Ricketts Releases 2023 Non-Conference Softball Schedule
December 07, 2022 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Head coach Samantha Ricketts has completed Mississippi State's 2023 softball schedule with the addition of 30 non-conference contests. The Bulldogs will be on the road for the first three weeks of the season while construction continues on their new indoor facility alongside Nusz Park.
The Bulldogs' 24-game SEC slate was announced in September, giving MSU a 54-game schedule with 26 home games. State's home opener is set for Tuesday, Feb. 28, when the Bulldogs host Mississippi Valley State for a doubleheader. After playing the nation's No. 4 strength of schedule last spring, MSU will again face a stiff test. State will play 29 games against 13 different teams that made the 2022 NCAA Tournament, including two home games against reigning national champion Oklahoma. Eight opponents were ranked in the final NFCA Coaches' Poll last spring.
State opens the season in Boca Raton, Florida, at Florida Atlantic's annual tournament. The Bulldogs meet the host Owls at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 9. The following day they'll play Loyola Chicago and Bethune-Cookman before closing the tournament on Sunday with games against Iowa and Stony Brook.
MSU then travels to Clearwater, Florida, on Feb. 17-19 for the previously announced TaxAct Clearwater Invitational. The road portion of tournament season wraps up in Mobile, Alabama, on Feb. 24-26. The Bulldogs will play in South Alabama's tournament with games against Tulsa and the host Jaguars on Friday. On Saturday, they meet Louisiana Tech and Furman before playing one final game against the Paladins on Sunday.
Following their home opener, the Bulldogs will again host The Snowman on March 3-5. Named in honor of the late Alex Wilcox, The Snowman is MSU's annual ovarian cancer awareness tournament. This season, Dartmouth, Abilene Christian and Murray State will participate. The Bulldog Invitational will expand to four days and feature five teams this year on March 9-12. State opens against Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday, March 9 before the remaining teams arrive on site. The Bulldogs and Oklahoma will square off on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. State also has matchups with Omaha and East Tennessee State on tap.
Purdue, the third Big 10 opponent on the schedule, will travel to Starkville for a midweek game on Wednesday, March 15. Once conference play begins on March 17 against South Carolina, State will have just two midweek matchups remaining.
State will break up the conference schedule with a midweek trip to ULM on March 29 and host Memphis on April 19.
The NCAA Tournament is slated to begin on May 19-21 with Super Regionals taking place the following weekend. The 2022 Women's College World Series will again be held in Oklahoma City beginning on June 1.
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."
The Bulldogs' 24-game SEC slate was announced in September, giving MSU a 54-game schedule with 26 home games. State's home opener is set for Tuesday, Feb. 28, when the Bulldogs host Mississippi Valley State for a doubleheader. After playing the nation's No. 4 strength of schedule last spring, MSU will again face a stiff test. State will play 29 games against 13 different teams that made the 2022 NCAA Tournament, including two home games against reigning national champion Oklahoma. Eight opponents were ranked in the final NFCA Coaches' Poll last spring.
State opens the season in Boca Raton, Florida, at Florida Atlantic's annual tournament. The Bulldogs meet the host Owls at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, Feb. 9. The following day they'll play Loyola Chicago and Bethune-Cookman before closing the tournament on Sunday with games against Iowa and Stony Brook.
MSU then travels to Clearwater, Florida, on Feb. 17-19 for the previously announced TaxAct Clearwater Invitational. The road portion of tournament season wraps up in Mobile, Alabama, on Feb. 24-26. The Bulldogs will play in South Alabama's tournament with games against Tulsa and the host Jaguars on Friday. On Saturday, they meet Louisiana Tech and Furman before playing one final game against the Paladins on Sunday.
Following their home opener, the Bulldogs will again host The Snowman on March 3-5. Named in honor of the late Alex Wilcox, The Snowman is MSU's annual ovarian cancer awareness tournament. This season, Dartmouth, Abilene Christian and Murray State will participate. The Bulldog Invitational will expand to four days and feature five teams this year on March 9-12. State opens against Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday, March 9 before the remaining teams arrive on site. The Bulldogs and Oklahoma will square off on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. State also has matchups with Omaha and East Tennessee State on tap.
Purdue, the third Big 10 opponent on the schedule, will travel to Starkville for a midweek game on Wednesday, March 15. Once conference play begins on March 17 against South Carolina, State will have just two midweek matchups remaining.
State will break up the conference schedule with a midweek trip to ULM on March 29 and host Memphis on April 19.
The NCAA Tournament is slated to begin on May 19-21 with Super Regionals taking place the following weekend. The 2022 Women's College World Series will again be held in Oklahoma City beginning on June 1.
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."
Friday, May 29
Thursday, May 28
Wednesday, May 27
Sunday, May 24