Friday, April 11
Starkville
6 p.m.
Mississippi State
32-10, 8-5
7
vs
0
Missouri
20-23, 2-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Missouri
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
Mississippi State
1
2
0
0
1
3
X
7
6
0
Chaffin Tosses Third Shutout To Open Series With Missouri
April 11, 2025 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State ace Raelin Chaffin allowed just two hits on her way to her third shutout of the season as the No. 16 Bulldogs won their series opener with Missouri, 7-0.
Chaffin needed just 95 pitches to go the distance, and after allowing two runners on a single and a walk in the second inning, she retired 13 straight hitters before allowing her second hit in the game in the top of the seventh.
"It was a great bounce back for Raelin," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We're just really proud of her. The mental toughness it takes in this league, you have to have a short-term memory. You don't get a weekend off, regardless of if it's Texas, Tennessee or Missouri. Every team is capable of coming out and attacking your stuff. She did a really great job of mixing speeds and gave us another quality start going seven. I thought this week was helpful, being done with our midweeks. It gave us a chance to slow down the preparation, really focus on the recovery and make sure that we were feeling our best going into a Friday night start."
Offensively, the Bulldogs (32-10, 8-5 SEC) were paced by Kiarra Sells who launched her ninth homer of the year to drive in two runs and nearly hit a game-ending grand slam that was caught on the warning track for a sacrifice fly. Sierra Sacco delivered a two-run double, and Kylee Edwards also homered in the ballgame.
Nadia Barbary collected an RBI double, but was even more impressive defensively, recording three assists that were all highlight-reel plays.
"We've seen her confidence grow on both sides of the ball this year, offense and defense. We really challenged her with that particular hitter this weekend, knowing that she loves to bunt. We were going to challenge her to hit it by Nadia, and Nadia just kept getting up in her face. She tried to hit it by her, but Nadia wouldn't let her. She just loves the challenge, and any time we can do it to her in practice or games. She's just a great athlete so her ability to react and make big time plays like that is huge. It keeps them off the board, it keeps us rolling and gets Raelin [Chaffin] back in the dugout. She's made some really great plays, but I thought those were some of her best ones we've seen this weekend."
Samantha Ricketts on Kiarra Sells hitting ninth…
"Yeah, that's a scary nine-hole. You've got Kiarra Sells down there with the way she's been swinging the bat. Really, we've just been trying to get her better pitches and better swings to just try to let her get back to the way she started the year. She's really looked locked in. She had one of the best at-bats of the weekend last week against a really tough pitcher up at Tennessee. It's good to see her continue that, and it's a good problem to try to figure out where I'm going to put all these bats in the lineup. I like having someone like her who's willing to take a walk or an hit-by-pitch to get on base, particularly in front of Sierra [Sacco]. She can put the ball over the fence, which is nice too."
Kiarra Sells on batting in the nine hole...
"Actually, I kind of like the nine spot. It's me being able to get on base for Sierra [Sacco], and I really appreciate that. I think it's a really good spot for me right now."
Raelin Chafin on the defense behind her...
"Immediately after the game was over I said, 'Defense won this game,' because of all the plays at third. I didn't have many strikeouts, so we had to play defense. The balls they fielded were not hit softly. They were hit hard, and they fielded them with ease and made it look super easy. It gives me so much confidence to throw any pitch up there and know that they're going to field it."
Nadia Barbary – Doubled home the first run of the game … now tied for the team lead with four game-winning RBIs this year … now has 17 extra-base hits this year and her single-season career high is 21 … now 5-for-11 in her career against Missouri.
Raelin Chaffin – Earned her 17th win of the season while throwing her 13th complete game … recorded her third shutout of the year … allowed just three baserunners in the game on two hits and only one runner after the second inning … retired 16 of the final 17 batters she faced.
Kylee Edwards – Hit her eighth home run of the season, which is a single-season career high.
Sierra Sacco – Collected her team-leading 20th multi-hit game of the season … MSU improved to 59-8 when she scores a run … finished with three hits, including her 14th double … drove in a pair of runs for her team-leading 11th multi-RBI game … now 7-for-14 in her career against Missouri with three doubles.
Kiarra Sells – Hit her ninth home run of the season … added a sacrifice fly … drove in three of State's seven runs for her eighth multi-RBI game.
Sierra Sacco opened the inning with a leadoff infield single. She scored on Nadia Barbary's double to right-center field.
Missouri 0, No. 16 Mississippi State 1
Bottom 2
Riley Hull drew a two-out walk before Kiarra Sells homered to right field.
Missouri 0, No. 16 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 5
Kylee Edwards hit a solo home run to center field.
Missouri 0, No. 16 Mississippi State 4
Bottom 6
Morgan Stiles drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Jessie Blaine followed with another walk. With one out, Riley Hull hit into a fielder's choice, but all runners advanced safely when the throw to second was dropped. Stiles scored on a sacrifice fly by Sells before Sacco drove in two on a double to right field.
Missouri 0, No. 16 Mississippi State 7
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Chaffin needed just 95 pitches to go the distance, and after allowing two runners on a single and a walk in the second inning, she retired 13 straight hitters before allowing her second hit in the game in the top of the seventh.
"It was a great bounce back for Raelin," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "We're just really proud of her. The mental toughness it takes in this league, you have to have a short-term memory. You don't get a weekend off, regardless of if it's Texas, Tennessee or Missouri. Every team is capable of coming out and attacking your stuff. She did a really great job of mixing speeds and gave us another quality start going seven. I thought this week was helpful, being done with our midweeks. It gave us a chance to slow down the preparation, really focus on the recovery and make sure that we were feeling our best going into a Friday night start."
Offensively, the Bulldogs (32-10, 8-5 SEC) were paced by Kiarra Sells who launched her ninth homer of the year to drive in two runs and nearly hit a game-ending grand slam that was caught on the warning track for a sacrifice fly. Sierra Sacco delivered a two-run double, and Kylee Edwards also homered in the ballgame.
Nadia Barbary collected an RBI double, but was even more impressive defensively, recording three assists that were all highlight-reel plays.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Nadia Barbary's defensive performance..."We've seen her confidence grow on both sides of the ball this year, offense and defense. We really challenged her with that particular hitter this weekend, knowing that she loves to bunt. We were going to challenge her to hit it by Nadia, and Nadia just kept getting up in her face. She tried to hit it by her, but Nadia wouldn't let her. She just loves the challenge, and any time we can do it to her in practice or games. She's just a great athlete so her ability to react and make big time plays like that is huge. It keeps them off the board, it keeps us rolling and gets Raelin [Chaffin] back in the dugout. She's made some really great plays, but I thought those were some of her best ones we've seen this weekend."
Samantha Ricketts on Kiarra Sells hitting ninth…
"Yeah, that's a scary nine-hole. You've got Kiarra Sells down there with the way she's been swinging the bat. Really, we've just been trying to get her better pitches and better swings to just try to let her get back to the way she started the year. She's really looked locked in. She had one of the best at-bats of the weekend last week against a really tough pitcher up at Tennessee. It's good to see her continue that, and it's a good problem to try to figure out where I'm going to put all these bats in the lineup. I like having someone like her who's willing to take a walk or an hit-by-pitch to get on base, particularly in front of Sierra [Sacco]. She can put the ball over the fence, which is nice too."
Kiarra Sells on batting in the nine hole...
"Actually, I kind of like the nine spot. It's me being able to get on base for Sierra [Sacco], and I really appreciate that. I think it's a really good spot for me right now."
Raelin Chafin on the defense behind her...
"Immediately after the game was over I said, 'Defense won this game,' because of all the plays at third. I didn't have many strikeouts, so we had to play defense. The balls they fielded were not hit softly. They were hit hard, and they fielded them with ease and made it look super easy. It gives me so much confidence to throw any pitch up there and know that they're going to field it."
Quick Hitters
Call The Bomb Squad – MSU has scored 106 runs off homers this year, which amounts to 39 percent of State's scoring this season … the Bulldogs' 56 homers this year are now fourth in program history.Nadia Barbary – Doubled home the first run of the game … now tied for the team lead with four game-winning RBIs this year … now has 17 extra-base hits this year and her single-season career high is 21 … now 5-for-11 in her career against Missouri.
Raelin Chaffin – Earned her 17th win of the season while throwing her 13th complete game … recorded her third shutout of the year … allowed just three baserunners in the game on two hits and only one runner after the second inning … retired 16 of the final 17 batters she faced.
Kylee Edwards – Hit her eighth home run of the season, which is a single-season career high.
Sierra Sacco – Collected her team-leading 20th multi-hit game of the season … MSU improved to 59-8 when she scores a run … finished with three hits, including her 14th double … drove in a pair of runs for her team-leading 11th multi-RBI game … now 7-for-14 in her career against Missouri with three doubles.
Kiarra Sells – Hit her ninth home run of the season … added a sacrifice fly … drove in three of State's seven runs for her eighth multi-RBI game.
Scoring Recap
Bottom 1Sierra Sacco opened the inning with a leadoff infield single. She scored on Nadia Barbary's double to right-center field.
Missouri 0, No. 16 Mississippi State 1
Bottom 2
Riley Hull drew a two-out walk before Kiarra Sells homered to right field.
Missouri 0, No. 16 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 5
Kylee Edwards hit a solo home run to center field.
Missouri 0, No. 16 Mississippi State 4
Bottom 6
Morgan Stiles drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Jessie Blaine followed with another walk. With one out, Riley Hull hit into a fielder's choice, but all runners advanced safely when the throw to second was dropped. Stiles scored on a sacrifice fly by Sells before Sacco drove in two on a double to right field.
Missouri 0, No. 16 Mississippi State 7
Next Up
The series continues on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. It is the Bulldogs' annual Think Pink game, and the first 250 fans will receive pink hats upon entering Nusz Park.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chaffin, Raelin (17-6)
L: Harrison, Cierra (9-7)
Batting:
2B: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1
HR: Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
RBI: Sacco, Sierra 2 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 3
SH: Bernardini, Morgan 1
SF: Sells, Kiarra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Stiles, Morgan 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Hull, Riley 2 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Texas Tech
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Raelin Chaffin ESPN2 Postgame Interview
Saturday, May 17
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Washington
Friday, May 16