Mississippi State Softball Opens 2026 Season at Getterman Classic in Waco

Waco, Texas — No. 22/24 Mississippi State is set to begin the 2026 softball season at the Getterman Classic on Thursday. The Bulldogs will face host Baylor at 6:30 p.m. CT and play additional games against Northwestern State, Wichita State, and New Mexico through the weekend, according to team officials.

MSU returns to Waco for the first time since 2021, when the team played in Waco, San Marcos, and Austin over a weekend. Thursday marks the start of the Bulldogs’ 35th season. The team has a 24-10 record in season openers and has won its last 12 straight season openers, sources said.

The Bulldogs bring back 13 players, including four starters and three pitchers. They also added five transfer players from a highly ranked class, with five of six earning all-conference honors last season, according to team notes.

Head coach Samantha Ricketts is close to reaching her 200th victory at Mississippi State. She has 198 wins in 317 games, according to team officials. Ricketts has broken the program record for career-ranked wins by a coach, with more than half of her 45 ranked wins coming since 2024, sources added.

In the series history, MSU is 0-7 overall against Baylor, with their last meeting on Feb. 28, 2021, in Waco resulting in a 10-6 loss. The Bulldogs also face Northwestern State, Wichita State, and New Mexico for the first time this season. MSU’s home opener is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10, against Southern Miss, broadcast on SEC Network+.

Additional information about the teams and schedule is available on team websites and social media channels, where updates and live coverage are provided.

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