Keller Leads State To Snowman Sweep In Win Over North Texas

Sunday, February 15

Starkville

12:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

10-0

North Texas

2-8

North Texas

Mississippi State

Keller Leads State To Snowman Sweep In Win Over North Texas

February 15, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Highlights

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – No. 19 Mississippi State defeated North Texas, 10-2, on Sunday behind a three-hit day from freshman Kinley Keller.

Keller collected two doubles while scoring three runs and driving in two. She is now batting .667 (8-for-12) to start her collegiate career. Abby Grace Richardson picked up two doubles herself while scoring twice. The Bulldogs' Nos. 7-9 hitters were a combined 6-for-9 with four doubles, a stolen base and seven runs scored.

"They were swinging it," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "AG [Richardson] has just looked great all year for us and continues to deliver. She's just so consistent and then plays first, right and left all in one game for us. The two freshmen just got some experience, Kinley Keller and Gabby Schaeffer. They're just such phenomenal athletes, and they're going to be really good for this program and for the future. It was just good to see them get more comfortable and aggressive on the bases, use their speed, play some good defense. Kinley's turned into a double machine, so it's fun to see her get out there and do what we know she can do because she's going to have a bright future for us."

Peja Goold collected her fifth win while throwing her third complete game of the season. She sat down the first nine batters in order and finished the day with seven strikeouts while allowing just two hits.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on the seasons start…
"We're excited about the potential to continue to build on it. Seeing a lot of good things early on and a lot of things we want to continue to work on. Being able to be at home for a couple weeks is nice and nice to get back to practice and continue to fine tune. Knowing that we're going to continue to play quality teams, and it's just going to get tougher down the stretch for us, we know we can't take anyone lightly. I like the way we responded to some challenges we gave to the group after yesterday. We came out and scored every inning, and just really set the tone and finished strong on the weekend the way we wanted to."

Kinley Keller on the production from the bottom of the lineup...
"Yeah, we just started with good energy, and it was a total team win. All of us knew we were going to do this together and we strung them out."

Quick Hitters

The Magic Number – MSU has scored five or more runs in 90 of State's 111 wins (81.1 percent) since 2023 … State is 160-20 when scoring five or more under Coach Ricketts … the Bulldogs have scored five or more runs in nine of 10 games this season.

Anna Carder – Ran her hitting streak to four games … recorded her first multi-hit game of the year.

Peja Goold – Threw her third complete game of the year … now 26-2 when striking out at least five hitters since the start of last year … now two strikeouts away from 500 for her career … went 23.2 innings this season before allowing an earned run.

Kinley Keller – Recorded a hit in every game of The Snowman … hit .727 (8-for-11) during The Snowman with four doubles … went 3-for-3 on Sunday while producing two doubles and two RBIs … scored three runs today … now tied for the team lead with four doubles.

Abby Grace Richardson – Went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and an RBI … also scored twice … now tied for the team lead with four doubles.

Gabby Schaeffer – Picked up an RBI single … also stole a base.

Morgan Stiles – Extended her reached-base streak to 14 games dating back to last year … batting .543 (25-for-46) during the streak with six walks … recorded two hits and two RBIs today … leads team with five multi-hit games.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 1
Morgan Stiles walked to open the inning. With one out, Kiarra Sells walked and Anna Carder singled to right field, to load the bases. Morgan Bernardini scored Stiles with a sacrifice fly to left.
North Texas 0, No. 19 Mississippi State 1

Bottom 2
Abby Grace Richardson doubled to left center to lead off the inning. Kinley Keller singled to center field, advancing Richardson to third. Gabby Schaeffer singled up the middle, scoring Richardson. Stiles flew out to right field, and Keller took third. The throw to third escaped the fielder, and Schaeffer took second. Keller scored from third on a wild pitch as Nadia Barbary walked. Kiarra Sells reached on a fielder's choice, but Schaeffer was able to return to third safely. Carder singled to left field, scoring Schaeffer.
North Texas 0, No. 19 Mississippi State 4

Bottom 3
With one out, Keller doubled to left center. Gabby Schaeffer reached on an error, sending Keller to third. Schaeffer stole second before Morgan Stiles singled to the pitcher, scoring Keller. Barbary grounded into on a fielder's choice that saw Stiles thrown out at second while Schaeffer scored.
North Texas 0, No. 19 Mississippi State 6

Bottom 4
Gretta Grassel pinch hit and walked to open the inning. Paige Ernstes also walked, advancing Grassel to second. Abby Grace Richardson doubled home Grassel and sent Ernstes to third. Both runners scored on Keller's double down the left field line. Schaeffer flew out to right field, and Keller advanced to third. Morgan Stiles singled to right center to score Keller.
North Texas 0, No. 19 Mississippi State 10

Top 5
Riley McNemar singled up the middle to break up the no-hitter and open the inning. Kaycee Slovak homered to right.
North Texas 2, No. 19 Mississippi State 10

Next Up

State remains home to host Memphis on Wednesday, Feb. 18. First pitch on the SEC Network is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT from Nusz Park.

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