Friday, February 7
Clearwater, Fla.
11:00 AM
Mississippi State
vs
Missouri State
Bulldogs Open Season at NFCA Leadoff Classic
February 06, 2020 | Softball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Opening Day is here.
Mississippi State's softball team opens the season on Friday, Feb. 7 against Missouri State at 11 a.m. CT in Clearwater, Florida. State will follow that contest with an exhibition against Team USA that evening at 5 p.m. The weekend marks Samantha Ricketts' first games at the helm of the Bulldog softball program. Ricketts was promoted to head coach over the summer after spending six years as an associate head coach at MSU.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs meet Liberty at 11:30 a.m. followed by Louisville at 2 p.m. The team wraps up its opening weekend against NC State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The Bulldogs boast two Preseason All-Americans in Mia Davidson and Fa Leilua. Both players earned recognition from Softball America and D1Softball.com. Davidson was named Softball America's No. 15 player in the nation, while Leilua checked in at No. 29. The duo has also been named to USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List.
Davidson, who broke the SEC single-season record with 26 home runs in 2019, was named to the league's Preseason All-SEC team. With 45 career home runs, she enters 2020 ranked 10th among active players across the nation.
State added nine freshmen and Troy transfer Annie Willis during the offseason. Freshman Madisyn Kennedy and Willis are expected to make an immediate impact in the lineup. The Bulldogs also return Emily Williams in the circle who ranked seventh in the SEC in strikeouts and second in strikeouts looking last year.
Mississippi State vs. Missouri State – 11 a.m. CT
Mississippi State vs. Team USA (Exh.) – 5 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 8
Liberty vs. Mississippi State – 11:30 a.m. CT
Louisville vs. Mississippi State – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 9
Mississippi State vs. NC State – 11 a.m. CT
2019 Record: 30-21, 14-11 MVC
Head Coach: Holly Hesse (811-788-2 at Missouri State)
Team USA
All-Time Olympic Record: 32-5
Head Coach: Ken Eriksen
Liberty
2019 Record: 40-22, 16-5 ASUN
Head Coach: Dot Richardson (206-164 at Liberty)
Louisville
2019 Record: 35-23, 12-12 ACC
Head Coach: Holly Aprile (35-23 at Louisville)
NC State
2019 Record: 31-27, 9-15 ACC
Head Coach: Jennifer Patrick-Swift (31-27 at NC State)
Feb. 7 – Mississippi State vs. Team USA (Exh.) – 5 p.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Liberty vs. Mississippi State – 11:30 a.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Louisville vs. Mississippi State – 2 p.m. CT
Feb. 9 – Mississippi State vs. NC State – 11 a.m. CT
Feb. 7 – Mississippi State vs. Team USA (Exh.) – 5 p.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Liberty vs. Mississippi State – 11:30 a.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Louisville vs. Mississippi State – 2 p.m. CT
Feb. 9 – Mississippi State vs. NC State – 11 a.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Sunny, High of 66, Low of 53
Feb. 9 – Sunny, High of 75, Low of 60
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Opening Day is here.
Mississippi State's softball team opens the season on Friday, Feb. 7 against Missouri State at 11 a.m. CT in Clearwater, Florida. State will follow that contest with an exhibition against Team USA that evening at 5 p.m. The weekend marks Samantha Ricketts' first games at the helm of the Bulldog softball program. Ricketts was promoted to head coach over the summer after spending six years as an associate head coach at MSU.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs meet Liberty at 11:30 a.m. followed by Louisville at 2 p.m. The team wraps up its opening weekend against NC State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
The Bulldogs boast two Preseason All-Americans in Mia Davidson and Fa Leilua. Both players earned recognition from Softball America and D1Softball.com. Davidson was named Softball America's No. 15 player in the nation, while Leilua checked in at No. 29. The duo has also been named to USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List.
Davidson, who broke the SEC single-season record with 26 home runs in 2019, was named to the league's Preseason All-SEC team. With 45 career home runs, she enters 2020 ranked 10th among active players across the nation.
State added nine freshmen and Troy transfer Annie Willis during the offseason. Freshman Madisyn Kennedy and Willis are expected to make an immediate impact in the lineup. The Bulldogs also return Emily Williams in the circle who ranked seventh in the SEC in strikeouts and second in strikeouts looking last year.
NFCA Leadoff Classic Schedule
Friday, Feb. 7 Mississippi State vs. Missouri State – 11 a.m. CT
Mississippi State vs. Team USA (Exh.) – 5 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 8
Liberty vs. Mississippi State – 11:30 a.m. CT
Louisville vs. Mississippi State – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 9
Mississippi State vs. NC State – 11 a.m. CT
About the Opponents
Missouri State2019 Record: 30-21, 14-11 MVC
Head Coach: Holly Hesse (811-788-2 at Missouri State)
Team USA
All-Time Olympic Record: 32-5
Head Coach: Ken Eriksen
Liberty
2019 Record: 40-22, 16-5 ASUN
Head Coach: Dot Richardson (206-164 at Liberty)
Louisville
2019 Record: 35-23, 12-12 ACC
Head Coach: Holly Aprile (35-23 at Louisville)
NC State
2019 Record: 31-27, 9-15 ACC
Head Coach: Jennifer Patrick-Swift (31-27 at NC State)
Watch Live
Feb. 7 – Mississippi State vs. Missouri State – 11 a.m. CTFeb. 7 – Mississippi State vs. Team USA (Exh.) – 5 p.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Liberty vs. Mississippi State – 11:30 a.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Louisville vs. Mississippi State – 2 p.m. CT
Feb. 9 – Mississippi State vs. NC State – 11 a.m. CT
Live Stats
Feb. 7 – Mississippi State vs. Missouri State – 11 a.m. CTFeb. 7 – Mississippi State vs. Team USA (Exh.) – 5 p.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Liberty vs. Mississippi State – 11:30 a.m. CT
Feb. 8 – Louisville vs. Mississippi State – 2 p.m. CT
Feb. 9 – Mississippi State vs. NC State – 11 a.m. CT
Admission
Tickets are available at NFCA.org or by clicking here. Prices range from $10-$20 per day.Weather Forecast
Feb. 7 – Partly cloudy, High of 60, Low of 46Feb. 8 – Sunny, High of 66, Low of 53
Feb. 9 – Sunny, High of 75, Low of 60
On Deck
MSU returns to Starkville for its home opener at Nusz Park on Feb. 12 against Alabama State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. with free T-shirts and koozies available on the outfield deck.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
C/INF
/ Softball
SS/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16