Friday, February 25
Starkville
3:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Longwood
Annual Snowman Tournament Returns To Starkville
February 24, 2022 | Softball
STARKVILLE – For the fourth year in a row, Mississippi State will host The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament on Feb. 25-27 at Nusz Park. This year's field includes Longwood, Belmont and South Alabama.
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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.
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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.
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This year's tournament is especially meaningful as it would have been Wilcox's senior year and her sister, Kassidy, plays for South Alabama against the Bulldogs on Saturday and Sunday. Also new this season, The Snowman will be a part of the NFCA's StrikeOut Cancer initiative, and it is the first NCAA Division I event on the StrikeOut Cancer calendar this year.
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Admission to MSU softball games is always free. All weekend long, the Bulldogs will recognize those fighting and who have survived ovarian cancer while raising awareness of the disease. Fans in attendance on Friday will receive No One Fights Alone rally towels and can fill out No One Fights Alone/StrikeOut Cancer cards for an in-game moment of recognition.
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Saturday is Little League Day at the ballpark with the Bulldogs sharing their favorite Little League memories. Free inflatable mini bats will be available to fans. That evening, the Bulldogs meet South Alabama and Wilcox's sister. Alex's jersey will be on display on the concourse prior to the games.
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10 a.m. – Belmont vs. South Alabama | Live Stats
12:30 p.m. – Longwood vs. South Alabama | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Longwood at Mississippi State | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
5:30 p.m. – Belmont at Mississippi State | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
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Saturday, Feb. 26
10 a.m. – South Alabama vs. Longwood | Live Stats
12:30 p.m. – Longwood vs. Belmont | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Belmont at Mississippi State | Live Stats
5:30 p.m. – South Alabama at Mississippi State | Live Stats
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Sunday, Feb. 27
1 p.m. – South Alabama at Mississippi State | Live Stats
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The First 100 Days: Samantha Ricketts will coach her 100th career game against Longwood on Friday. She is 65-34 entering the weekend and has already secured the best 100-game record in program history and could be tied for third among active SEC head coaches with a win.
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Scoring In Bunches: State has claimed three of its five wins via run-rule and is averaging 8.8 runs per game in its victories.
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In A Pinch: The Bulldogs are 6-for-1 (.545) when pinch hitting this season. State sent four pinch hitters to the plate in Game 2 against Alabama State (Feb. 16) and went 4-for-4 with three of the hits going for extra bases.
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In The Zone: MSU's pitchers are leading the SEC with 23 looking strikeouts this season. Kenley Hawk ranks ninth nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (12.3).
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New Look For Kenley: Hawk adopted a facemask this season and has looked like a different pitcher since. She's currently pitching to a 1.02 ERA, allowing just two earned runs, in 13.2 innings across five appearances this season.
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Record Watch: Mia Davidson broke the SEC career home run record this weekend with her 72nd long ball. She surpassed Florida's Lauren Haeger (71) in just 214 games, while Haeger set the record in 261.
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Hello Hull: Freshman Riley Hull batted .500 (7-for-14) last week with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs, including a career-high three-RBI game against Georgia Tech (Feb. 19).
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Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Megan Brown | Record at LONG: 30-34 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 30-34 (2nd Year)
Batting Average: .263 | Runs Per Game: 3.6 | Hits Per Game: 6.7 | Slugging Pct: .380
ERA: 6.28 | K/7: 7.2 | K/BB Ratio: 1.5 | Opp. Batting Avg: .309
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Belmont Bruins (3-2, 0-0 OVC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Laura Matthews | Record at BEL: 18-28 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 197-160-1 (10th Year)
Batting Average: .317 | Runs Per Game: 5.4 | Hits Per Game: 8.8 | Slugging Pct: .403
ERA: 3.39 | K/7: 4.5 | K/BB Ratio: 3.5 | Opp. Batting Avg: .301
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South Alabama Jaguars (1-8, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Becky Clark | Record at USA: 471-319-1 (16th Year) | Career Record: 471-319-1 (16th Year)
Batting Average: .231 | Runs Per Game: 2.2 | Hits Per Game: 5.9 | Slugging Pct: .345
ERA: 3.70 | K/7: 6.6 | K/BB Ratio: 2.3 | Opp. Batting Avg: .242
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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.
Â
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.
Â
This year's tournament is especially meaningful as it would have been Wilcox's senior year and her sister, Kassidy, plays for South Alabama against the Bulldogs on Saturday and Sunday. Also new this season, The Snowman will be a part of the NFCA's StrikeOut Cancer initiative, and it is the first NCAA Division I event on the StrikeOut Cancer calendar this year.
Â
Admission to MSU softball games is always free. All weekend long, the Bulldogs will recognize those fighting and who have survived ovarian cancer while raising awareness of the disease. Fans in attendance on Friday will receive No One Fights Alone rally towels and can fill out No One Fights Alone/StrikeOut Cancer cards for an in-game moment of recognition.
Â
Saturday is Little League Day at the ballpark with the Bulldogs sharing their favorite Little League memories. Free inflatable mini bats will be available to fans. That evening, the Bulldogs meet South Alabama and Wilcox's sister. Alex's jersey will be on display on the concourse prior to the games.
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Game Coverage
Friday, Feb. 2510 a.m. – Belmont vs. South Alabama | Live Stats
12:30 p.m. – Longwood vs. South Alabama | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Longwood at Mississippi State | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
5:30 p.m. – Belmont at Mississippi State | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
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Saturday, Feb. 26
10 a.m. – South Alabama vs. Longwood | Live Stats
12:30 p.m. – Longwood vs. Belmont | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Belmont at Mississippi State | Live Stats
5:30 p.m. – South Alabama at Mississippi State | Live Stats
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Sunday, Feb. 27
1 p.m. – South Alabama at Mississippi State | Live Stats
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Leading Off
No One Fights Alone: The Snowman honors former Bulldog Alex Wilcox who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2018. Wilcox wore No. 8, leading to the Snowman nickname. Her sister Kassidy plays for South Alabama and will compete this weekend.Â
The First 100 Days: Samantha Ricketts will coach her 100th career game against Longwood on Friday. She is 65-34 entering the weekend and has already secured the best 100-game record in program history and could be tied for third among active SEC head coaches with a win.
Â
Scoring In Bunches: State has claimed three of its five wins via run-rule and is averaging 8.8 runs per game in its victories.
Â
In A Pinch: The Bulldogs are 6-for-1 (.545) when pinch hitting this season. State sent four pinch hitters to the plate in Game 2 against Alabama State (Feb. 16) and went 4-for-4 with three of the hits going for extra bases.
Â
In The Zone: MSU's pitchers are leading the SEC with 23 looking strikeouts this season. Kenley Hawk ranks ninth nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (12.3).
Â
New Look For Kenley: Hawk adopted a facemask this season and has looked like a different pitcher since. She's currently pitching to a 1.02 ERA, allowing just two earned runs, in 13.2 innings across five appearances this season.
Â
Record Watch: Mia Davidson broke the SEC career home run record this weekend with her 72nd long ball. She surpassed Florida's Lauren Haeger (71) in just 214 games, while Haeger set the record in 261.
Â
Hello Hull: Freshman Riley Hull batted .500 (7-for-14) last week with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs, including a career-high three-RBI game against Georgia Tech (Feb. 19).
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About the Opponents
Longwood Lancers (4-5, 0-0 Big South)Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Megan Brown | Record at LONG: 30-34 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 30-34 (2nd Year)
Batting Average: .263 | Runs Per Game: 3.6 | Hits Per Game: 6.7 | Slugging Pct: .380
ERA: 6.28 | K/7: 7.2 | K/BB Ratio: 1.5 | Opp. Batting Avg: .309
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Belmont Bruins (3-2, 0-0 OVC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Laura Matthews | Record at BEL: 18-28 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 197-160-1 (10th Year)
Batting Average: .317 | Runs Per Game: 5.4 | Hits Per Game: 8.8 | Slugging Pct: .403
ERA: 3.39 | K/7: 4.5 | K/BB Ratio: 3.5 | Opp. Batting Avg: .301
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South Alabama Jaguars (1-8, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches - NR | USA Softball - NR | Softball America – NR | D1Softball - NR
Head coach: Becky Clark | Record at USA: 471-319-1 (16th Year) | Career Record: 471-319-1 (16th Year)
Batting Average: .231 | Runs Per Game: 2.2 | Hits Per Game: 5.9 | Slugging Pct: .345
ERA: 3.70 | K/7: 6.6 | K/BB Ratio: 2.3 | Opp. Batting Avg: .242
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On Deck
The Bulldogs remain home next week for an in-state matchup. MSU will host Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday, March 2 at 6 p.m. CT.Â
Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."Â
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