Ricketts Completes 2022 Schedule With Non-Conference Slate

STARKVILLE – Head coach Samantha Ricketts has completed Mississippi State's 2022 softball schedule with the addition of 31 non-conference contests, including 23 played in Starkville at Nusz Park.

The Bulldogs' 24-game SEC slate was announced in September, giving MSU a 55-game schedule with 35 home games. After playing the nation's No. 7 strength of schedule last spring, MSU will again face a stiff test. State will play 31 games against 13 different teams that made the 2021 NCAA Tournament, including three Women's College World Series teams.

It begins on Feb. 11, when the Bulldogs meet Loyola Marymount and defending national champion Oklahoma in the Mark Campbell Invitational in Irvine and Los Angeles, California. The following day sees MSU match up with UCLA following the Bruins run to the WCWS before closing the tournament with a final meeting against Loyola Marymount.

Nusz Park welcomes fans for the first time in 2022 on Feb. 16 when Alabama State comes to Starkville for a doubleheader. The weekend of Feb. 18-20 features MSU's first home tournament of the year as Southern Illinois, Central Arkansas and Georgia Tech come to town for the Bulldog Kickoff Classic.

MSU will travel to Lexington, Tennessee on Feb. 23 for neutral-site matchup with UT Martin before hosting The Snowman on Feb. 25-27. Named in honor of the late Alex Wilcox, The Snowman is MSU's annual ovarian cancer awareness tournament. This season, Longwood, Belmont and South Alabama will participate. Wilcox's sister, Kassidy, plays for the Jaguars.

The Bulldogs host Mississippi Valley State in a midweek contest on March 2 before closing the majority of the non-conference season with the Bulldog Invitational. Furman, Alcorn State and Jacksonville State will come to Starkville on March 4-6. In a final tune-up before opening SEC play, MSU will welcome North Alabama on March 9.

Conference play opens on March 11, with the Bulldogs battling Florida in Gainesville. The Gators will also host the SEC Tournament this year on May 10-14.

State will break up the conference schedule with a midweek trip to Memphis on March 23, a home doubleheader against Samford on March 26 and a road trip to Middle Tennessee on March 30.

The Bulldogs will play their annual home-and-home set with Southern Miss on April 6 in Hattiesburg and April 27 in Starkville. MSU also hosts ULM on April 19 to round out the schedule.

The NCAA Tournament is slated to begin on May 20-22 with Super Regionals taking place the following weekend. The 2022 Women's College World Series will against be held in Oklahoma City beginning on June 2.

Game times and television assignments will be announced at a later date. The schedule is subject to change, including the move of some conference series weekends to Saturday-Monday dates.

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Ricketts Completes 2022 Schedule With Non-Conference Slate

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