Friday, February 9
Starkville
3:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Mississippi Valley State
Calyn Adams and the Bulldogs kick off the 2018 season at Nusz Park kicks on Friday with the Bulldog Kickoff Classic. MSU opens their season at 3 p.m.
Softball Hosts Bulldog Kickoff Classic to Open 27th Season
February 08, 2018 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After months of practices, conditioning and anticipation, the Mississippi State softball team returns to action as it opens the 2018 campaign with a Friday afternoon doubleheader at Nusz Park.
The Bulldogs open the season Friday against Mississippi Valley State at 3:00 p.m. CT before rounding out the afternoon with a 5:30 p.m. CT contest against Omaha. Friday kicks off the three-day tournament that also features Missouri State, who the Bulldogs will battle Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. CT.
Following Saturday's 12:30 p.m. CT contest, all four teams will be seeded according to record. The one and four seed will face off at 3:00 p.m. CT with the two and three seed playing at 5:30 p.m. CT. The winners will move to Sunday's championship contest scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT, while the remaining teams will battle in a consolation showdown at 11 a.m. CT.
Seventh-year head coach Vann Stuedeman and the Bulldogs open their third season at Nusz Park and the 27th season in MSU program history.
"This is a great tournament for us to get the year going," Stuedeman said. "It will be a good test, and we'll be able to get a lot of our newcomers out there. I look forward to playing some tough opponents and start off strong right out of the gate."
2018 Bulldog Kickoff Classic Schedule
Friday, Feb. 9
Game 1 – Missouri State vs. Omaha – 10 a.m. CT
Game 2 – Missouri State vs. Mississippi Valley State – 12:30 p.m. CT
Game 3 - Mississippi State vs. Mississippi Valley State – 3:00 p.m. CT
Game 4 - Mississippi State vs. Omaha – 5:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 10
Game 5 – Mississippi Valley State vs. Omaha – 10 a.m. CT
Game 6 - Mississippi State vs. Missouri State – 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. 11
Game 9 - Consolation Game - 11 a.m. CT
Game 10 - Championship Game - 1:30 p.m. CT
Inside the Matchup
Against Mississippi Valley State
Overall: Mississippi State leads, 29-1
In Starkville: Mississippi State leads, 21-0
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Mississippi Valley State, 8-0 (6) (March 29, 2017 in Starkville)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, 21
Against Omaha
Overall: Omaha leads, 1-0
In Starkville: First Meeting
Last Meeting: Omaha def. Mississippi State, 8-0 (March 26, 1982 in Bartlesville, Okla.)
Current Streak: Omaha, 1
Against Missouri State
Overall: Missouri State leads, 3-1
In Starkville: Missouri State leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Missouri State def. Mississippi State, 10-3 (March 7, 1986 in Starkville)
Current Streak: Missouri State, 2
Bulldog Kickoff Classic History
Since the tournament's inception in 2013, MSU holds an 21-3 record in the Bulldog Kickoff Classic and has been crowned the tournament champion three times (2014, 2015, 2016).
Veterans Leading the Charge
MSU returns six position starters from the 2017 roster after losing Katie Anne Bailey, Caroline Seitz, Amanda Ivy and Olivia Golden. The pitching staff sees four Dawgs retuning, including senior starters Cassady Knudsen and Holly Ward.
In the field, seniors Reggie Harrison and Calyn Adams return after starting at least 53 games each in 2017.
Meet the Newcomers
Ten total Bulldogs could make their MSU debut over the course of the 2018 season. Of the 10, nine are true freshmen. Composing the freshmen class is infielders Macey Petrey, Kinsey Goelz and O'Neil Roberson, outfielders Alex Wilcox, Brooke Cantillo and Grace Dabbs, pitcher/utility player Carter Spexarth, catcher/infielder Mia Davidson and pitcher Emily Williams. MSU's lone transfer this season is sophomore pitcher/utility player Candace Denis, who comes to Starkville via UMass.
On Deck
The Bulldogs remain in Starkville for another loaded week that begins on Thursday, Feb. 15 with a midweek contest against UT Martin at 4:00 p.m. MSU will host the February Freezer on Friday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 18. The Bulldog's second tournament of the season will feature Murray State, Drake and South Alabama.
Watch Live
All of Mississippi State's Friday and Saturday contests will be broadcasted on the SEC Network via WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app. (Note: The link to Saturday's second contest will be distributed once matchups are determined.)
MSU vs. Mississippi Valley State
MSU vs. Omaha
MSU vs. Missouri State
Live Stats
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all 10 contests the weekend. Live stats can be accessed HERE or by visiting msu.statbroadcast.com.
Admission
All regular-season contests at Nusz Park are free admission
Promotions
Friday, Feb. 9
MSU vs. Mississippi Valley State (3 p.m.); MSU vs. Omaha (5:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
- "National Pizza Day"- Free pizza giveaway for fans before MSU's games
Saturday, Feb. 10
MSU vs. Missouri State (12:30 p.m.); MSU vs. TBD (3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
Sunday, Feb. 11
MSU vs. TBD (11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
Follow the Dawgs
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 Bulldogs open the season Friday against Mississippi Valley State at 3:00 p.m. CT before rounding out the afternoon with a 5:30 p.m. CT contest against Omaha. Friday kicks off the three-day tournament that also features Missouri State, who the Bulldogs will battle Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. CT.
Following Saturday's 12:30 p.m. CT contest, all four teams will be seeded according to record. The one and four seed will face off at 3:00 p.m. CT with the two and three seed playing at 5:30 p.m. CT. The winners will move to Sunday's championship contest scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT, while the remaining teams will battle in a consolation showdown at 11 a.m. CT.
Seventh-year head coach Vann Stuedeman and the Bulldogs open their third season at Nusz Park and the 27th season in MSU program history.
"This is a great tournament for us to get the year going," Stuedeman said. "It will be a good test, and we'll be able to get a lot of our newcomers out there. I look forward to playing some tough opponents and start off strong right out of the gate."
2018 Bulldog Kickoff Classic Schedule
Friday, Feb. 9
Game 1 – Missouri State vs. Omaha – 10 a.m. CT
Game 2 – Missouri State vs. Mississippi Valley State – 12:30 p.m. CT
Game 3 - Mississippi State vs. Mississippi Valley State – 3:00 p.m. CT
Game 4 - Mississippi State vs. Omaha – 5:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 10
Game 5 – Mississippi Valley State vs. Omaha – 10 a.m. CT
Game 6 - Mississippi State vs. Missouri State – 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. 11
Game 9 - Consolation Game - 11 a.m. CT
Game 10 - Championship Game - 1:30 p.m. CT
Inside the Matchup
Against Mississippi Valley State
Overall: Mississippi State leads, 29-1
In Starkville: Mississippi State leads, 21-0
Last Meeting: Mississippi State def. Mississippi Valley State, 8-0 (6) (March 29, 2017 in Starkville)
Current Streak: Mississippi State, 21
Against Omaha
Overall: Omaha leads, 1-0
In Starkville: First Meeting
Last Meeting: Omaha def. Mississippi State, 8-0 (March 26, 1982 in Bartlesville, Okla.)
Current Streak: Omaha, 1
Against Missouri State
Overall: Missouri State leads, 3-1
In Starkville: Missouri State leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Missouri State def. Mississippi State, 10-3 (March 7, 1986 in Starkville)
Current Streak: Missouri State, 2
Bulldog Kickoff Classic History
Since the tournament's inception in 2013, MSU holds an 21-3 record in the Bulldog Kickoff Classic and has been crowned the tournament champion three times (2014, 2015, 2016).
Veterans Leading the Charge
MSU returns six position starters from the 2017 roster after losing Katie Anne Bailey, Caroline Seitz, Amanda Ivy and Olivia Golden. The pitching staff sees four Dawgs retuning, including senior starters Cassady Knudsen and Holly Ward.
In the field, seniors Reggie Harrison and Calyn Adams return after starting at least 53 games each in 2017.
Meet the Newcomers
Ten total Bulldogs could make their MSU debut over the course of the 2018 season. Of the 10, nine are true freshmen. Composing the freshmen class is infielders Macey Petrey, Kinsey Goelz and O'Neil Roberson, outfielders Alex Wilcox, Brooke Cantillo and Grace Dabbs, pitcher/utility player Carter Spexarth, catcher/infielder Mia Davidson and pitcher Emily Williams. MSU's lone transfer this season is sophomore pitcher/utility player Candace Denis, who comes to Starkville via UMass.
On Deck
The Bulldogs remain in Starkville for another loaded week that begins on Thursday, Feb. 15 with a midweek contest against UT Martin at 4:00 p.m. MSU will host the February Freezer on Friday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 18. The Bulldog's second tournament of the season will feature Murray State, Drake and South Alabama.
Watch Live
All of Mississippi State's Friday and Saturday contests will be broadcasted on the SEC Network via WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app. (Note: The link to Saturday's second contest will be distributed once matchups are determined.)
MSU vs. Mississippi Valley State
MSU vs. Omaha
MSU vs. Missouri State
Live Stats
Mississippi State will provide live stats for all 10 contests the weekend. Live stats can be accessed HERE or by visiting msu.statbroadcast.com.
Admission
All regular-season contests at Nusz Park are free admission
Promotions
Friday, Feb. 9
MSU vs. Mississippi Valley State (3 p.m.); MSU vs. Omaha (5:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
- "National Pizza Day"- Free pizza giveaway for fans before MSU's games
Saturday, Feb. 10
MSU vs. Missouri State (12:30 p.m.); MSU vs. TBD (3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
Sunday, Feb. 11
MSU vs. TBD (11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.)
- Free admission
Follow the Dawgs
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".
Players Mentioned
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UTL
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