Mississippi State Softball Edges Saint Mary’s in Extra Innings
EUGENE, Ore. — Mississippi State’s softball team won its NCAA Tournament opener in dramatic fashion, defeating Saint Mary’s 3-2 in eight innings during the Eugene Regional on Friday night. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 20, overcame an early two-run deficit to secure the victory.
The Gaels took an early lead with a run in the top of the first inning and added another in the fourth. Mississippi State responded in the bottom of the fourth, with Nadia Barbary hitting a solo home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Bulldogs tied the game in the fifth on a ground ball that allowed Kinley Keller to score after an error by the shortstop.
In the eighth inning, Barbary singled to right field, and the ball got past the outfielder, allowing Gabby Schaeffer to score the winning run from first. Barbary’s performance was pivotal, as she collected her 200th career hit with a solo homer and later drove in the game-winning run.
Mississippi State’s pitchers, Peja Goold and Alyssa Faircloth, combined for 11 strikeouts in a pitching duel. Goold struck out nine over 6.1 innings and allowed only the first-inning home run. Faircloth came in late, striking out two and securing the win in relief, including a key eighth-inning performance.
Head coach Samantha Ricketts praised her team’s resilience, stating, “I’m just really proud of our fight and staying in it after getting down early. The energy and focus in the dugout were outstanding, and Peja [Goold] really settled in. Overall, it was a team effort.”
With the victory, Mississippi State matched its highest single-season win total under Ricketts at 39 wins. The team now has a chance to reach its third 40-win season in program history with a win in the next game against the winner of Oregon and Idaho State.
The Bulldogs’ win marked only the second extra-inning victory in NCAA Tournament history for the program. Barbary also tied for the team lead with 14 multi-hit games and became the ninth MSU player with multiple NCAA Tournament homers.
MSU will play in the winner’s bracket Saturday at 4 p.m. CT, facing either Oregon or Idaho State. A win would send the Bulldogs to the regional final on Sunday.
Source: Original Article
