Friday, February 9
Starkville
4:30 PM
Mississippi State
vs
UAB
State Prepares To Open Season Hosting The Snowman
February 08, 2024 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State softball is set to open the 2024 season at The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament presented by Newk's at Nusz Park on Friday afternoon.
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State will host UAB at 4:30 p.m. and IUPUI at 7 p.m. CT on Friday. The Bulldogs will face the Jaguars a second time on Saturday evening and close the tournament against UAB at noon on Sunday. All four games will be available to watch on SEC Network+.
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The Snowman was previously known as the February Freezer, but it was renamed following the tragic passing of Alex Wilcox after her battle with ovarian cancer. The Bulldogs now utilize the annual event to raise awareness of the disease and its symptoms by wearing teal uniforms. State's teal uniforms will be worn on Friday this year.
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Tickets are now required for all events at Nusz Park. Fans can purchase tickets to The Snowman by the day by visiting HailState.com/Tickets. On Saturday, all fans in attendance can claim a free player program, and on Sunday, the Bulldogs will give away free schedule koozies.
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4:30 p.m. – UAB | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
7 p.m. – IUPUI | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
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Saturday, Feb. 10
5 p.m. – IUPUI | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
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Sunday, Feb. 11
12 p.m. – UAB | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
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Home Sweet Home: State has also won 10 consecutive home openers while throwing shutouts in five of those games. The Bulldogs have outscored those opponents, 89-19, in that span and have scored five or more runs in nine of those 10 games.
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Record Region Streak Continues: For the sixth year in a row, State
saw multiple players earn NFCA All-Region honors in 2023 highlighted by returners Aquana Brownlee (Second Team 1B) and Paige Cook (Third Team UTL). It is the longest streak of multiple All-Region winners in program history.
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Circling Back For More: Josey Marron struck out 95 batters last year, which was the fifth-most by a freshman in MSU history. Her 8.38 K/7 ranked eighth among freshmen nationally and is fourth in the SEC among returning players entering this season.
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Magic Number: MSU is 49-2 over the last two years when scoring five or more runs. State scored at least five in 25 of its 27 wins of 2023.
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Taking On Top Teams: The Bulldogs played a program-record 25 games against 11 ranked opponents in the 2023 regular season. This year's schedule features 20 games against nine teams ranked in the NFCA Preseason Coaches' Poll. State will face four of those teams in February alone.
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Top Two Bats Back: Paige Cook led the team in batting average (.320), slugging percentage (.656), on-base percentage (.428), home runs (11), runs scored (31) and RBIs (37) last year. Aquana Brownlee was second on the squad in batting average (.310), on-base percentage (.401), RBIs (35), doubles (6) and homers (8).
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Similar Slugger Storylines: Madisyn Kennedy and Paige Cook enter the season ranked ninth and 10th in school history, respectively, in career home runs. While their swings are very different, they've had very similar offseasons as both missed fall practice while rehabbing from offseason surgeries. Instead of playing, they put their leadership skills to the test as captains in the program's annual Fall World Series. Together they have started a combined 350 games in their Bulldog careers.
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Rising Recruits: State's freshman class was the No. 10 class in the nation when they signed in the fall of 2022. Five of State's six freshmen were Extra Inning Softball Top 100 recruits.
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Head Coach: AJ Daugherty | Record at UAB: 29-25 (2nd Year) | Career Record: Same
2023 Batting Average: .265 | Runs Per Game: 3.6 | Hits Per Game: 6.7 | Slugging Pct: .372
2023 ERA: 4.27 | K/7: 4.4 | K/BB Ratio: 2.1 | Opp. Batting Avg: .272
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Series History
Overall: 18-6 | Home: 11-4 | Away: 6-2 | Neutral: 1-0
Current Streak: Won 4 | Last Meeting: Feb. 29, 2020 in Starkville, Miss. (MSU 5, UAB 0)
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Head Coach: Elisabeth Beime | Record at IUPUI: 81-186 (7th Year) | Career Record: Same
2023 Batting Average: .263 | Runs Per Game: 3.4 | Hits Per Game: 7.0 | Slugging Pct: .355
2023 ERA: 4.18 | K/7: 6.6 | K/BB Ratio: 1.4 | Opp. Batting Avg: .261
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Series History
Overall: First Meeting
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State will host UAB at 4:30 p.m. and IUPUI at 7 p.m. CT on Friday. The Bulldogs will face the Jaguars a second time on Saturday evening and close the tournament against UAB at noon on Sunday. All four games will be available to watch on SEC Network+.
Â
The Snowman was previously known as the February Freezer, but it was renamed following the tragic passing of Alex Wilcox after her battle with ovarian cancer. The Bulldogs now utilize the annual event to raise awareness of the disease and its symptoms by wearing teal uniforms. State's teal uniforms will be worn on Friday this year.
Â
Tickets are now required for all events at Nusz Park. Fans can purchase tickets to The Snowman by the day by visiting HailState.com/Tickets. On Saturday, all fans in attendance can claim a free player program, and on Sunday, the Bulldogs will give away free schedule koozies.
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Game Coverage
Friday, Feb. 94:30 p.m. – UAB | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
7 p.m. – IUPUI | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
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Saturday, Feb. 10
5 p.m. – IUPUI | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
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Sunday, Feb. 11
12 p.m. – UAB | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Buy Tickets
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Leading Off
Starting With The Snowman: Mississippi State is a combined 32-5 over the hisory of The Snowman tournament, dating back to 2015 when it was previously known as the February Freezer. The Bulldogs have also won 10 consecutive season-opening games. The only other time State has opened with The Snowman was in 2021 in a 10-9 win against Miami (Ohio).Â
Home Sweet Home: State has also won 10 consecutive home openers while throwing shutouts in five of those games. The Bulldogs have outscored those opponents, 89-19, in that span and have scored five or more runs in nine of those 10 games.
Â
Record Region Streak Continues: For the sixth year in a row, State
saw multiple players earn NFCA All-Region honors in 2023 highlighted by returners Aquana Brownlee (Second Team 1B) and Paige Cook (Third Team UTL). It is the longest streak of multiple All-Region winners in program history.
Â
Circling Back For More: Josey Marron struck out 95 batters last year, which was the fifth-most by a freshman in MSU history. Her 8.38 K/7 ranked eighth among freshmen nationally and is fourth in the SEC among returning players entering this season.
Â
Magic Number: MSU is 49-2 over the last two years when scoring five or more runs. State scored at least five in 25 of its 27 wins of 2023.
Â
Taking On Top Teams: The Bulldogs played a program-record 25 games against 11 ranked opponents in the 2023 regular season. This year's schedule features 20 games against nine teams ranked in the NFCA Preseason Coaches' Poll. State will face four of those teams in February alone.
Â
Top Two Bats Back: Paige Cook led the team in batting average (.320), slugging percentage (.656), on-base percentage (.428), home runs (11), runs scored (31) and RBIs (37) last year. Aquana Brownlee was second on the squad in batting average (.310), on-base percentage (.401), RBIs (35), doubles (6) and homers (8).
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Similar Slugger Storylines: Madisyn Kennedy and Paige Cook enter the season ranked ninth and 10th in school history, respectively, in career home runs. While their swings are very different, they've had very similar offseasons as both missed fall practice while rehabbing from offseason surgeries. Instead of playing, they put their leadership skills to the test as captains in the program's annual Fall World Series. Together they have started a combined 350 games in their Bulldog careers.
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Rising Recruits: State's freshman class was the No. 10 class in the nation when they signed in the fall of 2022. Five of State's six freshmen were Extra Inning Softball Top 100 recruits.
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About the Opponent
UAB (0-0, 0-0 American)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: AJ Daugherty | Record at UAB: 29-25 (2nd Year) | Career Record: Same
2023 Batting Average: .265 | Runs Per Game: 3.6 | Hits Per Game: 6.7 | Slugging Pct: .372
2023 ERA: 4.27 | K/7: 4.4 | K/BB Ratio: 2.1 | Opp. Batting Avg: .272
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Series History
Overall: 18-6 | Home: 11-4 | Away: 6-2 | Neutral: 1-0
Current Streak: Won 4 | Last Meeting: Feb. 29, 2020 in Starkville, Miss. (MSU 5, UAB 0)
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IUPUI (0-0, 0-0 Horizon League)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Elisabeth Beime | Record at IUPUI: 81-186 (7th Year) | Career Record: Same
2023 Batting Average: .263 | Runs Per Game: 3.4 | Hits Per Game: 7.0 | Slugging Pct: .355
2023 ERA: 4.18 | K/7: 6.6 | K/BB Ratio: 1.4 | Opp. Batting Avg: .261
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Series History
Overall: First Meeting
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On Deck
State will remain at home to host No. 21/21 Louisiana on Tuesday, Feb. 13. First pitch of the doubleheader with the Ragin' Cajuns is set for 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network+ with the nightcap immediately following at 6:30 p.m.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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Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UTL
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INF
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