Saturday, March 22
Evanston, Ill.
12 p.m.
Mississippi State
26-6
2
at
4
Northwestern
14-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Mississippi State
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
4
3
Northwestern
3
1
0
0
0
0
X
4
7
0
Sells’ Grand Slam Lifts State To Series-Clinching Run-Rule Victory
March 22, 2025 | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – The fourth inning belonged to the Bulldogs once again on Saturday. No. 18 Mississippi State sent 11 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs, in the inning to claim the series at Northwestern with a 12-2 run-rule victory.
Kiarra Sells launched MSU's second grand slam of the series in the big inning, which was started by back-to-back triples from Riley Hull and Morgan Stiles. Nadia Barbary and Kylee Edwards also finished the game with two RBIs.
"I love that response, the way we came out and just answering back after the loss in Game 1," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "You know, I think the game's funny that way, and things fall your way. We really played some of our poorest softball in the first couple of innings of Game 1. It was just good to just see the response, the maturity to know that we had to quickly forget it and get back to playing Mississippi State softball in Game 2."
Delainey Everett held the Wildcats (14-11, 4-0 Big Ten) in check on the way to her sixth win of the year. Everett struck out four batters while throwing 4.2 innings. Raelin Chaffin retired the only batter she faced to end the game.
The Bulldogs (27-6, 5-1 SEC) dropped the first game of the day by a 4-2 score. Blaine and Sells homered in that contest to provide all of MSU's scoring.
"Delainey looked great today. I mean she was really attacking. Her ball was moving. She just did such a great job of tying them up on their hands and then also being able to expand the zone. I thought she got ahead of a lot of batters, which was huge for her. I know it's an emotional weekend for her too. You know, just a lot of memories of her dad and everything, but I'm proud of her and the way she came out and fought for us in Game 3."
Samantha Ricketts on Kiarra Sells' home run onto the roof…
"A three-story roof. That was unreal. I couldn't tell you the last time I've seen a ball hit that far. I wish we had data on it because it had to be every bit of 290 [feet]. I though she did a great job of looking for a changeup that had kind of given us trouble all game, and she was on time and she did not miss."
Kiarra Sells on her home run onto the roof…
"I had absolutely no idea where it was going. I just saw the pitch was white and said, 'I'm going to hit it.' I didn't even see it land. I didn't know where it went. They were telling me where it went saying, 'It landed on top of the building.' I was like, 'Oh, really? That's cool!' I didn't even think that was possible."
Jessie Blaine – Hit her second home run of the season in Game 1 … collected two hits in Game 2.
Kylee Edwards – Collected an RBI single and an RBI walk in Game 2 … extended her hitting streak to five games, which is the longest active streak on the team … walked twice in the second game.
Paige Ernstes – Singled and walked to reach in both trips to the plate in Game 1.
Delainey Everett – Came one out shy of her first complete game of the season … earned her sixth win of the year and struck out four.
Riley Hull – Collected her third career triple and scored in Game 2.
Sierra Sacco – Saw her 29-game reached base streak end in Game 1, which was the seventh-longest in program history … went 3-for-3 in Game 2 with three runs scored … leads the team with 16 multi-hit games.
Kiarra Sells – Homered in both games … homer in Game 1 landed on the roof of Welsh-Ryan Arena in left field, making her the first visiting player to hit a ball onto the roof at Northwestern since 2023 … was hit by a pitch for the 11th time this season … hit a grand slam in Game 2 for a career-high four RBIs.
Lexi Sosa – Threw 3.0 scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits, in Game 1.
Morgan Stiles – Tripled and drove in a run in Game 2.
With one out, Kelsey Nader and Kaylie Avvisato collected back-to-back singles. With two outs, Bridget Donahey struck out swinging, but the ball escaped the catcher allowing her to reach and load the bases. Izzy Cunnea then tripled to score all three runners.
No. 18 Mississippi State 0, Northwestern 3
Bottom 2
With one out, Avery Garden reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. She then stole second. Grace Nieto singled to shortstop, but the first baseman mishandled the throw, allowing Garden to round third and score.
No. 18 Mississippi State 0, Northwestern 4
Top 4
With two outs, Kiarra Sells homered onto the roof of the basketball gym in left field.
No. 18 Mississippi State 1, Northwestern 4
Top 6
With one out, Jessie Blaine homered to center.
No. 18 Mississippi State 2, Northwestern 4
Sierra Sacco opened the ballgame with a single down the third base line. Nadia Barbary walked before Kylee Edwards singled with one out to score Sacco. Kiarra Sells walked to load the bases, and Morgan Bernardini hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Barbary.
No. 18 Mississippi State 2, Northwestern 0
Top 4
With one out, Riley Hull tripled. She scored when Morgan Stiles also tripled on the very next pitch. Sacco was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Barbary singled past the diving shortstop to score Stiles. Jessie Blaine beat out an infield single, which loaded the bases, and Gretta Grassel pinch ran at first base. Edwards walked, bringing Sacco home, before Kiarra Sells hit a grand slam. Bernardini singled to right field, and Kalani Sells came in to run at first.
No. 18 Mississippi State 9, Northwestern 0
Top 5
Pinch hitter Abby Grace Richardson reached on a throwing error. She advanced to second on Sacco's single to left. Barbary doubled to left-center, scoring Richardson. Sacco scored on Blaine's single to left-center. Edwards hit a ground ball to second base where Blaine was retired, but the throw across for the double play was wild. That allowed Barbary to score.
No. 18 Mississippi State 12, Northwestern 0
Bottom 5
Emma Raye singled off the third baseman and Ayana Lindsey pinch ran at first. Lindsey scored on Lauren Sciborski's double to right-center. Grace Minarovic pinch ran and reached third on a passed ball. With two outs, pinch hitter Lauren Curry was hit by a pitch. Kaylie Avvisato singled to left to score Minarovic from third.
No. 18 Mississippi State 12, Northwestern 2
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Kiarra Sells launched MSU's second grand slam of the series in the big inning, which was started by back-to-back triples from Riley Hull and Morgan Stiles. Nadia Barbary and Kylee Edwards also finished the game with two RBIs.
"I love that response, the way we came out and just answering back after the loss in Game 1," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "You know, I think the game's funny that way, and things fall your way. We really played some of our poorest softball in the first couple of innings of Game 1. It was just good to just see the response, the maturity to know that we had to quickly forget it and get back to playing Mississippi State softball in Game 2."
Delainey Everett held the Wildcats (14-11, 4-0 Big Ten) in check on the way to her sixth win of the year. Everett struck out four batters while throwing 4.2 innings. Raelin Chaffin retired the only batter she faced to end the game.
The Bulldogs (27-6, 5-1 SEC) dropped the first game of the day by a 4-2 score. Blaine and Sells homered in that contest to provide all of MSU's scoring.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Delainey Everett's outing…"Delainey looked great today. I mean she was really attacking. Her ball was moving. She just did such a great job of tying them up on their hands and then also being able to expand the zone. I thought she got ahead of a lot of batters, which was huge for her. I know it's an emotional weekend for her too. You know, just a lot of memories of her dad and everything, but I'm proud of her and the way she came out and fought for us in Game 3."
Samantha Ricketts on Kiarra Sells' home run onto the roof…
"A three-story roof. That was unreal. I couldn't tell you the last time I've seen a ball hit that far. I wish we had data on it because it had to be every bit of 290 [feet]. I though she did a great job of looking for a changeup that had kind of given us trouble all game, and she was on time and she did not miss."
Kiarra Sells on her home run onto the roof…
"I had absolutely no idea where it was going. I just saw the pitch was white and said, 'I'm going to hit it.' I didn't even see it land. I didn't know where it went. They were telling me where it went saying, 'It landed on top of the building.' I was like, 'Oh, really? That's cool!' I didn't even think that was possible."
Quick Hitters
Nadia Barbary – Recorded her 11th multi-hit game in Game 2 … drove in two runs and doubled.Jessie Blaine – Hit her second home run of the season in Game 1 … collected two hits in Game 2.
Kylee Edwards – Collected an RBI single and an RBI walk in Game 2 … extended her hitting streak to five games, which is the longest active streak on the team … walked twice in the second game.
Paige Ernstes – Singled and walked to reach in both trips to the plate in Game 1.
Delainey Everett – Came one out shy of her first complete game of the season … earned her sixth win of the year and struck out four.
Riley Hull – Collected her third career triple and scored in Game 2.
Sierra Sacco – Saw her 29-game reached base streak end in Game 1, which was the seventh-longest in program history … went 3-for-3 in Game 2 with three runs scored … leads the team with 16 multi-hit games.
Kiarra Sells – Homered in both games … homer in Game 1 landed on the roof of Welsh-Ryan Arena in left field, making her the first visiting player to hit a ball onto the roof at Northwestern since 2023 … was hit by a pitch for the 11th time this season … hit a grand slam in Game 2 for a career-high four RBIs.
Lexi Sosa – Threw 3.0 scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits, in Game 1.
Morgan Stiles – Tripled and drove in a run in Game 2.
Game 1 Scoring Recap
Bottom 1With one out, Kelsey Nader and Kaylie Avvisato collected back-to-back singles. With two outs, Bridget Donahey struck out swinging, but the ball escaped the catcher allowing her to reach and load the bases. Izzy Cunnea then tripled to score all three runners.
No. 18 Mississippi State 0, Northwestern 3
Bottom 2
With one out, Avery Garden reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. She then stole second. Grace Nieto singled to shortstop, but the first baseman mishandled the throw, allowing Garden to round third and score.
No. 18 Mississippi State 0, Northwestern 4
Top 4
With two outs, Kiarra Sells homered onto the roof of the basketball gym in left field.
No. 18 Mississippi State 1, Northwestern 4
Top 6
With one out, Jessie Blaine homered to center.
No. 18 Mississippi State 2, Northwestern 4
Game 2 Scoring Recap
Top 1Sierra Sacco opened the ballgame with a single down the third base line. Nadia Barbary walked before Kylee Edwards singled with one out to score Sacco. Kiarra Sells walked to load the bases, and Morgan Bernardini hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Barbary.
No. 18 Mississippi State 2, Northwestern 0
Top 4
With one out, Riley Hull tripled. She scored when Morgan Stiles also tripled on the very next pitch. Sacco was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Barbary singled past the diving shortstop to score Stiles. Jessie Blaine beat out an infield single, which loaded the bases, and Gretta Grassel pinch ran at first base. Edwards walked, bringing Sacco home, before Kiarra Sells hit a grand slam. Bernardini singled to right field, and Kalani Sells came in to run at first.
No. 18 Mississippi State 9, Northwestern 0
Top 5
Pinch hitter Abby Grace Richardson reached on a throwing error. She advanced to second on Sacco's single to left. Barbary doubled to left-center, scoring Richardson. Sacco scored on Blaine's single to left-center. Edwards hit a ground ball to second base where Blaine was retired, but the throw across for the double play was wild. That allowed Barbary to score.
No. 18 Mississippi State 12, Northwestern 0
Bottom 5
Emma Raye singled off the third baseman and Ayana Lindsey pinch ran at first. Lindsey scored on Lauren Sciborski's double to right-center. Grace Minarovic pinch ran and reached third on a passed ball. With two outs, pinch hitter Lauren Curry was hit by a pitch. Kaylie Avvisato singled to left to score Minarovic from third.
No. 18 Mississippi State 12, Northwestern 2
Next Up
The Bulldogs will take an in-state trip to Southern Miss on March 26. First pitch against the Golden Eagles is set for 6 p.m. CT. From there, State will return home to host No. 2 Texas for a three-game series beginning March 28.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Boyd, Lauren (6-2)
L: Chaffin, Raelin (15-2)
Batting:
HR: Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
RBI: Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
HBP: Sells, Kiarra 1
PO: Edwards, Kylee 1
Batting:
2B: Avvisato, Kaylie 1
3B: Cunnea, Izzy 1
RBI: Cunnea, Izzy 3
SH: Garden, Avery 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
SB: Garden, Avery 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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OF
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P
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OF
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INF
/ Softball
C/INF
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OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
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INF
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