Good morning! Mississippi State softball has officially closed the book on the 2024 season with a spot inside the top 25 in the final polls, but some Bulldogs are continuing to play into the summer months.

What else did we throw into today’s Bulldog Brew?

🏀 Bulldogs learn opponents for the SEC/ACC Challenge
🎾 Repeat hosts for the ITA Kickoff Weekend
🐶 And much, much more!

🎥 THE DUDES

The Dudes: Grand Purpose. In this episode, we follow Burke Masters from his iconic grand slam to send the Bulldogs to Omaha to his unexpected path as a Catholic priest and now as the Chicago Cubs' team chaplain. Reflecting on his college years, Masters shares how baseball instilled in him values that still resonate today. Integrating his love for the game with his spiritual calling, he finds fulfillment in guiding players both on and off the field. Through his story, we witness the seamless blending of sportsmanship, faith, and the unwavering belief in God's plan that defines Masters' remarkable journey.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼  Pitt Against Each Other. For just the third time in school history, Bulldog men’s basketball will host Pitt at Humphrey Coliseum as part of the 2024 SEC/ACC Challenge. State won the inaugural matchup in Pittsburgh during the 2000-01 season, 66-61, but Pitt edged the Bulldogs 60-59 in a back-and-forth First Four game during the NCAA Tournament in 2023. 

🔼  Looking To Build. Bulldog women’s tennis head coach Chris Hooshyar added the third member of his initial signing class. Chiara Di Genova is set to join the team for the 2024-25 season after spending her freshman season with Florida State. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the incoming sophomore appeared in seven matches last season, and most recently, reached the second round of the main draw at the ITF W15 in Maringa, Brazil.

🗣️ "Chiara is coming in with one of the highest WTA rankings in program history at No. 722 in singles and is someone that we knew we had to get once we saw that she had entered the transfer portal" - Noah Tippen, assistant coach

🔼 Challenge Accepted. Bulldog women's basketball will hit the road to face Georgia Tech for the 2024 SEC/ACC Challenge on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Mississippi State and Georgia Tech will tip off for the sixth series meeting overall and second under head coach Sam Purcell. The team most recently defeated Georgia Tech, 84-47, during the first round of the 2024 Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament on March 21st. 

🔼  Humble Hosts. The first pieces have fallen into place for the Bulldog men’s tennis team’s 2025 schedule. State is set to host ITA Kickoff Weekend for the third time in the last four years and will be welcoming N.C. State, LSU and Pepperdine to the Rula Tennis Pavilion from Jan. 25-26. All four teams finished among the top 41 teams in the final ITA rankings this past season.

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

Packed Gym. Bulldog men’s basketball is getting used to playing in big moments, and many of the moments inside Humphrey Coliseum were in front of sold-out crowds of the Maroon and White faithful.

Our question today: how many games were sellouts in The Hump last season?

Think you got it? Scroll to the bottom of the Bulldog Brew to see if you know your stuff!

🤝 SHARE THE BREW

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📆 LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, August 31

🏈 Football vs. Eastern Kentucky @ 5:00pm in Starkville, MS

🐶 Click here to see the full Mississippi State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Seven!

Bulldog men’s basketball sold out The Hump seven times last season, including a stretch of four games in a row. It was the most on record in a season dating back to 2008-09.

🐶 Have a great weekend, y'all!