Mississippi State Softball Coach Samantha Ricketts Sets Fastest 200 Wins Mark

WACO, Texas — Mississippi State softball coach Samantha Ricketts achieved a milestone Friday, becoming the fastest in program history to reach 200 wins. She accomplished the feat in just 319 games during the Bulldogs’ doubleheader at the Getterman Classic.

Ricketts’s team (3-0) opened with a 9-3 win over Northwestern State, then secured a 5-2 extra-inning victory against Wichita State. The Bulldogs relied on strong hitting in the first game and clutch pitching in the second, according to game summaries.

In the first game, Taylor Troutman homered twice in her first two official at-bats, driving in three runs. Xiane Romero also hit a home run, and Anna Carder contributed two RBIs with singles. The Bulldogs scored nine runs on nine hits against Northwestern State.

Against Wichita State, the game was tied 1-1 after seven innings. Mississippi State broke the tie with four runs in the eighth inning, highlighted by Nadia Barbary’s three-run homer, which proved to be the game-winner. Barbary finished with four RBIs, and Morgan Stiles extended her hitting streak to seven games.

Following the wins, Ricketts expressed pride in her team’s resilience. “That was a gritty, resilient win,” she said, noting the team’s ability to answer back and manufacture runs. She also praised pitchers and defensive plays, including a double play and a pickoff.

Barbary, who tied the game with a ground out earlier and later homered, spoke about her message to teammates during extra innings. “Stay calm. We do our best when we’re calm,” she said. “Luckily, I got under it enough, and the ball went flying.”

Mississippi State returns to action Saturday morning against New Mexico at 9:30 a.m. CT, with the game broadcast on ESPN+. The Bulldogs’ season continues with more games at the Getterman Classic.

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