STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State announced Friday its new $6 million softball facility will carry the name of alumni couple Tommy and Terri Nusz of Houston, Texas, and be known as Nusz Park.

The Nusz' lead gift for the softball facility is part of a significant contribution from them for Infinite Impact: The Mississippi State University Campaign. The campaign gift continues their longtime support of the land-grant institution and will benefit athletics, academics, and other areas of MSU.

“This gift from Tommy and Terri Nusz will help Mississippi State provide one of the greatest college sports experiences for alumni, fans and talented student athletes, and we are extremely grateful for their significant support of our university,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

“Head coach Vann Stuedeman and I discussed the dream of a new home for Mississippi State softball the very first time we met,” said MSU Athletic Director Scott Stricklin . “The generosity of Tommy and Terri Nusz has made that dream a reality. I am humbled by their support, and the support of all Bulldog Club members, and thrilled that Bulldog softball has this beautiful facility to create great experiences in for many years to come.”

The petroleum engineering degree Tommy Nusz earned in 1982 gave him a great basis for an over 30-year successful career in the oil and gas industry. He is CEO and chairman of the board of Houston-based, NYSE listed Oasis Petroleum, Inc., the independent exploration and production company he co-founded in 2007. Nusz previously served as a vice president for several divisions of Burlington Resources prior to its acquisition by Conoco Phillips. Earlier, he worked as an engineer for Superior Oil, Mobil Oil and Meridian Oil. He also is a National Petroleum Council member.

Fellow class of 1982 graduate Terri Foster Nusz earned a degree in interior design. She started a design company after college, but today stays busy with the family's equine interests. Terri oversees the family's various interests in equine sport including TnT Equine Partners, Amalaya Investments and Oasis Stables.

The Nusz connection with Mississippi State spans three generations, beginning when Tommy's dad, Dave Nusz, was hired as a defensive backfield coach for the Bulldog football team from 1970-1972. Because of the family's passion for sports, the facility gift extends to this area and builds on past contributions to support numerous sports at MSU.

“The new softball and tennis facility is an opportunity for us to continue to improve the facilities and experience of female athletes at Mississippi State with our support,” said Tommy Nusz. “Terri and I have always had a passion for supporting the university - it is such an important part of our lives.”

The Bulldogs open their 2016 season and new park on Thursday, Feb. 11 against Georgia Southern as part of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on SEC Network+.

For more information on the MSU softball program, follow “HailStateSB” on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also find all-access coverage of the Bulldogs on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”