Mobile, Ala. — Peja Goold pitched her fourth shutout of the year, helping No. 12 Mississippi State open the Jaguar Classic with a 1-0 win over New Mexico on Friday morning, according to the school’s athletics department.
Goold, who improved to 8-1 this season, struck out six Lobos and has allowed no more than two runs in any appearance. She now has five complete games this year and is 29-2 when recording at least five strikeouts since last season, the school said.
The Bulldogs left runners on base in the first and second innings but broke through in the third. Kiarra Sells doubled to center field to start the inning, then scored on Abby Grace Richardson’s two-out double to left-center. Mississippi State had other scoring opportunities but stranded runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth innings.
Goold retired the side on 10 pitches in the fifth and kept New Mexico off the board, working around a single and an error in the sixth. She completed the game with a perfect seventh inning.
For Mississippi State (20-2), Richardson doubled home the only run of the game, and Sells extended her hitting streak to 10 games. Sells and Xiane Romero each delivered extra-base hits, and Richardson recorded her team-leading 11th extra-base hit this season.
The Bulldogs continue their tournament schedule Saturday, facing New Mexico at 10 a.m. CT, their third meeting of the season. They will also play Samford at 12:30 p.m. CT, with both games available on ESPN+. The team’s next game against South Alabama is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT today.
Mississippi State’s pitcher Peja Goold was credited with the win, while Caitlin Benningfield took the loss for New Mexico. The Bulldogs are set to face South Alabama later today and continue play at the tournament through the weekend, according to the school’s schedule.
