Mississippi State faced one of the toughest opening weekend schedules in Division I softball.
The No. 24 preseason-ranked Bulldogs were scheduled against a trio of top-20 foes at the NFCA Lead-Off Classic in Clearwater, Florida. And the season opener was a marquee matchup against No. 13 Texas Tech with the reigning Player of the Year, pitcher Nijaree Canady.
It took an eighth inning Friday but Mississippi State upset the Red Raiders, 3-1.
The Bulldogs suffered their only loss of the weekend later Friday night, 8-0, to No. 7 Duke.
On Saturday, Mississippi State defeated Bethune-Cookman (3-2) and Penn State (6-1) then closed out the invitational with a 3-0 win over No. 19 Nebraska.
Shelbyville graduate Kylee Edwards belted her first home run of the season for Mississippi State Saturday in the win over Bethune-Cookman (main photo). She had a double in the win over Penn State.
Here is a look at other Shelby County graduates competing at the collegiate level.
Karissa Hamilton
The Shelbyville graduate also was in Clearwater with the Kentucky Wildcats for season-opening action.
Kentucky started the season 4-0 before falling Sunday to Duke, 6-3. Hamilton was 0-for-1 with a walk in the loss.
The Wildcats won their season opener Friday over Pittsburgh, 7-0. Hamilton delivered a pinch-hit double and scored on a wild pitch.
Kentucky followed that with a 12-4 win over Notre Dame. Hamilton was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
On Saturday, Kentucky defeated Morgan State (12-0) and Southern Miss (13-3).
Olivia Faust
The Triton Central graduate scored 15 points, pulled down five rebounds and had one assist Saturday in Marian’s 82-63 win at Huntington University.
The win improved the Knights to 19-5 (12-2 Crossroads League).
On Wednesday, Faust had seven points in a 77-45 win over Goshen.
Kyle Crim
The Morristown graduate had three points Saturday for Hanover College in a 71-70 win at Manchester.
The Panthers improved to 14-8 (10-5 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference).
Drake Moore
The Morristown graduate had two points and two rebounds Saturday for IU Kokomo in a 92-83 win at Midway University (Ky.).
On Feb. 4, IU Kokomo defeated IU Southeast, 73-49. Moore finished with four points, four rebounds and one assist.
The Cougars are 16-8 (7-5 River States Conference) this season.
Tenleigh Phelps and Lizzie Graham
Phelps, a Triton Central graduate, had 11 points, two rebounds, five assists and one steal Saturday for IU South Bend in a 65-50 victory at Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
On Wednesday, IU South Bend routed Calumet College of St. Joseph, 111-31. Phelps had 10 points, three rebounds and one assist.
Graham, a Triton Central graduate, scored 11 points for IU South Bend in the win.
The Titans are 17-6 (10-6 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference).
Bella Larrison
The Waldron graduate finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and one block Wednesday for Anderson University in a 91-86 double-overtime loss at Manchester.
The Ravens bounced back Saturday and defeated Rose-Hulman, 75-68. Larrison had eight points and eight rebounds for the Ravens, who improved to 11-10 (8-7 HCAC).
Rylie Stephens
The Triton Central graduate had four points and six rebounds Saturday in West Florida’s 67-52 loss at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.
The Argos were defeated Thursday at Trevecca Nazarene, 68-45. Stephens finished with one point, four rebounds and one assist.
West Florida is 14-8 (10-6 Gulf South Conference).
Maya Chandler
The Triton Central graduate finished with six points, three rebounds and three assists Saturday in Miami’s 60-59 overtime win at Louisiana.
On Wednesday, Chandler had 13 points, two rebounds and two steals in a 68-45 win over Eastern Michigan.
The Redhawks are 14-8 (6-5 Mid-American Conference).
Kilikina Schultz
The Shelbyville graduate placed 17th in the 60 meters (8.89 seconds) and 10th in the 60 hurdles (10.44) Saturday for Muskingum University at the Bob Shannon Invitational in Granville, Ohio.
Allison Batten
The Morristown graduate finished 16th in the 400 meters (1:06.87) Friday for Trine University in the Mrs. G Invitational in Angola, Indiana.
Anderson Invitational
Six area athletes representing three universities and college competed Saturday in Anderson.
Madalyn Hudnall
The Waldron graduate placed third in the shot put (37 feet, 2.25 inches) and seventh in the weight throw (42-3.5) for Mount St. Joseph.
Michael Fox
The Shelbyville graduate finished 10th in the 1-mile run (4:42.11) for Manchester University.
Connor Duncan
The Shelbyville graduate placed 30th in the weight throw (34-0.25) for Franklin College.
Elijah Von Werder
The Shelbyville graduate finished seventh in the 1,000 meters (2:52.33) and was part of Franklin College’s fifth-place finish in the 4x400 relay.
Bailey Stamper
The Triton Central graduate placed ninth in the shot put (30-11) and 17th in the weight throw (24-4.25) for Franklin College.
Brayden Wilkins
The Triton Central graduate finished runner-up in the 60 meters (7.01) and established a new school record at Franklin College.
Wilkins teamed with Steven Scott, Nathan Vujaklija and Logan McIntosh to win the 4x200 relay in a new school record time of 1:31.74.
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