STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State softball team reached a new level in conference play in 2025. Never before had an MSU team finished above .500 in the daunting SEC, but the Bulldogs managed to finish 13-11 in the first year with Texas and Oklahoma in the mix, registering 11 ranked wins on the way to a 39-19 finish.
The record is tied for the third-best in program history, but still fell short of a goal that head coach Samantha Ricketts has for the team in her seventh season as head coach.
The Bulldogs want to host an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history, but that will require continuing a three-year trend of building on the previous year’s record.
“We work really hard on our culture, and not just the way they’re getting to know each other, but the way they push each other and elevate not only themselves and this program,” Ricketts said. “I think that’s something we’ll see early on from this group.”
“The coaches do a great job of recruiting players who want to work hard, and it shows on the field, but we also push each other,” senior Nadia Barbary said. The veteran at third base has seen the team improve each year since her arrival in 2022, and the group is confident they can do so again.
“We’re all amazing players, and knowing that we want to better the program and have a winning culture here, and keep the family environment,” she said. “That just pushes us.”
End goal: OKC
Improving each year didn’t come naturally for the program; it took a lot of focus on culture and building a group with the right balance each year through recruiting and the transfer portal.
“I think it’s a big part of our program and culture, trying to leave the program better than you found it. Whether it’s players who are here for one year or four,” Ricketts said. “It’s continuing to elevate us, whether through the visibility and the rankings and televised games and awards, but in reality, it’s what does the team do, and what can they do as a group.”
The Bulldogs enter the season ranked in the Top 25 and feature several players on preseason watchlists. The reputation was earned with end-of-season honors and players who have made their way into the very limited ranks of professionals in a growing sport. All of that is part of the goal in growing the program and the sport at MSU, but the end goal is to see the program host the highest level of competition at Nusz Park and, eventually, in Oklahoma City in June.
“The individual accolades they receive every year are great, but it’s where we finish, and I think for this group, the goal is we want to continue to push to host a regional,” Ricketts added. “That’s something the last couple years we’ve been knocking on the door, and that goal doesn’t change for us. They’ve talked a lot about Oklahoma City and making the push, having that expectation. It’s changed the way they’ve practiced, there’s a little bit more intensity in the day to day when things could be tough for long days in October, November, remembering what they’re playing for in June. I think the group has attacked that mindset and ultimately, the goal of this program is to get there for the first time and do things that we haven’t done before.”
Big shoes to fill in the circle
To build on 2025’s success, Ricketts and the coaching staff looked to the circle and the departure of ace Raelin Chaffin. While the senior was a lights-out performer for the Bulldogs, there wasn’t enough depth behind her for the team to rely on. Chaffin was 22nd in the nation in pitching appearances with 43 (in 58 games), and the staff wants to find a more balanced approach.
“Definitely sharing the innings, that’s the goal,” Ricketts said about the approach to pitching this year. “Raelin gave us everything she had, but by the end of the year that’s a lot of innings on one arm. You could see the fatigue, especially in the postseason for her, so we didn’t want to do that again.”
The Bulldogs focused heavily on the pitching staff in the transfer portal to bring in a mix of players to develop and players who can contribute right away. Peja Goold is someone who was brought in with that in mind, and someone Ricketts hopes can be a leader immediately, along with returning starter Delainey Everett and a young group of talented underclassmen.
“That was a focus for the staff this summer, going out and making sure we had some depth in the circle and that we could be pitching in May the same way that we do early on in the season, particularly in February and the beginning of SEC play. I like the group we have. I think they provide a lot of different looks, and provide Delainey some support in the circle.”
Opening Day
MSU starts the 2026 campaign today on the road in Waco at the Getterman Classic. They’ll face hosts Baylor at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Friday doubleheader and a final outing on Saturday to wrap up opening weekend.
“I think opening right away with Baylor, it’s an automatic test,” Ricketts said. “They’re a strong team every time we face them. I think they’re always pushing for regional, super regionals, they’re just that postseason type of team every year and they’ve got a lot of experience, even if it’s a bit more transfer-based. A lot of talent, and I really respect what Coach Moore has done there over the years. He’s a Mississippi native so he loves having us come to town as well and continuing to elevate the visibility of softball. To get our game out there on the first day of opening weekend is going to be a lot of fun.”
The Bulldogs will begin their Friday doubleheader against Northwestern State on Friday at 10 a.m., followed by Wichita State at 12:30 p.m., and face off with New Mexico at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
All games of the Getterman Classic will stream exclusively on ESPN+.
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