State Learns Opening Weekend Schedule For NFCA Leadoff Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mississippi State will begin the 2025 softball season on Feb. 7-9 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida and has now learned its first five opponents with the release of the event schedule by the organization.

The Bulldogs will face Texas Tech and Penn State on Opening Day, facing the Red Raiders at 4 p.m. CT before meeting the Nittany Lions at 7 p.m. State is the road team in both contests. On Saturday, Feb. 8, MSU will be the designated home team for games against Bethune-Cookman (2 p.m.) and Duke (5 p.m.). To close the tournament, State plays Nebraska at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9.

This year marks State's first return to the NFCA Leadoff Classic since the Bulldogs won the tournament in 2020 in Samantha Ricketts' first season at the helm. The Bulldogs went 4-0 with two shutouts that year. This marks MSU's ninth time playing in the event, and the Bulldogs are 17-18 all-time in the tournament. In 2002, State claimed a 3-2 win over then-No. 8 Michigan at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, and in 2000 the Bulldogs defeated then-No. 9 Stanford, 2-1.

The 2025 slate continues State's trend of playing challenging games early in the non-conference schedule. Over the last four years, MSU has had a top 35 strength of schedule nationally according to the NCAA's RPI metrics, including two seasons with a non-conference strength of schedule inside the top 40. When the Bulldogs reached the Super Regionals in 2022, State boasted the fourth-hardest schedule in the nation and the No. 17 non-conference slate.

"We are looking forward to kicking off the season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic where we will face great competition," Ricketts said. "Starting strong in the preseason provides an important benchmark for us as we gear up for the rest of the season, including an always competitive SEC schedule."

Mississippi State will likely face the same pitcher on the first day of the 2025 season as they did on the final day of the 2024 season. Former Stanford ace NiJaree Canady transferred to Texas Tech over the offseason and is the Red Raiders' de facto ace entering the year. In their last meeting, the Bulldogs lost, 2-1, to Canady and the Cardinal with Sierra Sacco's solo homer providing the Bulldogs' lone run. MSU has not met Texas Tech on the field since 2017 when the Bulldogs won 6-3 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. State is 2-1 all-time against the Red Raiders.

MSU is 5-2 all-time against Penn State and boasts a four-game winning streak in the series. The teams last met in 2016 in Starkville with State winning 9-3, and the Bulldogs swept a three-game home series with the Nittany Lions in 2015. Penn State reached the NCAA Tournament last spring for the first time since 2011.

State's last meeting with Bethune-Cookman came in the Paradise Classic to open the 2023 season. The Bulldogs defeated the Wildcats, 9-2, in a Friday afternoon matchup in Boca Raton, Florida. It was the first time State had played Bethune-Cookman. MSU has also only played Duke one time, defeating the Blue Devils in extra innings on the road in 2019.

Another prominent ace awaits the Bulldogs to close the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Nebraska's Jordy Bahl. Bahl, who won two national championships while at Oklahoma, transferred to Nebraska prior to the 2024 campaign, but missed the season with an injury suffered in her first outing. The Bulldogs have faced Bahl once previously, at home in 2023, and put up two runs in two innings against her while drawing four walks. State won its last meeting with the Cornhuskers in 2018, the Bulldogs' first victory in the series which snapped a three-game losing streak.

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

Mississippi State University Athletics

State Learns Opening Weekend Schedule For NFCA Leadoff Classic

Players Mentioned

Sierra Sacco

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