Sunday, February 9
Clearwater, Fla.
12 p.m.
Mississippi State
4-1
3
vs
0
#19 Nebraska
3-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Nebraska
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
Mississippi State
0
3
0
0
0
0
X
3
6
1
Chaffin Shuts Out No. 19 Nebraska For Third Ranked Win On Opening Weekend
February 09, 2025 | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Raelin Chaffin made her presence known at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, and she capped three-day performance with a complete-game shutout of No. 19 Nebraska as No. 24 Mississippi State claimed a 3-0 victory Sunday.
Chaffin went 4-0 in the tournament without allowing an earned run in 22.2 innings pitched. She tossed two complete games against the Cornhuskers (3-2) and No. 13 Texas Tech. The Bossier City, Louisiana, native struck out 20 batters while walking just five.
"Raelin had just a phenomenal weekend for us," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "You know, she transferred in and wanted the opportunity to pitch in her last season, and I think that's exactly what she got. She's not afraid. She's a competitor. She's ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone. She's done such a great job, even in her fourth season, of continuing to add to what she could throw, to add to her pitches and mixing speeds. She's just not afraid of any count or throwing her off-speeds or change-ups. She was still throwing with velocity in her fourth outing of the weekend in the seventh inning. I'm just so proud of her and how she was able to just come out and battle with the poise, the composure and the competitive fire. You could see it. It reminds me a lot of how Coach T [Taryne Mowatt-McKinney] was as the player, and I think the two of them work together really well. Coach T called a couple of great games for her, and I'm proud of her outings this weekend. You're not going to find anyone better. She beat three ranked teams, 0.00 ERA, She really did everything she needed to do this weekend for us. It was a great start."
On Sunday, she added six strikeouts to the ledger while scattering five base runners. She did not allow a walk.
Offensively, Sierra Sacco continued to set the tone for the Bulldogs, driving in the game's only runs with a bases-clearing, three-RBI double in the second inning. She finished the day 3-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases.
"Sierra's one of the best hitters in the country, and she doesn't get enough love for what she can do for us. She's got speed. She's got power. She's clutch beyond all belief and just came up big for us again with two-out RBIs. She's definitely the offensive MVP of the weekend. I think even more so than what she does at the plaate is what she does behind closed doors and as a leader. She's really done a great job of just instilling that competitive fire, the intensity of this team. I think they all play off of her, and it's good to see her getting her chance to shine and being able to come up big over and over for this team."
Raelin Chaffin on how her mindset made a difference this weekend…
"I just think all around the confidence that my coaches have put into me just even in the fall. I didn't have a whole lot to show for in the fall, but the whole time they just kept reinforcing that they brought me here for a reason. I think just carrying that out to the field and knowing that they want me here, they have confidence in me and they're going to let me get whatever I've got to get out and keep me in the game and let me ride."
Jessie Blaine on catching Raelin Chaffin…
"She's amped up and was ready to play, so velocity was there. She did great job this weekend of working with the umpires and what was available for her to paint the zone. She made adjustments late into the game to defend against batters with really good plans. Overall, she just did a really great job."
Morgan Bernardini – Extended her hitting streak to a career-long three games.
Jessie Blaine – Delivered her first double of the season.
Raelin Chaffin – Earned her fourth win of the season … became just the second Bulldog since at least 2003 to open her MSU career with wins in her first four appearances (Josey Marron, 2023) … has yet to allow an earned run in 22.2 innings this season which stands as the longest streak to open a Bulldog career since at least 2003 (Previously: Cori Cooper, 21.2 IP, 2016) … struck out five and walked none.
Sierra Sacco – Drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double … went a perfect 3-for-3 for her second multi-hit game of the season … stole two bases … collected four doubles in five games during opening weekend … leads the team with seven RBIs.
Kiarra Sells – Had a hit in every game this weekend and is riding a career-long five-game hitting streak … finished the weekend ranked second on the team with a .417 batting average, .563 on-base percentage and 1.063 OPS.
Jessie Blaine hit a leadoff double into left-center field, and Gretta Grassel pinch ran for her. With one out, Riley Hull walked, and Morgan Bernardini singled to load the bases. With two outs, Sierra Sacco hit a bases-clearing double over the left fielder's head.
No. 19 Nebraska 0, No. 24 Mississippi State 3
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Chaffin went 4-0 in the tournament without allowing an earned run in 22.2 innings pitched. She tossed two complete games against the Cornhuskers (3-2) and No. 13 Texas Tech. The Bossier City, Louisiana, native struck out 20 batters while walking just five.
"Raelin had just a phenomenal weekend for us," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "You know, she transferred in and wanted the opportunity to pitch in her last season, and I think that's exactly what she got. She's not afraid. She's a competitor. She's ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone. She's done such a great job, even in her fourth season, of continuing to add to what she could throw, to add to her pitches and mixing speeds. She's just not afraid of any count or throwing her off-speeds or change-ups. She was still throwing with velocity in her fourth outing of the weekend in the seventh inning. I'm just so proud of her and how she was able to just come out and battle with the poise, the composure and the competitive fire. You could see it. It reminds me a lot of how Coach T [Taryne Mowatt-McKinney] was as the player, and I think the two of them work together really well. Coach T called a couple of great games for her, and I'm proud of her outings this weekend. You're not going to find anyone better. She beat three ranked teams, 0.00 ERA, She really did everything she needed to do this weekend for us. It was a great start."
On Sunday, she added six strikeouts to the ledger while scattering five base runners. She did not allow a walk.
Offensively, Sierra Sacco continued to set the tone for the Bulldogs, driving in the game's only runs with a bases-clearing, three-RBI double in the second inning. She finished the day 3-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Sierra Sacco's offense…"Sierra's one of the best hitters in the country, and she doesn't get enough love for what she can do for us. She's got speed. She's got power. She's clutch beyond all belief and just came up big for us again with two-out RBIs. She's definitely the offensive MVP of the weekend. I think even more so than what she does at the plaate is what she does behind closed doors and as a leader. She's really done a great job of just instilling that competitive fire, the intensity of this team. I think they all play off of her, and it's good to see her getting her chance to shine and being able to come up big over and over for this team."
Raelin Chaffin on how her mindset made a difference this weekend…
"I just think all around the confidence that my coaches have put into me just even in the fall. I didn't have a whole lot to show for in the fall, but the whole time they just kept reinforcing that they brought me here for a reason. I think just carrying that out to the field and knowing that they want me here, they have confidence in me and they're going to let me get whatever I've got to get out and keep me in the game and let me ride."
Jessie Blaine on catching Raelin Chaffin…
"She's amped up and was ready to play, so velocity was there. She did great job this weekend of working with the umpires and what was available for her to paint the zone. She made adjustments late into the game to defend against batters with really good plans. Overall, she just did a really great job."
Quick Hitters
Taking Down Top Teams – State claimed multiple ranked wins on opening weekend for the only the second time in program history and first time since 2002 (vs. No. 17 Texas Tech, 8-1; vs. No. 1 Arizona, 7-1).Morgan Bernardini – Extended her hitting streak to a career-long three games.
Jessie Blaine – Delivered her first double of the season.
Raelin Chaffin – Earned her fourth win of the season … became just the second Bulldog since at least 2003 to open her MSU career with wins in her first four appearances (Josey Marron, 2023) … has yet to allow an earned run in 22.2 innings this season which stands as the longest streak to open a Bulldog career since at least 2003 (Previously: Cori Cooper, 21.2 IP, 2016) … struck out five and walked none.
Sierra Sacco – Drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double … went a perfect 3-for-3 for her second multi-hit game of the season … stole two bases … collected four doubles in five games during opening weekend … leads the team with seven RBIs.
Kiarra Sells – Had a hit in every game this weekend and is riding a career-long five-game hitting streak … finished the weekend ranked second on the team with a .417 batting average, .563 on-base percentage and 1.063 OPS.
Scoring Recap
Bottom 2Jessie Blaine hit a leadoff double into left-center field, and Gretta Grassel pinch ran for her. With one out, Riley Hull walked, and Morgan Bernardini singled to load the bases. With two outs, Sierra Sacco hit a bases-clearing double over the left fielder's head.
No. 19 Nebraska 0, No. 24 Mississippi State 3
Next Up
The Bulldogs will open their home slate at Nusz Park by hosting The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial presented by Newk's Eatery on Feb. 13-16. Mississippi State will welcome Southern Illinois, North Texas, Bradley and Georgia Tech to Starkville, and the Bulldogs are set to play five games over the four-day event.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chaffin, Raelin (4-0)
L: Kylee Magee (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Ava Kuszak 1 ; Olivia DiNardo 1
Base Running:
SB: Abbie Squier 1
Batting:
2B: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1
RBI: Sacco, Sierra 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Grassel, Gretta 1 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1
SB: Sacco, Sierra 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballC/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
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