2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic
Thursday, February 6-Sunday, February 9, 2025
Clearwater, Fla. (Eddie C. Moore Complex)

Tournament Central
 
Friday, Feb. 7
Vs. Notre Dame | 10 a.m. | Live Stats | Video | Radio
Vs. Pittsburgh | 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Video | Radio
 
Saturday, Feb. 8
Vs. Kentucky | 12 p.m. | Live Stats | Video | Radio
Vs. Bethune-Cookman | 6 p.m. | Live Stats | Video | Radio
 
Sunday, Feb. 9
Vs. Marshall | 10 a.m. | Live Stats | Video | Radio
 

BALTIMORE, Md. (Feb. 6, 2025)--Morgan State softball saw a lot of success in 2024 finishing the season 35-20 overall and 18-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Winning its second MEAC championship in a span of four years made MSU among the favorites to pull it off again this spring. The Lady Bears were picked second behind Beltway rival Howard and ahead of crosstown rival Coppin State in the recent MEAC Preseason Poll.
 
Among the reasons why the Lady Bears can repeat starts in the circle with graduate student pitcher/utility player Victoria Fletcher. Fletcher was named the Preseason MEAC Player of the Year.
 
Morgan State head coach Larry Hineline stated about Victoria, "She is a great player, hitter and fielder. Her pitching has been pretty solid. She has a legit chance to be pitcher of the year."
 
"Victoria had great numbers last year. She finished fourth in the country in walks allowed per seven innings," added Hineline. "Victoria brings a strong game with her and we rely on her a lot. She is going to be an integral part of this team."
 
The other factor for the Lady Bears will be the speed that this team possesses. In this game, speed can be the difference that can win a team some games. It can also put pressure on opponents, which provides a huge advantage for MSU.
 
"We're going to run a lot. We got more speed. We worked a lot on that this fall," said Hineline. "We'll see how we run the bases (in terms of) taking the extra base and doing those kind of things that are emblematic of our team."
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That will be huge because Morgan State will be challenged immediately outside the conference in facing several "Power Four" teams, opening the season this weekend at the prestigious 22^nd National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Leadoff Classic, February 6-9 in Clearwater, Fla.
 
The four-day showcase of college softball features 17 programs from eight different conferences and will be held at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. It will be the first time in program history that the Lady Bears will compete in the Leadoff Classic.
 
Morgan State will face Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponents, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh on Friday, Southeast Conference (SEC) opponent Kentucky, followed by former MEAC stalwart, now Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) member Bethune-Cookman on Saturday and will close out the tournament on Sunday against Marshall.
 
Along the way, the Lady Bears will also face another ACC opponent in Syracuse at the Delaware Tournament (February 28-March 2) in Newark, Del.
 
Morgan State will open its home schedule at Lois T. Murray Field on Wednesday, February 19 with defending Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) champion Bowie State coming to town for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
 
Hineline mentions that the MEAC is always tough and even though they'll have a target on their back, Morgan State will be ready for the challenge.
 
"Everybody plays hard against us and that's good. We got to get used to that," says Hineline. "I think we got that understanding amongst us that we can't let down a little bit. Those teams are not letting down on us. That's why I play a difficult schedule early. It keeps us sharp."
 
 
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• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.