30 Notes After 30 Wins Wrapped In Maroon And White

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State softball program accomplished a feat as fast as any team in the program's history in the 8-0 victory over Central Arkansas on Tuesday evening at Nusz Park. MSU's 12th run-rule of the season also secured the 30th win of this year's campaign in game No. 38, which is tied with the 2006 team for the fastest in program history.

In lieu of State's 30th victory, here are 30 feats achieved by the Bulldogs so far this season:

Rockin' and Raelin

After securing four victories, including two complete-game wins against ranked teams, Raelin Chaffin became the first Bulldog in program history to secure NFCA National Pitcher of the Week honors.

"She's not afraid. She's a competitor. She's ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone," head coach Samantha Ricketts said.

First Time For Everything

Kiarra Sells and Paige Ernstes both recorded their first-career hits in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Sells' first hit was a crucial go-ahead RBI single that helped secure a 3-1 extra-innings victory over then-No. 13 Texas Tech.

Sosa Loves Homers

Bulldog pitcher Lexi Sosa kissed four homers goodbye and drove in 14 runs during The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial tournament in February. Before breaking the hearts of opposing clubs in the tournament, Sosa had just 10 RBIs and one homer in her career.

"It's been super awesome," Sosa said of her opportunities at the plate. "Being able to have those moments and embracing it all and just having fun is the most important thing."

Do You Want To Build A Winning Streak?

The Bulldogs went 5-0 in the Snowman Tournament, extending the team's winning streak to eight games after their first 10 outings.

Bernardini's Birthday Bash

On the eve of her birthday on Feb. 18 against Samford, left fielder Morgan Bernardini recorded a career-high three hits and four RBIs while also crushing her first career homer.

"It's just so satisfying to see a player like her be rewarded," Ricketts said. "She's just one of those young women who does everything right. She works hard. She's put in the time, and she's learned and gotten better and better, year after year. To see that paying off for someone who's gone about it the right way is just really special."

No Place Like Home

MSU went 6-0 at Nusz Park to open this season's home schedule, while outsourcing teams 58-18 in Starkville. Three of those victories came via run-rule against North Texas, Bradley and Georgia Tech.

Slugging With Sacco

Senior outfielder Sierra Sacco proved that changing her swing was just what she needed to rocket into the top echelon of hitters in college softball with a two-homer performance to open the Rocket City Classic. Her career-high five RBIs, including a grand slam, against her former squad secured a 10-1 run-rule victory over Louisiana Tech.

"Sierra is one of the best hitters in the country, just one of the best overall players," Ricketts said. "She has all the tools you need to be elite at this level."

Ki For Takeoff

Sells blasted a three-run go-ahead homer against Miami (Ohio) for a career-high three RBIs. In the city famous for rockets and the space program, Sells heldd the launch codes to the second home run of her career in State's trip to Huntsville.

Styling At The Plate

In midweek action against the UAB Blazers, freshman Morgan Stiles blasted her first-career homer. The three-run home run gave Stiles a career-high three RBIs and was also was her first career extra-base knock.

"She's a competitor. She's fiery. She's athletic. She can hit for average and for power, so I think we saw this weekend better and better at-bats from her and knew that she was getting close to some big swings for us," Ricketts said at the time.

Seeing Double

State turned 19 double plays last year, which was the most since tying their total with 19 in 2017. The Bulldogs have turned 10 more double plays this year, and Kylee Edwards has had a hand in seven. She's now fourth in program history with 17 career double plays turned at the shortstop position.

Bringing The Boom

MSU recorded 31 homers through the first 21 games of this year's campaign. During the Bulldog Invitational at Nusz Park, State kicked off March by hitting 17 homers in five games. That mark has not been reached in the program's history since at least 2001. Eight of nine starters have homered this season, and six players have hit at least five long balls.

Going Back-To-Back

Nadia Barbary and Sells have hit back-to-back homers three times, all at the Bulldog Invitational in early March. That's the most back-to-back homers by a single pair of MSU teammates since Mia Davidson and Fa Leilua did so four times in 2021.

Responding At The Plate

After suffering a loss in the final contest of the Bulldog Invitational, MSU bounced back by securing a season-high 17 hits and a 14-1 victory over Louisiana in a midweek contest. Every starter had at least one hit against the Ragin' Cajuns.

"I was really happy with how we responded," Ricketts said. "We knew Sunday that we didn't play our best ball. It's something that we are going to have to bring every day, and I think that's what mature teams do. I love the response."

Strong SEC Start

MSU started SEC play with a 5-1 record for the first time in program history. State's 6-3 mark in league games to this point is tied with 2000 for its best start since opening the 1998 season at 8-3. In 2000, State went on to a 9-3 record for its best 12-game start in SEC play.

Bring Out The Brooms

MSU began conference play with a clean sweep of SEC foe Auburn at Nusz Park. The Bulldogs erased an early 4-0 deficit, as Barbary crushed State's third grand slam through 25 games. State claimed its first series victory over Auburn since 2010.

"Our fight doesn't stop," Barbary said. "Just knowing what we have and trusting ourselves and trusting the preparation we have leading up to that, all it takes is one big inning."

Fast As Hail

Through the first weekend of SEC play, MSU led the league in stolen bases in conference games and ranked second in hits and doubles. The 21 runs scored against the Tigers also ranked third.

Pick Of The Conference

Jessie Blaine has controlled opponents' running games at a level unmatched across the SEC. The senior catcher has picked off five runners this year, one shy of the MSU single-season record set by Mia Davidson.

Ella Wesolowski also has a pickoff this year, and State's six pickoffs are three times as many as any other SEC team.

Ace In Hand

Chaffin has been phenomenal in her lone season in Starkville. She ranks second in the nation with 16 wins, more than half of State's team total. The ace has demanded the ball and made it nearly impossible to take her out of the circle.

The Bossier City, Louisiana, native has thrown 12 complete games, which is 12th in the nation. She leads the SEC with 114.1 innings pitched and is third in the conference with 132 strikeouts.

Silencing All Doubt

Following a clean sweep of Auburn to begin SEC play, MSU was not done making a statement against teams from the state of Alabama. The Bulldogs took the series against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa for the first time in program history.

"We're going to come out and compete, and we know we play our game best when we're attacking, we're aggressive. That's exactly what we did today," Ricketts said.

Barbary Rolls The Tide

After Sierra Sacco was intentionally walked, Barbary drove in the game-winning run to secure the conference series victory for the second consecutive weekend.

All About That Base

Sacco finished a home run shy of a the cycle in State's second contest of the season against UAB. She secured a triple and a double in the first inning, which helped the Bulldogs set the tone for an early 7-0 lead over the Blazers.

"I thought it was another great game out of her, setting the tone and being on base to give us a chance to score," Ricketts said.

In the very next game at Northwestern, Barbary also found herself a homer away from the first cycle in program history, finishing 4-for-4 against the Wildcats.

Hull Blazes Her Trail

In MSU's 8-4 win over UAB, first baseman Riley Hull secured her third multi-RBI game of the year, while also recording her seventh stolen base of the season. Hull's seven stolen bases this year are nearly twice as many as she had in the first three seasons of her career combined. She has not be caught stealing this year.

Raising The Roof

In State's dominant series victory over Northwestern, Sells joined one of the most exclusive clubs in college softball. She became just the 12th player in the history of Sharon J. Drysdale Field to homer onto the roof of the Wildcats basketball stadium in left field.

"A three-story roof. That was unreal. I couldn't tell you the last time I've seen a ball hit that far," Ricketts said.

Bullpen Brings The Heat

MSU's pitching staff allowed just six runs in the three-game series against Northwestern. Chaffin went the distance in Game 1 for her second shutout of the year. State recorded 15 strikeouts in its third consecutive series victory.

Passing The Bat

In the 11th run-rule win of the season at Southern Miss, MSU batted around for the ninth time this season. It was the fourth time in the team's previous five contests.

"It's just a confidence booster," Bernardini said. "It all starts at the top of the lineup. Hitting is contagious, so it's just keeping it simple, passing the bat and keeping it loose."

Barbary Sets The Bar

With a two-run blast at Southern Miss, Barbary registered her seventh home run of the season, which marked a single-season career-high for the Douglasville, Georgia, native. Last year, Barbary posted 21 extra-base hits with four homers. This season, she has 15 extra-base hits, but as mentioned, seven have left the yard.

She is now just four hits and three total bases shy of her previous single-season career highs.

Wranglin' The Longhorns

For just the third time in program history, the Bulldogs took down the top-ranked team in the country in State's 4-3 walk-off victory over Texas. The feat marked Ricketts' 42nd victory over NFCA-ranked teams, which is two shy of the MSU record.

"I think I saw exactly what I knew about [my team] already. They are fighters. They compete and we expect to win and expect to play with the No. 1 team in the country," Ricketts said.

Taking A Paige Off The Bench

The walk-off heroics against the Longhorns came from the bat of freshman Paige Ernstes, who Ricketts has described as the best pinch hitter she's coached, delivered a double with a runner on first and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Ernstes secured her sixth RBI this season, all of which have come in pinch hitting opportunities.

Shining Bright In The Circle

For the second time this season, Everett pitched 5.0 innings of work in Tuesday's win over Central Arkansas.

"I usually tell the girls I just miss the bat enough, and it should work," Everett said regarding pitching efficiently. "That's basically the mindset."

Everett is now 12-0 in her career. This year alone she doubled her win total (8) from her freshman campaign, while halving her ERA down to 1.32, which ranks 14th in the nation.

Kylee Making Waves

In State's 8-0 victory over Central Arkansas on Tuesday, April 1, Edwards extended her reached-base streak to 12 with an RBI single, and she has a hit in four consecutive contests. She was also named Softball America's No. 11 shortstop in the April rankings.

For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."

Mississippi State University Athletics

30 Notes After 30 Wins Wrapped In Maroon And White

Related News

Players Mentioned

Nadia Barbary

Morgan Bernardini

Jessie Blaine

Raelin Chaffin

Kylee Edwards

Paige Ernstes

Riley Hull

Sierra Sacco

Kiarra Sells

Lexi Sosa

Morgan Stiles

Ella Wesolowski

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