Mississippi State softball advances to second Super Regional with win over Saint Mary’s
EUGENE, Ore. — Mississippi State’s softball team secured its second Super Regional appearance in program history Sunday night with a 5-0 victory over Saint Mary’s in the Eugene Regional.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 20, took control early and maintained their lead, with Alyssa Faircloth shuttling the mound for three wins during regional play. Faircloth struck out a tournament-record 26 batters in 15.2 scoreless innings, including two complete-game shutouts and a no-hitter, as she allowed just two hits during the regional.
“I just went out there and did it three outs at a time again. I don’t want to get too big or look too far ahead,” Faircloth said, according to team sources. “That was their message before we even left the hotel, which was like ‘Let’s take it one pitch at a time, one out at a time,’ rather than looking ahead. So, I’m just staying present in the moment and trusting the girls behind me.”
Offensively, Nadia Barbary provided the early spark with a two-run homer in the first inning. She became the seventh Bulldog in program history with multiple home runs in a single NCAA tournament. Tatum Silva added a three-run shot in the sixth inning, providing insurance for the Bulldogs. Faircloth’s 14 strikeouts in the game set a school record for a single NCAA tournament game, with eight of nine Saint Mary’s hitters struck out at least once.
Mississippi State now prepares to face No. 3 overall seed Oklahoma in a best-of-three series for a spot in the Women’s College World Series. The Bulldogs have tied their 2008 season for the second-highest win total in school history with 41 victories, tying the 2008 team.
Head coach Samantha Ricketts praised her team’s resilience and fight during the regional run. “I’m just really proud of the way that they’ve continued to fight and grind all season,” she said. “The opportunity to come out here and just put it all together at the right time is really special. Alyssa led the way for us, and everyone contributed in big moments.”
Tatum Silva reflected on her second career home run, noting her increased confidence since transferring to Mississippi State last year. “I’ve been expecting more for myself and trusting the process,” she said. Nadia Barbary, a four-year Bulldog, expressed pride in her team’s cohesion and progress from a team that started at the bottom to reaching the Super Regionals.
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