Mississippi State Pitcher Alyssa Faircloth Named D1Softball All-American

Mississippi State pitcher Alyssa Faircloth has been named a Second Team All-American by D1Softball, the organization announced Thursday. The junior from Northport, Alabama, led the Bulldogs in strikeouts and ERA during conference play and delivered a historic performance in the Eugene Regional.

Faircloth’s recognition marks the 34th All-America honor in Mississippi State softball history and the 12th for an individual. She and teammate Peja Goold are the first Bulldog pitchers to earn All-America honors since 2002 and are the only pair to do so in the same season. Goold was named a Second Team selection by Softball America last week.

Both players received NFCA All-Region honors and are eligible for the upcoming NFCA All-America teams, which will be announced soon. Faircloth also received multiple SEC awards, including Newcomer of the Year from various outlets.

Faircloth has appeared in 40 games, starting 24, and leads MSU with 16 wins, 175.2 innings pitched, and four saves. She ranks among the nation’s top strikeout pitchers, with 264 strikeouts — fifth in the NCAA and a school record. She also ranks fifth nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (10.52) and fourth in strikeout rate (37.3%).

The Northport native set a school single-season record with 68 strikeouts looking and boasts a .181 batting average against, which would be top-five in MSU single-season history. Her postseason performance has been exceptional, setting NCAA Tournament records for wins, strikeouts, strikeouts looking, complete games, and shutouts. Faircloth threw the first postseason no-hitter in program history against No. 12 Oregon and followed with 14 strikeouts to clinch the regional title against Saint Mary’s California.

Mississippi State will make its first Women’s College World Series appearance Thursday, facing No. 4 Texas Tech at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.

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