MSU Softball Hosts Bulldog Kickoff Classic To Open 26th Season

Year two in Nusz Park kicks off Friday with the Bulldog Kickoff Classic, as MSU opens their season at 3 p.m.

MSU Softball Hosts Bulldog Kickoff Classic To Open 26th Season

February 09, 2017 | Softball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Months of practicing, conditioning and game planning have come down to this. The Mississippi State Bulldogs are back in action as they open the 2017 campaign with a Friday afternoon doubleheader at Nusz Park.

The Bulldogs will open the season against Georgia State, before closing out day one of the 2017 Bulldog Kickoff Classic against Stephen F. Austin. First pitch for the season opener is set for 3 p.m. CT, with game two starting at 5:30 p.m.

Friday will kickoff a three-day tournament that will also feature Western Kentucky, who the Bulldogs battle Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. Following that game, all four teams will be seeded according to record, with the one and four seed facing off at 3 p.m., and the two and three seed playing at 5:30 p.m. The winners will move on to a Sunday afternoon championship match (1:30 p.m.), while the remaining two teams will play a consolation showdown at 11 a.m.

Sixth-year head coach Vann Stuedeman and the Bulldogs will also open year two at Nusz Park and the 26^th season in program history on Friday.

"This is a good starting tournament for us to get the year going," Stuedeman said. "It will be a good test and we'll be able to put a lot of players out there. I look forward to playing some good, worthy opponents and seeing some strong softball out of the gate this weekend."

Once opening weekend closes the out, the Bulldogs will hit the road for the first time in 2017, heading to Mexico for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. The tournament begins Thursday, Feb. 16 and will pit the Bulldogs against Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, Texas Tech and Florida Gulf Coast.

2017 Bulldog Kickoff Classic Schedule…
Friday, Feb. 10
Game 1 - Stephen F. Austin vs. Western Kentucky - 10 a.m. CT
Game 2 - Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State - 12:30 p.m. CT
Game 3 - Mississippi State vs. Georgia State - 3 p.m. CT
Game 4 - Mississippi State vs. Stephen F. Austin - 5:30 p.m. CT

Saturday, Feb. 11
Game 5 - Georgia State vs. Stephen F. Austin - 10 a.m. CT
Game 6 - Mississippi State vs. Western Kentucky - 12:30 p.m. CT
Game 7 - 1 Seed vs. 4 Seed - 3 p.m. CT
Game 8 - 2 Seed vs. 3 Seed - 5:30 p.m. CT

Sunday, Feb. 12
Game 9 - Consolation Game - 11 a.m. CT
Game 10 - Championship Game - 1:30 p.m. CT

Series History…

Against Georgia State
Overall: Mississippi State leads, 3-1
In Starkville: Mississippi State leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Georgia State, 9-1 (5) (Feb. 9, 2013 in Starkville)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, +1

Against Stephen F. Austin
Overall: Mississippi State leads, 2-1
In Starkville: Mississippi State leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Stephen F. Austin, 5-0 (Mar. 14, 2010 in Starkville)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, +2

Against Western Kentucky
Overall: Mississippi State leads, 3-2
In Starkville: Mississippi State leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Western Kentucky, 7-0 (Mar. 6, 2016 in Starkville)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, +2

Veterans Leading The Way…
MSU returns six position starters from last season, losing just two in Kayla Winkfield and Loryn Nichols. On the pitching staff, four make their return, including senior star Alexis Silkwood and juniors Cassady Knudsen and Holly Ward.

In the field, seniors Katie Anne Bailey, Caroline Seitz and Amanda Ivy make their return after each starting at least 55 games in 2016.

Meeting The Newcomers…
Seven total Bulldogs could make their MSU debut this season. Of the seven, five are freshmen and two are transfers. Composing the freshman class is catcher Lexi Malone, pitcher Emily Mitchell and utility players Montana Davidson, Maddie Dorsett and Lindsey Williams. Reggie Harrison and Bevia Robinson make up the pair of MSU transfers, with Harrison coming to Starkville via Arkansas and Robinson from Pensacola State University.

Live Video…
All of Mississippi State's games will be broadcasted on SEC Network +. (Note: Links for MSU's final two games of the weekend will be distributed once matchups are determined.)

MSU vs. Georgia State
MSU vs. Stephen F. Austin
MSU vs. Western Kentucky

Live Stats…
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all 10 games this weekend. Live stats can be found here or by visiting msu.statbroadcast.com.

Admission…
All matches at Nusz Park this weekend, as well as the entire season, are free admission.

Promotions…
A list of this weekend's promotions are listed below.

Friday, Feb. 10
MSU vs. Georgia State (3 p.m.); MSU vs. Stephen F. Austin (5:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
- Free poms
- Free gift cards and prizes throughout the games
- Double Hail State Rewards points

Saturday, Feb. 11
MSU vs. Western Kentucky (12:30 p.m.); MSU vs. TBD (3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
- Free gift cards and prizes throughout the games

Sunday, Feb. 12
MSU vs. TBD (11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
- Free gift cards and prizes throughout the games
- "Kids' Day At The Park" (Sponsored by LeBonheur)
- Postgame autographs on the field and kids can run the bases

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".