College: Mississippi State Captures 2020 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic; All-Tournament Team Announced

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Mississippi State captured the 2020 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic presented by Rawlings at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. The Bulldogs (4-0) went undefeated and earned the title on run differential average. Joining Mississippi State with undefeated weekends were Illinois (4-0), Kentucky (4-0) and Missouri (5-0).

The U.S. National Women’s Team, as part of its “Stand Beside Her” Tour presented by Major League Baseball, wrapped up its five-game set at the tournament, defeating Texas State, 5-2. The highlight of the contest was Bobcat Hailey MacKay cracking a home run off her pitching coach and USA starter Cat Osterman. MacKay finished the game with both RBIs.

Click HERE to read about the games from Day 1
Click HERE to ready about the action from Day 2

The Mississippi Bulldogs, under the guidance of first-year head coach Samantha Ricketts, concluded play with a 9-0, five-inning win over North Carolina State. Chloe Malau’ulu started the fireworks with a first-inning grand slam and Candace Denis capped off the victory with a three-run shot to end the game in the fifth. Denis, who also had a sacrifice fly, finished with four RBIs.

Grace Fagan twirled a one-hit shutout for the Bulldogs. She struck out eight and walked two. Over the four games, Mississippi State led the tournament with a .343 batting average, seven doubles, and 26 RBI. Their pitching staff also had the lowest ERA at 0.52 with two shutouts, 36 punchouts and a .160 batting average against.

Missouri capped off its 5-0 weekend with a 5-1 triumph over Louisville. Jazmyn Rollin and Kimberly Wert each recorded two hits for the Tigers, while Taylor Roby went yard for the Cardinals. Mizzou hit .321 with a tournament-best nine home runs and .575 slugging percentage.

Behind a two-hit shutout by Sydney Sickels, Illinois headed home undefeated, following a 2-0 win over No. 23 Auburn. She struck out seven and walked two batters. Kailee Powell and Shelby Stauffenberg each drove in a run for the Illini, who finished the weekend with a 1.25 ERA and a .200 batting average against.

No. 14 Kentucky blanked No. 8 Minnesota, 7-0 in its finale. Meghan Schoman and Grace Baalman combined on a four-hit shutout. Schoman earned the win, allowing all four hits with four strikeouts. Baalman closed out the final 2.2 innings with three punchouts. Tatum Spangler was 2-for-2 with a home run and three runs scored. Rylea Smith added two hits and Kayla Kowalik drove in two runs.

UK’s staff posted a 0.72 ERA with 26 strikeouts and held their opposition to a .204 average. Offensively, they hit .305 with five home runs and a .524 slugging percentage.

Notre Dame, Missouri State and Liberty were also triumphant on Sunday with the latter two programs picking up their first wins of the season. The Bears blanked Baylor, 3-0, while Liberty edged No. 21 Ole Miss, 4-2. The Fighting Irish topped South Alabama 3-1, winning their final three contests to finish 3-2 overall.

*****

All-Tournament Team

• Tannon Snow – Auburn
• Taylor Ellis – Baylor
• Sydney Sickels – Illinois
• Rylea Smith – Kentucky
• Denay Griffin – Liberty
• Taylor Roby – Louisville
• MaKenna Partain – Minnesota
• Fa Leilua – Mississippi State
• Jazmyn Rollin – Missouri
• Steffany Dickerson – Missouri State
• Tatyana Forbes – North Carolina State
• Alexis Holloway – Notre Dame
• Mikayla Allee – Ole Miss
• Shelby Sloan – South Alabama
• Dalilah Barrera – Texas State

*****

Friday, Feb. 7, 2020

Field 1 (Livestream)
Noon | Texas State 5, South Alabama 2 | Box Score
5:00 p.m. | Minnesota 1 Missouri State 0 | Box Score
7:00 p.m. | Minnesota 13, North Carolina State 6 | Box Score

Field 2 (Livestream)
Noon | Missouri 3, Notre Dame 1 | Box Score
2:30 p.m. | Auburn 4, Notre Dame 1 | Box Score

Field 3 (Livestream)
Noon | Kentucky 6, Liberty 2 | Box Score
2:30 p.m. | Kentucky 2, Texas State 1 | Box Score
5:00 p.m. | North Carolina State 3, Ole Miss 2 | Box Score

Field 4 (Livestream)
Noon | Mississippi State 5, Missouri State 0 | Box Score
2:30 p.m. | Illinois 8, Liberty 2 | Box Score
5:00 p.m. | Missouri 7, South Alabama 5 | Box Score

Field 8 (Livestream)
Noon | Baylor 8, Auburn 0 (5) | Box Score
6:00 p.m. | U.S. National Team 4, Mississippi State 0 | Box Score
8:00 p.m. | U.S. National Team 11, Illinois 0 (5) | Box Score

Field 9 (Livestream)
Noon | Louisville 4, Ole Miss 2 | Box Score
2:30 p.m. | Baylor 7, Louisville 4 | Box Score

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020

Field 1 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Kentucky 6, North Carolina State 2 (8) | Box Score
12:30 p.m. | North Carolina State 7, Missouri State 5 | Box Score
3:00 p.m. | Notre Dame 16, Missouri State 0 (5) | Box Score
5:30 p.m. | Notre Dame 7, Ole Miss 5 | Box Score

Field 2 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Texas State 7, Louisville 3 | Box Score
12:30 p.m. | Missouri 7, Minnesota 4 (8) | Box Score
3:00 p.m. | Minnesota 10, South Alabama 0 | Box Score

Field 3 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Missouri 9, Baylor 1 (5) | Box Score
12:30 p.m. | Mississippi State 9, Liberty 2 | Box Score
3:00 p.m. | Mississippi State 3, Louisville 2 (8) | Box Score

Field 4 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Auburn 5, Liberty 3 | Box Score
12:30 p.m. | Auburn 3, Texas State 1 | Box Score
3:00 p.m. | Illinois 3, Ole Miss 1 | Box Score
5:30 p.m. | Illinois 5, South Alabama 4 | Box Score

Field 8 (Livestream)
3:00 p.m. | U.S. National Team 9, Baylor 1 | Box Score
5:30 p.m. | U.S. National Team 7, Kentucky 0 | Box Score

Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020

Field 1 (Livestream)
9:00 a.m. | Missouri State 3, Baylor 0 (6) | Box Score
Noon | Illinois 2, Auburn 0 | Box Score

Field 2 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Missouri 5, Louisville 1 | Box Score
Noon | Mississippi State 9, North Carolina State 0 (5) | Box Score

Field 3 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Liberty 4, Ole Miss 2 | Box Score
Noon | Notre Dame 3, South Alabama 1 | Box Score

Field 4 (Livestream)
11:00 a.m. | Kentucky 7, Minnesota 0 | Box Score

Field 8 (Livestream)
Noon | U.S. National Team 5, Texas State 2 | Live Stats / Box Score