Bulldogs Welcome Four Teams For The Snowman Beginning Sunday

STARKVILLE – Three of the nation's four longest active winning streaks are headed to Starkville this weekend as No. 22/24 Mississippi State hosts The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament.

The Bulldogs' 16-game winning streak has tied the program record (2006, 2017) and is the nation's longest. Stephen F. Austin has won 13 straight, which is third in the NCAA, and Southern Illinois has claimed 12 consecutive victories. State will meet both on Sunday, playing the Lady Jacks at 2 p.m. CT and the Salukis at 4:30 p.m.

Missouri State and Mississippi Valley State will also be in attendance, and MSU will meet those two programs on Monday at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., respectively. MSU's four games will all be televised on SEC Network+.

MSU rebranded the annual February Freezer tournament as The Snowman in 2019 to honor the late Alex Wilcox. The Bulldogs continue to wear teal uniforms throughout the season to raise awareness for ovarian cancer in honor of the former softball student-athlete who passed away in 2018 at the age of 18 after a courageous fight with the disease.

Dubbed the "Snowman" by her teammates and family, Wilcox's No. 8 jersey was retired in a special halftime ceremony during an MSU football game on Sept. 15, 2018. She is the only female student-athlete in Mississippi State history to have her jersey retired.

Game Coverage

Sunday, Feb. 21
9 a.m. – Missouri State vs. Stephen F. Austin | Live Stats
11:30 a.m. – Mississippi Valley State at Missouri State | Live Stats
2 p.m. – Stephen F. Austin at No. 22/24 Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
4:30 p.m. – Southern Illinois at No. 22/24 Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
7 p.m. – Mississippi Valley State at Southern Illinois | Live Stats

Monday, Feb. 22
9 a.m. – Stephen F. Austin at Missouri State | Live Stats
11:30 a.m. – Stephen F. Austin at Southern Illinois | Live Stats
2 p.m. – Missouri State at No. 22/24 Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+
4:30 p.m. – Mississippi Valley State at No. 22/24 Mississippi State | Live Stats | SEC Network+

Leading Off

Paige's Performance: Paige Cook drew her first career start on Opening Day and drove in a career-high four RBIs in the contest while hitting her first career home run.

Let's Go Streaking: State has won 16 consecutive games, which is tied for the longest streak in school (2006 and 2017) and is the longest active streak in the country.

Thunder and Lightning: Mia Davidson (53) and Fa Leilua (51) rank third and fourth respectively among the NCAA's active career leaders in home runs. The duo is the only pair of teammates in the country to boast 50-plus career homers.

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.

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.

About the Opponents

Stephen F. Austin (0-0, 0-0 Southland)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Nicole Dickson | at SFA: 72-84 (4th Year) | Career: 72-84 (4th Year)
2020 Batting Average: .317; Runs Per Game: 6.5; Hits Per Game: 8.5; Slugging Percentage: .469
2020 ERA: 1.61; K/7: 10.0; K/BB Ratio: 2.7; Opp. Batting Avg: .161

Southern Illinois (3-0, 0-0 MVC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Kerri Blaylock | at SIU: 710-389-1 (22nd Year) | Career: 710-389-1 (22nd Year)
Batting Average: .237; Runs Per Game: 3.7; Hits Per Game: 6.0; Slugging Percentage: .289
ERA: 0.00; K/7: 7.7; K/BB Ratio: 3.8; Opp. Batting Avg: .123

Missouri State (0-0, 0-0 MVC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Holly Hesse | at MOST: 818-800-2 (32nd Year) | Career: 818-800-2 (32nd Year)
2020 Batting Average: .221; Runs Per Game: 2.5; Hits Per Game: 5.3; Slugging Percentage: .312
2020 ERA: 3.80; K/7: 5.6; K/BB Ratio: 2.1; Opp. Batting Avg: .272

Mississippi Valley State (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Lee Smith | at MVSU: 410-512 (19th Year) | Career: 410-512 (19th Year)
2020 Batting Average: .278; Runs Per Game: 5.0; Hits Per Game: 7.3; Slugging Percentage: .381
2020 ERA: 5.31; K/7: 5.2; K/BB Ratio: 1.3; Opp. Batting Avg: .297

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

Despite having games postponed this week, MSU closes a lengthy season-opening homestand on Wednesday. The Bulldogs will host Mississippi Valley State again at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 before traveling to Texas for the Lone Star State Invitational.

Follow the Bulldogs

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

Bulldogs Welcome Four Teams For The Snowman Beginning Sunday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Mia Davidson

Montana Davidson

Allison Florian

Fa Leilua

Alyssa Loza

Christian Quinn

Alex Wilcox

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldogs Welcome Four Teams For The Snowman Beginning Sunday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Paige Cook

Mia Davidson

Montana Davidson

Allison Florian

Fa Leilua

Alyssa Loza

Christian Quinn

Alex Wilcox

Related Videos