Friday, February 20
Starkville
12:30 p.m.
Mississippi State
vs
Belmont
Nation’s Top Pitchers Meet In Starkville At Bulldog Invitational
February 19, 2026 | Softball
STARKVILLE – A pair of challenging pitching matchups await in Starkville at the Bulldog Invitational presented by Mizuno this weekend. No. 14 Mississippi State and Belmont, who rank first and second nationally in strikeouts, are joined by Samford and Delaware State for a nine-game event.
The Bulldogs (11-0) look to continue a historic start to their season. MSU has already secured the best start for the program since 2008 and could tie the program record this weekend.
Belmont brings in the national leader in strikeouts per seven innings in Maya Johnson. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have a three-headed monster in the circle. Peja Goold, Leila Ammon and Alyssa Faircloth are all among the top 10 pitchers in the nation in at least one metric. As a team, the Bulldogs lead the country in WHIP (0.65) and strikeouts (98) while ranking second in strikeouts per seven innings (9.66) and fielding percentage (.993).
MSU will also play Samford on Friday for the first of two meetings this season before seeing them again in March at the Jaguar Invitational in Mobile, Alabama. The Bulldogs and Delaware State have never met on the softball field.
12:30 p.m. – Belmont | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Samford | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 21
12:30 p.m. – Belmont | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Delaware State | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 22
10:30 a.m. – Delaware State | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Stingy Staff: Mississippi State's 0.65 WHIP as a team leads the nation. Peja Goold ranks fourth individually in that metric at 0.49, while Leila Ammon (0.57) is seventh and Alyssa Faircloth (0.80) is No. 33.
High Water Mark: State checks in at No. 14 in this week's NFCA Coaches' Poll, which is its highest ranking in that poll in program history. Previously, the Bulldogs had climbed as high as No. 15 in 2008. State's highest ranking in any poll was at No. 11 in the Softball America poll in 2024.
The Magic Number: The Bulldogs have scored five or more runs in all but one game this year, and they are 161-20 under Samantha Ricketts.
Strong Start: MSU is one of eight remaining undefeated teams nationally. State's 11-0 start is the program's best since 2008, and the team could match the best start ever this weekend, tying the 2006 team at 16-0.
From The Top: Morgan Stiles is riding a career-long 15-game reached-base streak dating back to last season that has seen her hit .521 with a 1.270 OPS. She has reached safely in 10 of 13 innings she has led off and has reached to open the ballgame in eight of 11 games.
Milestone Moment: Peja Goold recorded her 500th career strikeout on Wednesday night against Memphis. She is one of 11 active players nationally with 500 or more punch outs.
Round Trippers: MSU has homered in all but two games this season and scored 32 of its 82 runs via the long ball (39.0 percent). Nine different players have already homered this season.
Head Coach: Laura Matthews | Record at BEL: 153-107 (6th Year) | Career Record: 333-240-1 (14th Year)
Batting Average: .268 | Runs Per Game: 3.33 | Hits Per Game: 7.11 | Slugging Pct: .479
ERA: 3.92 | K/7: 10.68 | K/BB Ratio: 4.09 | Opp. Batting Avg: .246
Current Streak: Won 2 | Last Series: Feb. 25-26, 2022, MSU swept in Starkville, Miss. (G1: MSU, 8-0 [6]; G2: MSU, 7-3)
Head Coach: Megan Curry | Record at SAM: 37-30 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 88-91 (5th Year)
Batting Average: .291 | Runs Per Game: 4.64 | Hits Per Game: 6.91 | Slugging Pct: .479
ERA: 5.91 | K/7: 4.38 | K/BB Ratio: 1.05 | Opp. Batting Avg: .339
Current Streak: Won 1 | Last Meeting: Feb. 18, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (MSU 6, SAM 1)
Head Coach: Daniel Stockdale | Record at DSU: 51-116 (5th Year) | Career Record: 51-116 (5th Year)
Batting Average: .224 | Runs Per Game: 2.00 | Hits Per Game: 5.00 | Slugging Pct: .254
ERA: 8.65 | K/7: 5.76 | K/BB Ratio: 1.08 | Opp. Batting Avg: .333
MSU will stay on the road and immediately head to Clemson, South Carolina, for the Tiger Invitational on Feb. 27-March 1.
The Bulldogs (11-0) look to continue a historic start to their season. MSU has already secured the best start for the program since 2008 and could tie the program record this weekend.
Belmont brings in the national leader in strikeouts per seven innings in Maya Johnson. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have a three-headed monster in the circle. Peja Goold, Leila Ammon and Alyssa Faircloth are all among the top 10 pitchers in the nation in at least one metric. As a team, the Bulldogs lead the country in WHIP (0.65) and strikeouts (98) while ranking second in strikeouts per seven innings (9.66) and fielding percentage (.993).
MSU will also play Samford on Friday for the first of two meetings this season before seeing them again in March at the Jaguar Invitational in Mobile, Alabama. The Bulldogs and Delaware State have never met on the softball field.
Game Coverage
Friday, Feb. 2012:30 p.m. – Belmont | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Samford | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 21
12:30 p.m. – Belmont | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
3 p.m. – Delaware State | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 22
10:30 a.m. – Delaware State | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Leading Off
Battle Of The Bullpens: This weekend will see two of the top pitching teams go head-to-head twice. The Bulldogs lead the nation with 98 strikeouts, while Belmont is second with 90. The Bruins have the edge in strikeouts per seven innings at 10.68, while MSU is second nationally at 9.66. Both are top-10 teams in strikeout-to-walk ratio.Stingy Staff: Mississippi State's 0.65 WHIP as a team leads the nation. Peja Goold ranks fourth individually in that metric at 0.49, while Leila Ammon (0.57) is seventh and Alyssa Faircloth (0.80) is No. 33.
High Water Mark: State checks in at No. 14 in this week's NFCA Coaches' Poll, which is its highest ranking in that poll in program history. Previously, the Bulldogs had climbed as high as No. 15 in 2008. State's highest ranking in any poll was at No. 11 in the Softball America poll in 2024.
The Magic Number: The Bulldogs have scored five or more runs in all but one game this year, and they are 161-20 under Samantha Ricketts.
Strong Start: MSU is one of eight remaining undefeated teams nationally. State's 11-0 start is the program's best since 2008, and the team could match the best start ever this weekend, tying the 2006 team at 16-0.
From The Top: Morgan Stiles is riding a career-long 15-game reached-base streak dating back to last season that has seen her hit .521 with a 1.270 OPS. She has reached safely in 10 of 13 innings she has led off and has reached to open the ballgame in eight of 11 games.
Milestone Moment: Peja Goold recorded her 500th career strikeout on Wednesday night against Memphis. She is one of 11 active players nationally with 500 or more punch outs.
Round Trippers: MSU has homered in all but two games this season and scored 32 of its 82 runs via the long ball (39.0 percent). Nine different players have already homered this season.
About Belmont (5-4, 0-0 MVC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Laura Matthews | Record at BEL: 153-107 (6th Year) | Career Record: 333-240-1 (14th Year)
Batting Average: .268 | Runs Per Game: 3.33 | Hits Per Game: 7.11 | Slugging Pct: .479
ERA: 3.92 | K/7: 10.68 | K/BB Ratio: 4.09 | Opp. Batting Avg: .246
Series History
Overall: 7-1 | Home: 7-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 0-1Current Streak: Won 2 | Last Series: Feb. 25-26, 2022, MSU swept in Starkville, Miss. (G1: MSU, 8-0 [6]; G2: MSU, 7-3)
About Samford (4-7, 0-0 SoCon)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Megan Curry | Record at SAM: 37-30 (2nd Year) | Career Record: 88-91 (5th Year)
Batting Average: .291 | Runs Per Game: 4.64 | Hits Per Game: 6.91 | Slugging Pct: .479
ERA: 5.91 | K/7: 4.38 | K/BB Ratio: 1.05 | Opp. Batting Avg: .339
Series History
Overall: 25-3 | Home: 17-1 | Away: 6-2 | Neutral: 2-0Current Streak: Won 1 | Last Meeting: Feb. 18, 2025, in Starkville, Miss. (MSU 6, SAM 1)
About Delaware State (1-2, 0-0 MEAC) *as of Feb. 18
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Daniel Stockdale | Record at DSU: 51-116 (5th Year) | Career Record: 51-116 (5th Year)
Batting Average: .224 | Runs Per Game: 2.00 | Hits Per Game: 5.00 | Slugging Pct: .254
ERA: 8.65 | K/7: 5.76 | K/BB Ratio: 1.08 | Opp. Batting Avg: .333
Series History
Overall: First MeetingOn Deck
The Bulldogs hit the road for the next two weeks following the Bulldog Invitational presented by Mizuno. Next week's road trip begins with a midweek matchup at Georgia Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m.MSU will stay on the road and immediately head to Clemson, South Carolina, for the Tiger Invitational on Feb. 27-March 1.
Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Memphis
Wednesday, February 18
SOFTBALL | Rounding Third: Kinley Keller
Wednesday, February 18
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. North Texas
Sunday, February 15
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. North Texas (Game 2)
Sunday, February 15