Mississippi State softball will kick off its 2027 season at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida, from Feb. 11-14, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The Bulldogs are scheduled to play five games in three days, beginning with a matchup against Long Island University at 2 p.m. CT on Feb. 11.
The team will also face Indiana at 5 p.m. on the opening day. On Friday, Mississippi State will continue with games against Virginia Tech at 9 a.m. and Liberty at noon. The Bulldogs will conclude the tournament with a game against Nebraska at noon on Saturday. The matchups with Liberty, Indiana, and Nebraska are rematches from previous years in Clearwater, while the teams have not faced LIU since 2014 and Virginia Tech since 2005, according to the NFCA.
This marks the Bulldogs’ 10th appearance at the Leadoff Classic, with an 8-1 record under head coach Samantha Ricketts, who led the team to victory in 2020. The tournament will also feature four teams from the 2026 Women’s College World Series.
New for 2027 is the ‘Elevate the Game Incentive,’ supported by a $100,000 donation from Tracy and John Sellers. This program rewards teams financially based on NFCA core values such as innovation, inspiration, and coaching excellence. The tournament champion will earn $50,000, with an additional $50,000 distributed across three award tracks for statistical leadership, sportsmanship, and coaching performance.
All games will be streamed live for free on the GameChanger app, with select contests televised nationally on MLB Network. Tickets are available for purchase on NFCA.org. Fans can follow Mississippi State softball updates on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram under the handle ‘HailStateSB.’
