Softball Opens Season Saturday At Nusz Park

Saturday, February 13

Starkville

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

Miami (Ohio)

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Softball Opens Season Saturday At Nusz Park

February 12, 2021 | Softball

Game Notes 2021 Fan Attendance Guidelines Print At Home Flipcard Purchase State Stand-Ins

By: Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Samantha Ricketts' squad has waited long enough. Opening Day for Mississippi State's softball team is Saturday, 339 days since the Bulldogs last took the field.

No. 20/22 MSU hosts Miami (Ohio) on Saturday (Feb. 13) and Sunday (Feb. 14) for a three-game set to begin a lengthy homestand. The Bulldogs will play their first 10 games in the familiar confines of Nusz Park.

All three games will be televised on SEC Network+. First pitch on Saturday is set for 12 p.m. CT, with Game 2 beginning at 2:30 p.m., but no sooner than 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first contest. Sunday's rubber match begins at 11:30 a.m.

The Bulldogs are ranked in all four preseason polls this year, marking just the second time in program history that State has entered a season as a ranked team (2001, No. 23). State led the nation in wins in the shortened 2020 season, going 25-3 in Ricketts' first year at the helm.

MSU's offense scored 15 or more runs three times last spring and combined for 33 home runs. The Bulldogs were among the top 20 teams nationally in batting average (.326), doubles (44), runs per game (6.57) and slugging percentage (.538).

In the circle, the team was even more impressive. MSU ranked fourth nationally in ERA (1.36) and third in shutouts (11). The Bulldogs' 4.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio was 10^th in the NCAA.

Game Coverage

Leading Off

Dueling Aces: Emily Williams and Annie Willis both finished among the top 10 nationally in ERA in 2020. Willis threw the 22nd no-hitter in school history in 2020, and Williams threw a one-hitter in the following game. The duo combined for 153 strikeouts.

The Big Five-Oh: Mia Davidson became the 23rd player in SEC history to hit 50 career home runs on Mar. 2, 2020. Fa Leilua hit her 50th career home run against on Mar. 6, but only 31 have come as an SEC player at MSU. Only 12 active players across the country have hit 50 career home runs.

Rolling Under Ricketts: Samantha Ricketts became the first first-year head coach to lead the nation in wins since at least 1989. She is also the fastest coach in program history to reach 20 career wins, doing so in just 23 games and the first Bulldog head coach to see her squad ranked in her first season, finishing at No. 20 in 2020.

Familiar Faces: MSU returned all but two student-athletes who stepped on the field in 2020 (Candace Denis and Lindsey Williams).

Veteran Core: State's roster includes five student-athletes who are entering their fifth or sixth year of college, which is the third-most in the SEC behind Alabama (7) and Arkansas (6). Montana Davidson, Allison Florian, Alyssa Loza and Christian Quinn, are entering their fifth season, while Fa Leilua begins her sixth.

Let's Go Streaking: State has won 14 consecutive games, which is the fifth-longest streak in school history. The school record is two 16-game runs in 2006 and 2017.

Chasing Palmeiro: Mia Davidson needs 16 home runs to pass MSU baseball legend Rafael Palmeiro (67 career homers) and become State's all-time home run queen in baseball or softball.

About the Opponent

Miami (Ohio)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Kirin Kumar, 1st Year | Record at MIA: 0-0 (1st Year) | Career Record: 0-0 (1st Year)
2020 Batting Average: .247; Runs Per Game: 3.3; Hits Per Game: 6.5; Slugging Percentage: .368
2020 ERA: 2.57; K/7: 9.1; K/BB Ratio: 3.0; Opp. Batting Avg: .199

Admission/Attendance Guidelines

Mississippi State has announced that Nusz Park will be limited to a maximum capacity of 25 percent of available seating. Properly spaced and marked grandstand seating will be available in two- and four-seat pods. Also, a limited number of spaced and marked boxes on the outfield deck will be made available for up to four individuals from the same household. Face coverings over the nose and mouth shall be required for all guests during ingress, egress, and movement throughout the stadium.

Admission to all MSU softball home games remains free. State Stand-Ins are available for purchase at MaroonMemories.com. For more information visit: HailState.com/gameday.

On Deck

MSU opens the year with a lengthy homestand. State will remain home to host Southeastern Louisiana at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The Bulldogs then host The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial tournament on Feb. 19-21.

Follow the Bulldogs

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