Postseason success has often eluded Mississippi State softball.
The Bulldogs have reached the NCAA tournament 20 times in their 44-year history, but only advanced to the Super Regional round once before this season. The lone appearance? A two-game sweep in 2022 at the hands of the University of Arizona, a series in which State was outscored 10-3 through two contests.
But in the Bulldogs’ second-ever appearance, facing one of college softball’s most-feared programs, State did the improbable.
The Bulldogs rallied from four- and three-run deficits in Game 1 of the Norman Super Regional against Oklahoma on Friday to earn their first-ever Super Regional win. MSU fell flat Saturday, falling to Oklahoma 7-1, tying the series at one apiece.
With their backs against the wall Sunday, MSU made program history. Junior hurler Delainey Everett paved the way to State’s first Women’s College World Series appearance with a complete game shutout in a 6-0 win against the Sooners.
“When nobody believed in us, they believed in themselves. The 25 that were in the dugout and the parents over in the stands,” said head coach Samantha Ricketts. “I thought we came out loose, free and wanted to leave everything we had out on the field.”
State’s win was not only implausible considering the program’s history, but nearly impossible because of who they beat.
Oklahoma is an eight-time national champion, including a run of four straight championships from 2021 to 2024. The Sooners had not missed a WCWS or lost a Super Regional game since 2015.
State became the first team to beat Oklahoma in a Regional or Super Regional game when trailing by four runs in Game 1. Ricketts played at Oklahoma from 2006 to 2009 and became the first player coached by Oklahoma’s Patty Gasso to beat her former coach as a head coach. The Bulldogs’ 6-0 lead was the biggest deficit Oklahoma had faced in five seasons, according to the ESPN broadcast of Sunday’s game.
“An underdog is still a frickin’ dog,” Everett said on Sunday’s ESPN broadcast, her teammates behind her hoisting the program’s first super regional trophy. “Everything that we worked for came through today, and we ain’t done yet.”
Ricketts said MSU welcomed the “David vs. Goliath” mentality in the super regional.
“(We) just knew that all the pressure was in (Oklahoma’s) dugout,” Ricketts said. “We just had to go out there and play Mississippi State softball.”
Bulldogs break through
Facing softball’s best is something this State squad has done all year. The Bulldogs played 28 ranked games this season and postseason. MSU had a stretch from March 29 to April 26 in which they played 15 straight ranked games. The Bulldogs rank 19th out of 308 in the country in rating percentage index, which ranks teams on strength of schedule and strength of record.
State had to face 12th-ranked Oregon on its turf in the regional round, taking the Ducks down 4-0 with a no-hitter from SEC Newcomer of the Year Alyssa Faircloth.
Faircloth, Everett, senior pitcher Peja Goold, sophomore pitcher Leila Ammon and the defense behind them are the story for State. MSU boasts a team ERA of 2.29, a mark that is third best in the SEC and eighth best in the country. The Bulldogs’ .983 fielding percentage is the third best in the nation.
State allowed just two total runs in its three games of the regional round. The Bulldogs’ defense faltered in the first two games of the supers, allowing 16 total runs, but when they needed it most, they became the first team to shut out Oklahoma since 2019.
Senior infielder Nadia Barbary leads the offensive charge for Mississippi State. The second-team All SEC member holds a .330 batting average, .398 on-base percentage and leads the Bulldogs in RBI with 41. She’s tied for the team lead in home runs with senior outfielder Kiarra Sells, who has 30 RBI and a .329 batting average to her name.
MSU’s historic WCWS berth is being felt beyond Bulldog softball. In a press conference regarding MSU baseball’s placement in the NCAA baseball tournament, head coach Brian O’Connor opened up the talk with congratulations for their diamond-mates.
“What an awesome accomplishment for that coaching staff and that team to play in that first Women’s College World Series,” O’Connor said. “It can be a program changer, and I can tell you, us over here in baseball, we’re watching it very closely, and certainly very excited.”
State’s first-ever WCWS game will be against one of college softball’s newest powerhouses: Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are the reigning national runner-up and hold an impressive 57-7 record on the year.
Pitcher Nijaree Canady and two-way phenom Kaitlyn Terry helped the Red Raiders to the nation’s sixth-best ERA with a 2.12 mark. With a bat in her hand, Terry has led the Red Raiders to the country’s third-best scoring offense.
Texas Tech, like MSU, heads to Oklahoma City after winning their Super Regional on the road. The Red Raiders took the round in three games at Florida. Texas Tech scored 16 runs in the decisive Game 3.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
