three ranked singles wins apiece.
Florida (5-5) heads to Starkville having lost four of its last five matches but were victorious the last time out, downing then 10th-ranked Baylor 4-2 in Chicago on Feb. 19 as part of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
Mississippi State will be the seventh straight top 20 opponent the Gators have faced.
Florida's singles lineup features four ranked competitors in William Grant (73), Jonah Braswell (79), Nate Bonetto (83) and Axel Nefve (109).
During their January meeting, Jovanovic downed Grant 6-3, 6-4 while Hernandez topped Bonetto 7-5, 6-2.
The Gators also have a pair of ranked doubles teams in Grant and Nefve, who are at No. 31, along with 34th-ranked Tanapatt Nirundorn and Togan Tokac.
Softball
Mississippi State softball released its promotional schedule for the 2023 home schedule last week with 18 theme games and nine giveaway items on tap at Nusz Park.
After the home opener on Tuesday against Mississippi Valley State started things off with a Black History Month celebration. Samoan Day, honoring Chloe Malau'ulu, Leilani Pulemau, Matalasi Faapito, Kiarra Sells and head coach Samantha Ricketts' heritage, returns on April 30. New this year, the Bulldogs have added Native American Day on March 18 to recognize the tribal heritage of Aspen Wesley (Choctaw), Shea Moreno (Yaqui) and volunteer assistant coach Zac Shaw (Seneca-cayuga).
Also returning for 2023 are Military Appreciation Day (March 4) and First Responders Day (March 12). Once again, following the game against East Tennessee State, members of the Starkville police and fire departments will compete on the field in a home run derby.
State will raise awareness for the fight against cancer, recognizing a cause that is dear to them, three times this spring. The annual Snowman tournament will again honor the legacy of the late Alex Wilcox who played at MSU and died of ovarian cancer in 2018. The first day of the tournament will include a teal "Strikeout Cancer" t-shirt giveaway on March 3. Later in the season, the Bulldogs will play at home on April 28, the day of the annual 4:28 Wall Sit Challenge in Wilcox's memory. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the challenge while at the game against Kentucky. Finally, MSU will hold Breast Cancer Awareness Day on April 1 against Arkansas.
Two back-to-back games will be focused on members of the university community. On March 5 against Murray State, the Bulldogs welcome those who keep Mississippi State University running with Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. The following midweek matchup with Southeastern Louisiana (March 9) will be the Bulldogs' Greek Attendance Challenge sponsored by Bluto's.
There are also numerous giveaway items planned for the year. When State hosts Oklahoma on March 11, fans can receive free rally towels. On St. Patrick's Day against South Carolina (March 17), fans can pickup a pair of green sunglasses. That night will also feature softball's first Friday Night Fireworks show after the game. Later that weekend, Bark in the Park is set for March 19 with dog owners taking home collapsible dog bowls for their favorite pooch. Against Arkansas on March 31, fans can take home a retro sticker on Alumni Night. and pink ribbons and lanyards
Super Bulldog Weekend returns to Nusz Park for the first time since 2019, and State has plenty of prizes for those in attendance. On Friday night (April 14) against Alabama, fans can take home a "Stack the Deck" cooler, and on Sunday (April 16), there will be Seven Innings of Winnings with a drawing for a prize each inning.