College: Recap of Day 1 of 2020 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic Presented by Rawlings

Information and images provided by NFCA

Fifteen NCAA Division I programs opened their 2020 seasons at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic presented by Rawlings at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida.

Additionally, the U.S. National Team, as part of its “Stand Beside Her” Tour presented by Major League Baseball, took part in the festivities with a pair of evening contests against Mississippi State and Illinois.

Four teams – Baylor, Kentucky, Minnesota and Missouri – got off to 2-0 starts, with the Bulldogs and Fighting Illini winning their opening games before taking on Team USA. The Bears run-ruled No. 23 Auburn, 8-0, before scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth to knock off Louisville, 7-4. Gia Rodoni picked up a win and save for Baylor with five innings of three-hit shutout ball.

The 15^th-ranked Wildcats topped Liberty, 6-2, and walked-off against Texas State, 2-1. Alex Martens smacked two home runs in game one, while Rylea Smith provided a game-ending RBI single to center versus the Bobcats.

The No. 8 Gophers edged Missouri State in a pitching duel, 1-0, as both teams combined for just seven hits. Autumn Pease (5 IP, 2 H, 5 K) picked up the win, while Amber Fiser (2 IP, H, 3 K) earned the save. Steffany Dickerson suffered the defeat, allowing a run on four hits with eight punchouts over five innings. Madison Hunsaker tossed two innings of shutout relief. In its nightcap, Minnesota defeated North Carolina State, 13-7.

The Tigers picked up a pair of two-run victories over Notre Dame (3-1) and South Alabama (7-5). They scored two in the top of the seventh to break a 1-1 deadlock against the Irish. Down 5-4 against the Jaguars, Jazmyn Rollin hit a two-run homer and Kimberly Wert added a solo shot to upend South Alabama.

Mississippi State blanked Missouri State, 5-0 to earn head coach Samantha Ricketts her first win as a collegiate head coach. Annie Willis and Emily Williams combined on a three-hit shutout. Willis fanned seven over five innings, while Williams struck out three in two frames of hitless relief. Illinois trumped Liberty, 8-2, behind an 11-hit attack. Danielle Davis’ seventh-inning grand slam gave Illinois some breathing room.

Also picking up their first wins of the season were Auburn, Louisville, North Carolina and Texas State. The Tigers rebounded from their loss to Baylor with a 4-1 triumph over Notre Dame. The Wolfpack upset No. 21 Ole Miss, 3-2. The Cardinals were victorious in their opener, a 4-2 win against No. 21 Ole Miss, while the Bobcats topped South Alabama, 5-2.

The U.S. National Team picked up a pair of shutout victories, defeating Mississippi State, 3-0, and Illinois, 11-0, in five innings.

Below are the schedules for the weekend games. Team USA also return with matchups against Baylor at 3:00 p.m. and Kentucky at 5:30 p.m.

All games are livestreamed by Sportzcast on the NFCA’s YouTube channel (NFCAorg).

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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 v North Carolina State | Live Stats / Box Score
12:30 p.m. | Missouri State v North Carolina State | Live Stats / Box Score
3:00 p.m. | Missouri State v Notre Dame | Live Stats / Box Score

Field 2 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Texas State v Louisville | Live Stats / Box Score
12:30 p.m. | Missouri v Minnesota | Live Stats / Box Score
3:00 p.m. | South Alabama v Minnesota | Live Stats / Box Score / Listen
5:30 p.m. | Notre Dame v Ole Miss| Live Stats / Box Score

Field 3 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Baylor v Missouri | Live Stats / Box Score
12:30 p.m. | Liberty v Mississippi State | Live Stats / Box Score
3:00 p.m. | Louisville v Mississippi State | Live Stats / Box Score

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

Field 8 (Livestream)
3:00 p.m. | Baylor v U.S. National Team | Live Stats / Box Score
5:30 p.m. | Kentucky v U.S. National Team| Live Stats / Box Score

Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020

Field 1 (Livestream)
9:00 a.m. | Baylor v Missouri State | Live Stats / Box Score
Noon | Auburn v Illinois | Live Stats / Box Score

Field 2 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Missouri v Louisville | Live Stats / Box Score
Noon | North Carolina State v Mississippi State| Live Stats / Box Score

Field 3 (Livestream)
10:00 a.m. | Ole Miss v Liberty | Live Stats / Box Score
Noon | Notre Dame v South Alabama| Live Stats / Box Score / Listen

Field 4 (Livestream)
11:00 a.m. | Kentucky v Minnesota| Live Stats / Box Score

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