Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Softball Releases Non-Conference Schedule
January 28, 2021 | Softball
The Bulldogs will play 30 non-conference games with 19 of those coming in the friendly confines of Nusz Park.
STARKVILLE – Samantha Ricketts announced the Mississippi State softball program's non-conference schedule on Thursday (Jan. 27) morning. The Bulldogs will play 30 non-conference games with 19 of those coming in the friendly confines of Nusz Park.
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The non-conference slate includes four games against teams ranked in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches' preseason poll, and all four matchups will be true road games.
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Opening Day is set for Feb. 13 as the Bulldogs kick off a three-game series with Miami (Ohio). The teams will play a double-header on Saturday before Sunday's rubber match. That series begins a nine-game homestand to open the year. MSU will host Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 17 and The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial tournament on Feb. 19-21.
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No. 20 Mississippi State faces its toughest non-conference tests in Week 3 as part of a six-game road trip. The Bulldogs head to Texas for the Lone Star Invite from Feb. 26-28 where they will play double-headers at No. 6 Texas (Feb. 26) and at Texas State (Feb. 27) along with a final game at No. 22 Baylor (Feb. 28). State then meets No. 8 Alabama in a midweek contest in Tuscaloosa on March 3.
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To close the tournament portion of the schedule, MSU will host the Bulldog Invitational on March 5-7, welcoming Ball State, Alcorn State and Western Kentucky to Starkville. MSU will travel to Alabama State (March 9) and host Memphis (March 10) before beginning league play.
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Once SEC play starts, fans can catch four remaining midweek tilts at home against UT Martin (March 17), Central Arkansas (March 23), Southern Miss (April 14) and Jackson State (April 20). The Bulldogs will make three short road trips with midweek matchups at Samford (March 24) and Southern Miss (March 31). During their SEC bye week, the team travels to North Alabama for a double-header on April 3.
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State was also ranked No. 22 in the USA Softball/ESPN.com preseason poll and No. 15 in D1Softball.com's preseason ranking. The Bulldogs led the nation in wins in 2020 with a 25-3 record in Ricketts' first year at the helm. Bulldog standouts Mia Davidson, Fa Leilua and Emily Williams were all named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist earlier this week.
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The SEC announced the league schedule on Jan. 15. State's opening series at Ole Miss has been designated as the teams' Sunday-Monday series, and will now be played on March 13-15.
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Applicable COVID-19 protocols and guidelines for the 2021 softball season at Nusz Park will be announced at a later date.
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For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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The non-conference slate includes four games against teams ranked in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches' preseason poll, and all four matchups will be true road games.
Â
Opening Day is set for Feb. 13 as the Bulldogs kick off a three-game series with Miami (Ohio). The teams will play a double-header on Saturday before Sunday's rubber match. That series begins a nine-game homestand to open the year. MSU will host Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 17 and The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial tournament on Feb. 19-21.
Â
No. 20 Mississippi State faces its toughest non-conference tests in Week 3 as part of a six-game road trip. The Bulldogs head to Texas for the Lone Star Invite from Feb. 26-28 where they will play double-headers at No. 6 Texas (Feb. 26) and at Texas State (Feb. 27) along with a final game at No. 22 Baylor (Feb. 28). State then meets No. 8 Alabama in a midweek contest in Tuscaloosa on March 3.
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To close the tournament portion of the schedule, MSU will host the Bulldog Invitational on March 5-7, welcoming Ball State, Alcorn State and Western Kentucky to Starkville. MSU will travel to Alabama State (March 9) and host Memphis (March 10) before beginning league play.
Â
Once SEC play starts, fans can catch four remaining midweek tilts at home against UT Martin (March 17), Central Arkansas (March 23), Southern Miss (April 14) and Jackson State (April 20). The Bulldogs will make three short road trips with midweek matchups at Samford (March 24) and Southern Miss (March 31). During their SEC bye week, the team travels to North Alabama for a double-header on April 3.
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State was also ranked No. 22 in the USA Softball/ESPN.com preseason poll and No. 15 in D1Softball.com's preseason ranking. The Bulldogs led the nation in wins in 2020 with a 25-3 record in Ricketts' first year at the helm. Bulldog standouts Mia Davidson, Fa Leilua and Emily Williams were all named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watchlist earlier this week.
Â
The SEC announced the league schedule on Jan. 15. State's opening series at Ole Miss has been designated as the teams' Sunday-Monday series, and will now be played on March 13-15.
Â
Applicable COVID-19 protocols and guidelines for the 2021 softball season at Nusz Park will be announced at a later date.
Â
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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Players Mentioned
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