Vann Stuedeman announced the schedule for the 2017 season on Friday, which features 13 teams that made the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
MSU Softball Announces Challenging 2017 Schedule
December 10, 2016 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A collection of 13 teams that appeared in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, including 13 games against five programs that reached the 2016 Women's College World Series, highlight the 2017 Mississippi State softball schedule.
The 55-game campaign, announced Saturday by MSU coach Vann Stuedeman, features 31 games within the friendly confines of Nusz Park, as well as 17 away and six at neutral sites. Of the 55 overall contests, 27 are against teams that participated in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
MSU will be aiming for its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six seasons when they take to the field in 2016, all under the leadership of Stuedeman. That would tie the best stretch in school history, as State went to the NCAA Tournament five of six seasons from 2000-05.
Of the five WCWS programs the Bulldogs will play, two include national champion Oklahoma and national finalist Auburn. Making up the rest of the field will be SEC foes Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Along with the previous mentioned squads, MSU will play eight teams that made an appearance in last year's tournament (Alabama State, Cal State Fullerton, Fresno State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Samford, South Carolina and Texas A&M).
"We are pumped to get this season started," Stuedeman said. "We get to play at beautiful Nusz Park and compete in the best conference in the country. Your Bulldogs need you. We have a special group of young ladies that want to meet you. Come out, bring your cowbell and help us make Nusz Park the toughest venue in the country."
After a perfect 8-0 run through their first fall at Nusz Park, the Bulldogs will open their second spring season at Nusz on Friday, Feb. 10 with a doubleheader against Georgia State (3 p.m. CT) and Stephen F. Austin (5:30 p.m.). The Bulldog Kickoff will feature Georgia State, Stephen F. Austin, Western Kentucky and the home-standing Bulldogs. State will play five games over three days to begin the season.
From there, MSU will hit the road for the first time in 2016, traveling to Mexico for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge (Feb. 16-19). The four-day event presents a field of Cal State Fullerton, Florida Gulf Coast, Fresno State and Texas Tech, as well as MSU.
State will then return home to Nusz Park to host the February Freezer, Feb. 24-26. MSU will welcome Eastern Illinois, North Florida and SIU-Carbondale for the three-day, five-game tournament.
The Bulldogs will next make a quick trip to Hammond, La., to face Southeastern Louisiana (Feb. 28), before hosting Alabama State in Starkville on March 2. MSU will remain at home to host Central Arkansas, Northern Iowa, Samford and UMass for the Bulldog Slamboree, March 3-5.
State's final tune-up before SEC play begins will be a home contest against Troy, slated for Tuesday, March 7. Other non-conference midweek tilts include Central Arkansas (March 15), Ole Miss (March 22), Mississippi Valley State (March 29), Jackson State (April 5) and Alcorn State (April 18).
The Dogs will take a break from conference play to travel to Oklahoma City March 24-26 for the College Preview Tournament. State will battle Louisiana Tech and defending national champion Oklahoma on Friday, March 24 in Norman, Okla. MSU will close out the weekend against UAB on Saturday, March 25 in Oklahoma City at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, home of the WCWS.
MSU opens up Southeastern Conference play on the road with a trip to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies (March 10-12). The Bulldogs will also make SEC road trips to LSU (March 31-April 2), Georgia (April 14-16) and Auburn (April 28-30).
The Bulldogs will open home conference play with a three-game series against 2016 WCWS participant Alabama on March 17-19. Also making their way to Starkville will be South Carolina (April 7-9), Arkansas (April 21-23) and Kentucky (May 5-7).
Breaking It Down…
Overall: 55 games
SEC: 24 games
Home: 31 games
Away: 17 games
Neutral: 6 games
2016 NCAA Tournament Participants On The Slate…
The Bulldogs will face a total of 13 teams that are coming off an appearance in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Of those 13, five made it to the Women's College World Series (NCAA champion Oklahoma, NCAA runner-up Auburn, Alabama, Georgia and LSU). State will play a total of 13 games against the five WCWS squads.
Non-Conference Tournaments For The Bulldogs…
MSU will host a trio of non-conference tournaments and play two on the road. Nusz Park will play host to the Bulldog Kickoff (Feb. 10-12), the February Freezer (Feb. 24-26) and the Bulldog Slamboree (March 3-5). The Dogs will travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for the Triple Crown College Challenge, Feb. 16-19, and then head to Norman, Okla., and Oklahoma City, Okla., for the College Preview Tournament (March 24-26).
SEC Openers…
The SEC slate will open March 10-12 in College Station, as the Bulldogs take on the Texas A&M Aggies. It will be MSU's first trip to College Station since May 3-5, 2014. State's home SEC opener will be a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide (March 17-19).
First Time Opponents…
Two foes on MSU's 2016 schedule will be first-time opponents for the Maroon and White: Northern Florida (Feb. 24) and SIU-Carbondale (Feb. 25).
Social Media…
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
The 55-game campaign, announced Saturday by MSU coach Vann Stuedeman, features 31 games within the friendly confines of Nusz Park, as well as 17 away and six at neutral sites. Of the 55 overall contests, 27 are against teams that participated in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
MSU will be aiming for its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six seasons when they take to the field in 2016, all under the leadership of Stuedeman. That would tie the best stretch in school history, as State went to the NCAA Tournament five of six seasons from 2000-05.
Of the five WCWS programs the Bulldogs will play, two include national champion Oklahoma and national finalist Auburn. Making up the rest of the field will be SEC foes Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Along with the previous mentioned squads, MSU will play eight teams that made an appearance in last year's tournament (Alabama State, Cal State Fullerton, Fresno State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Samford, South Carolina and Texas A&M).
"We are pumped to get this season started," Stuedeman said. "We get to play at beautiful Nusz Park and compete in the best conference in the country. Your Bulldogs need you. We have a special group of young ladies that want to meet you. Come out, bring your cowbell and help us make Nusz Park the toughest venue in the country."
After a perfect 8-0 run through their first fall at Nusz Park, the Bulldogs will open their second spring season at Nusz on Friday, Feb. 10 with a doubleheader against Georgia State (3 p.m. CT) and Stephen F. Austin (5:30 p.m.). The Bulldog Kickoff will feature Georgia State, Stephen F. Austin, Western Kentucky and the home-standing Bulldogs. State will play five games over three days to begin the season.
From there, MSU will hit the road for the first time in 2016, traveling to Mexico for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge (Feb. 16-19). The four-day event presents a field of Cal State Fullerton, Florida Gulf Coast, Fresno State and Texas Tech, as well as MSU.
State will then return home to Nusz Park to host the February Freezer, Feb. 24-26. MSU will welcome Eastern Illinois, North Florida and SIU-Carbondale for the three-day, five-game tournament.
The Bulldogs will next make a quick trip to Hammond, La., to face Southeastern Louisiana (Feb. 28), before hosting Alabama State in Starkville on March 2. MSU will remain at home to host Central Arkansas, Northern Iowa, Samford and UMass for the Bulldog Slamboree, March 3-5.
State's final tune-up before SEC play begins will be a home contest against Troy, slated for Tuesday, March 7. Other non-conference midweek tilts include Central Arkansas (March 15), Ole Miss (March 22), Mississippi Valley State (March 29), Jackson State (April 5) and Alcorn State (April 18).
The Dogs will take a break from conference play to travel to Oklahoma City March 24-26 for the College Preview Tournament. State will battle Louisiana Tech and defending national champion Oklahoma on Friday, March 24 in Norman, Okla. MSU will close out the weekend against UAB on Saturday, March 25 in Oklahoma City at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, home of the WCWS.
MSU opens up Southeastern Conference play on the road with a trip to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies (March 10-12). The Bulldogs will also make SEC road trips to LSU (March 31-April 2), Georgia (April 14-16) and Auburn (April 28-30).
The Bulldogs will open home conference play with a three-game series against 2016 WCWS participant Alabama on March 17-19. Also making their way to Starkville will be South Carolina (April 7-9), Arkansas (April 21-23) and Kentucky (May 5-7).
Breaking It Down…
Overall: 55 games
SEC: 24 games
Home: 31 games
Away: 17 games
Neutral: 6 games
2016 NCAA Tournament Participants On The Slate…
The Bulldogs will face a total of 13 teams that are coming off an appearance in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Of those 13, five made it to the Women's College World Series (NCAA champion Oklahoma, NCAA runner-up Auburn, Alabama, Georgia and LSU). State will play a total of 13 games against the five WCWS squads.
Non-Conference Tournaments For The Bulldogs…
MSU will host a trio of non-conference tournaments and play two on the road. Nusz Park will play host to the Bulldog Kickoff (Feb. 10-12), the February Freezer (Feb. 24-26) and the Bulldog Slamboree (March 3-5). The Dogs will travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for the Triple Crown College Challenge, Feb. 16-19, and then head to Norman, Okla., and Oklahoma City, Okla., for the College Preview Tournament (March 24-26).
SEC Openers…
The SEC slate will open March 10-12 in College Station, as the Bulldogs take on the Texas A&M Aggies. It will be MSU's first trip to College Station since May 3-5, 2014. State's home SEC opener will be a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide (March 17-19).
First Time Opponents…
Two foes on MSU's 2016 schedule will be first-time opponents for the Maroon and White: Northern Florida (Feb. 24) and SIU-Carbondale (Feb. 25).
Social Media…
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
SOFTBALL | Rounding Third: Leila Ammon
Wednesday, March 11
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. SE Missouri (Game 2)
Tuesday, March 10
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. SE Missouri (Game 1)
Tuesday, March 10
SOFTBALL | Rounding Third: Kiarra Sells
Tuesday, March 03