CLEARWATER, Fla. – 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 RBI.
The 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 RBI. 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.
For all the results, box scores and other tournament information visit the Tournament Central.
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.
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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