Friday, February 14
Starkville
3:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Tulsa
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Softball Prepares to Host Bulldog Kickoff Classic
February 13, 2020 | Softball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Spring sports are back in full swing as Mississippi State softball prepares to host the Bulldog Kickoff Classic this weekend in Starkville. Ten games will be played at Nusz Park over Feb. 14-16, with five featuring the home squad.
Three undefeated teams will be in action in the tournament and all will meet head-to-head. North Alabama (4-0) and Tulsa (4-0) will meet the 5-0 Bulldogs on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, MSU will play Tennessee State before the teams are seeded based on their round robin results.
Semifinals will also be played on Saturday with the losing teams playing a consolation game on Sunday morning. First pitch of the tournament championship is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Mississippi State's games will not start prior to their scheduled times, and there will be a minimum of 30 minutes between each contest. If teams need extra innings, the international tie-breaker rule will be used beginning in the 10th frame.
Up the Middle: Madisyn Kennedy, Lindsey Williams and Aquana Brownlee have combined to go 10-for-27 (.370) at the plate with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs.
Ain't It Grand: After tying the MSU single-season record with five grand slams last year, State already has a pair this season. The two long balls came on consecutive days at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Fa Leilua and Chloe Malau'ulu hit the 42nd and 43rd grand slams in school history against Liberty and NC State, respectively.
Next Woman Up: MSU batted around in consecutive innings on Wednesday against Alabama State. Over the third and fourth innings, State sent 23 batters to the plate and collected 14 runs.
Home Sweet Home Runs: State hit four home runs on Wednesday, the most the Bulldogs have hit in a game since the final home game of the 2019 season against Missouri on April 28, 2019. MSU's 16 runs were tied for fifth-most in a single game in school history and its highest scoring output since 2014.
North Alabama vs. Tennessee State – 10 a.m.
Tennessee State vs. Tulsa – 12:30 p.m.
Tulsa at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
North Alabama at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15
Tulsa vs. North Alabama – 10 a.m.
Tennessee State at Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed – 3 p.m.
No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 16
Consolation – 11 a.m.
Championship – 1:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Crissy Strimple (First year)
Batting Average: .354; Run/Game: 7.0; ERA: 1.73; Opp. Batting Average: .194
North Alabama (4-0, 0-0 ASUN)
Head Coach: Ashley Cozart (Seventh year, 244-86 at UNA)
Batting Average: .376; Run/Game: 7.0; ERA: 0.61; Opp. Batting Average: .118
Tennessee State (1-3, 0-0 OVC)
Head Coach: Andrea Browning (Third year, 18-80 at TNST)
Batting Average: .198; Run/Game: 2.0; ERA: 3.87; Opp. Batting Average: .286
Feb. 14 – North Alabama at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Tennessee State at Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Semifinals (MSU game only) – 3 p.m. OR 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 – Consolation/Championship (MSU game only) – 11 a.m. OR 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 – Tennessee State vs. Tulsa – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 – Tulsa at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
Feb. 14 – North Alabama at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Tulsa vs. North Alabama – 10 a.m.
Feb. 15 – Tennessee State at Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 – No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed – 3 p.m.
Feb. 15 – No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed – 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 – Consolation – 11 a.m.
Feb. 16 – Championship – 1:30 p.m.
This weekend features trivia at each MSU game of the tournament. Each individual trivia game winner will be entered to win a grand prize at the end of the season, with more wins earning contestants more entries. The Bulldog Kickoff Classic's trivia will focus on Mississippi State history on Friday, Mississippi history on Saturday and U.S. history on Sunday.
On Friday, the Bulldogs will also give away smores to those who spend Valentine's Day at Nusz Park. The Deck will offer free hot chocolate on Saturday. On Sunday, fans are invited to join the Bulldogs for brunch at the ballpark.
Feb. 15 – Sunny, High of 57, Low of 40
Feb. 16 – Cloudy, High of 58, Low of 48
STARKVILLE – Spring sports are back in full swing as Mississippi State softball prepares to host the Bulldog Kickoff Classic this weekend in Starkville. Ten games will be played at Nusz Park over Feb. 14-16, with five featuring the home squad.
Three undefeated teams will be in action in the tournament and all will meet head-to-head. North Alabama (4-0) and Tulsa (4-0) will meet the 5-0 Bulldogs on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, MSU will play Tennessee State before the teams are seeded based on their round robin results.
Semifinals will also be played on Saturday with the losing teams playing a consolation game on Sunday morning. First pitch of the tournament championship is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday.
Mississippi State's games will not start prior to their scheduled times, and there will be a minimum of 30 minutes between each contest. If teams need extra innings, the international tie-breaker rule will be used beginning in the 10th frame.
Leading Off
Rolling Under Ricketts: First-year head coach Samantha Ricketts is a perfect 5-0, making her the second coach in program history to start with four consecutive victories. The program record for the best start by a head coach is six straight wins.Up the Middle: Madisyn Kennedy, Lindsey Williams and Aquana Brownlee have combined to go 10-for-27 (.370) at the plate with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs.
Ain't It Grand: After tying the MSU single-season record with five grand slams last year, State already has a pair this season. The two long balls came on consecutive days at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Fa Leilua and Chloe Malau'ulu hit the 42nd and 43rd grand slams in school history against Liberty and NC State, respectively.
Next Woman Up: MSU batted around in consecutive innings on Wednesday against Alabama State. Over the third and fourth innings, State sent 23 batters to the plate and collected 14 runs.
Home Sweet Home Runs: State hit four home runs on Wednesday, the most the Bulldogs have hit in a game since the final home game of the 2019 season against Missouri on April 28, 2019. MSU's 16 runs were tied for fifth-most in a single game in school history and its highest scoring output since 2014.
Bulldog Kickoff Classic Schedule
Friday, Feb. 14 North Alabama vs. Tennessee State – 10 a.m.
Tennessee State vs. Tulsa – 12:30 p.m.
Tulsa at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
North Alabama at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15
Tulsa vs. North Alabama – 10 a.m.
Tennessee State at Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed – 3 p.m.
No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 16
Consolation – 11 a.m.
Championship – 1:30 p.m.
About the Opponents
Tulsa (4-0, 0-0 AAC)Head Coach: Crissy Strimple (First year)
Batting Average: .354; Run/Game: 7.0; ERA: 1.73; Opp. Batting Average: .194
North Alabama (4-0, 0-0 ASUN)
Head Coach: Ashley Cozart (Seventh year, 244-86 at UNA)
Batting Average: .376; Run/Game: 7.0; ERA: 0.61; Opp. Batting Average: .118
Tennessee State (1-3, 0-0 OVC)
Head Coach: Andrea Browning (Third year, 18-80 at TNST)
Batting Average: .198; Run/Game: 2.0; ERA: 3.87; Opp. Batting Average: .286
Watch Live
Feb. 14 – Tulsa at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.Feb. 14 – North Alabama at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Tennessee State at Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Semifinals (MSU game only) – 3 p.m. OR 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 – Consolation/Championship (MSU game only) – 11 a.m. OR 1:30 p.m.
Live Stats
Feb. 14 – North Alabama vs. Tennessee State – 10 a.m.Feb. 14 – Tennessee State vs. Tulsa – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 – Tulsa at Mississippi State – 3 p.m.
Feb. 14 – North Alabama at Mississippi State – 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Tulsa vs. North Alabama – 10 a.m.
Feb. 15 – Tennessee State at Mississippi State – 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 15 – No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed – 3 p.m.
Feb. 15 – No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed – 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 – Consolation – 11 a.m.
Feb. 16 – Championship – 1:30 p.m.
Admission/Promotions
Admission to all MSU softball home games is free.This weekend features trivia at each MSU game of the tournament. Each individual trivia game winner will be entered to win a grand prize at the end of the season, with more wins earning contestants more entries. The Bulldog Kickoff Classic's trivia will focus on Mississippi State history on Friday, Mississippi history on Saturday and U.S. history on Sunday.
On Friday, the Bulldogs will also give away smores to those who spend Valentine's Day at Nusz Park. The Deck will offer free hot chocolate on Saturday. On Sunday, fans are invited to join the Bulldogs for brunch at the ballpark.
Weather Forecast
Feb. 14 – Sunny, High of 45, Low of 26Feb. 15 – Sunny, High of 57, Low of 40
Feb. 16 – Cloudy, High of 58, Low of 48
On Deck
MSU will head to Hammond, Louisiana, on Tuesday, Feb. 18 to meet SE Louisiana. The team will travel directly from Louisiana to Palm Springs, California, for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Feb. 20-22.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Softball
SS/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
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