Saturday, February 21
Starkville
12:30 p.m.
Mississippi State
13-1
4
vs
1
Belmont
8-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Belmont
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
5
2
Mississippi State
3
0
1
0
0
0
X
4
9
0
State’s Bats Break Out On Saturday At Bulldog Invitational
February 21, 2026 | Softball
STARKVILLE – No. 14 Mississippi State defeated Belmont, 4-1, and Delaware State, 19-1, on Saturday to improve to 14-1, its best 15-game start since 2014.
The victory over the Bruins (8-5) evened the season series between the teams, and State's 18-run win over the Hornets (3-5) stands as the second-largest margin of victory in school history.
"I thought we had a good response to yesterday," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I thought, in both games, we did a really good job in the first inning of coming out and setting the tone. That's one of the little things that we work on and make sure is a heavy emphasis for the offense. I think there definitely are still some little things we want to work on. It was good to see up and down the lineup some of the bats getting going again and getting some opportunities for some of those who haven't had a ton of innings yet this season. Overall, I like the energy. I like the focus and the bounce back. That's something that we're going to have to make sure we do with a quick turnaround."
The Bulldogs scored three in the first inning against Belmont and never looked back. Morgan Stiles, who led off both games with doubles, scored on a wild pitch before Anna Carder and Des Rivera delivered RBI singles. Rivera would drive in the team's fourth run in the third inning.
Alyssa Faircloth kept the Bruins in check, striking out seven of the first nine hitters she faced. She would finish the day with 13 strikeouts, one shy of her career high, in 5.2 innings before giving way to Peja Goold, who picked up her first save by retiring all four batters she faced.
Nine of MSU's 16 hits went for extra bases against Delaware State. The Bulldogs hit a season-high-tying four home runs and added five doubles. State jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first with help from a two-run Rivera homer and Gabby Schaeffer's three-run blast. Morgan Bernardini doubled twice and drove in a pair, and Abigail Stevens and Abby Grace Richardson also homered.
"Gabby's an athlete. She really does a lot of things. She's going to be a really big-time player for this program down the road. It's good to get her some experience and some innings. She's learning to make adjustments and pick up the little things in the speed of this game a little bit. I really like what she is doing. She did a great job turning the lineup over for us in the ninth and just finding ways on base in front of the three at the top. So, I thought she had a great day, putting down a bunt to get us going late in the 1st game was huge, too."
Morgan Bernardini on the team's approach at the plate...
"I think it's just that our main focus is trying not to hit a home run, you know? We're thinking doubles and line drives. Home runs will come. That's just having team at-bats, trying to stick with the plan and just looking for good quality at-bats to help the team."
Career Firsts – Gretta Grassel, Carson Smith and Abigail Stevens all recorded their first career hits and RBIs … Stevens recorded her first career home run along with her first strikeout and win in her first pitching appearance.
Anna Carder – Reached based in every plate appearance against Belmont … had an RBI single and a walk … drew her team-leading 12th walk against Delaware State.
Alyssa Faircloth – Posted double-digit strikeouts for the third time in her career … struck out the side in order in the second and fifth innings … struck out seven of the first nine hitters she faced ... finished with 5.2 innings, 13 strikeouts, and allowed one run against Belmont.
Peja Goold – Recorded her first save of the season against Belmont, retiring four batters in order over the final 1.1 innings.
Des Rivera – Produced three RBIs with a single and a sacrifice fly against Delaware State.
Gabby Schaeffer – Recorded her second multi-hit game of the season against Belmont … hit her first career homer against Delaware State.
Kiarra Sells – Reached based in every plate appearance against Belmont … went 2-for-2 with a double and hit-by-pitch … added an RBI double against the Hornets.
Abigail Stevens – Made her pitching debut against Delaware State, earning the win with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief … also homered for her first career hit.
Morgan Stiles - Has reached to open the MSU half of the first inning in 11 of 15 games … led off with a double in both game against Belmont and Delaware State … posted her team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the year against the Bruins, adding a single and a hit-by-pitch.
Morgan Stiles led off with a double to center field. Stiles advanced to third on Nadia Barbary's fly out to center field and scored on a wild pitch. Kiara Sells doubled to center before scoring on Anna Carder's single through the right side. Carder advanced to second on a throwing error. Des Rivera singled to right-center field, scoring Carder.
Belmont 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 3
Kiarra Sells was hit by a pitch to lead off and stole second. Anna Carder was walked. Morgan Bernardini beat out a bunt single to load the bases. Tatum Silva pinch ran for Carder, and Gretta Grassel ran for Bernardini. Des Rivera hit a ground ball to short and was safe on a fielder's choice as Sells scored on the play and Silva was put out at third.
Belmont 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 4
Top 4
Rylee Spindler led off with a double to center field. Nicole Hughes followed up with a single down the left field line, and Spindler advanced to third. Lizzie Ozim hit a ground ball into the hole between short and second where Morgan Stiles made a sliding stop and threw Hughes out at third while Spindler scored.
Belmont 1, No. 14 Mississippi State 4
Morgan Stiles led off with a double, followed by a Nadia Barbary walk. Kiarra Sells doubled off the wall in left-center, scoring Stiles and pushing Barbary to third. Anna Carder lined out to first, and the Hornets tried to throw behind Sells but the ball went into left field, allowing Barbary to score on the error. Sells then stole third and scored when the catcher's throw got away. Morgan Bernardini doubled to center and scored on Des Rivera's two-run home run. Kinley Keller singled, then stole second before Gabby Schaeffer hit a two-run homer off the scoreboard in left field.
Delaware State 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 7
Bottom 2
Barbary, Kiarra Sells and Carder drew three straight walks to load the bases. Bernardini's second double of the game scored Barbary and Kiarra Sells, while Carder moved to third. Consecutive sacrifice flies by Rivera and Paige Ernstes scored Carder and Bernardini.
Delaware State 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 11
Bottom 3
Back-to-back walks by Schaeffer and Stiles started the inning. With one out, Gretta Grassel walked to load the bases. Abby Grace Richardson scored Schaeffer with a sacrifice fly. Tatum Silva drove in Stiles with a single up the middle.
Delaware State 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 13
Bottom 4
Abigail Stevens led off with a solo home run. Ernstes was hit by a pitch followed by a Kalani Sells single advancing her to second. With two outs, Carson Smith doubled to left scoring both Kalani Sells and Ernstes. Grassel then singled to left, scoring Smith. Richardson followed with a two-run homer.
Delaware State 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 19
Top 5
Mi'Shon King doubled to right center to lead off the inning. She advanced to third on a Brylin McCray ground out to third and scored on a Kaylanie Rodriguez single to right field.
Delaware State 1, No. 14 Mississippi State 19
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
The victory over the Bruins (8-5) evened the season series between the teams, and State's 18-run win over the Hornets (3-5) stands as the second-largest margin of victory in school history.
"I thought we had a good response to yesterday," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I thought, in both games, we did a really good job in the first inning of coming out and setting the tone. That's one of the little things that we work on and make sure is a heavy emphasis for the offense. I think there definitely are still some little things we want to work on. It was good to see up and down the lineup some of the bats getting going again and getting some opportunities for some of those who haven't had a ton of innings yet this season. Overall, I like the energy. I like the focus and the bounce back. That's something that we're going to have to make sure we do with a quick turnaround."
The Bulldogs scored three in the first inning against Belmont and never looked back. Morgan Stiles, who led off both games with doubles, scored on a wild pitch before Anna Carder and Des Rivera delivered RBI singles. Rivera would drive in the team's fourth run in the third inning.
Alyssa Faircloth kept the Bruins in check, striking out seven of the first nine hitters she faced. She would finish the day with 13 strikeouts, one shy of her career high, in 5.2 innings before giving way to Peja Goold, who picked up her first save by retiring all four batters she faced.
Nine of MSU's 16 hits went for extra bases against Delaware State. The Bulldogs hit a season-high-tying four home runs and added five doubles. State jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first with help from a two-run Rivera homer and Gabby Schaeffer's three-run blast. Morgan Bernardini doubled twice and drove in a pair, and Abigail Stevens and Abby Grace Richardson also homered.
Quotables
Samatha Ricketts on the Gabby Schaeffer..."Gabby's an athlete. She really does a lot of things. She's going to be a really big-time player for this program down the road. It's good to get her some experience and some innings. She's learning to make adjustments and pick up the little things in the speed of this game a little bit. I really like what she is doing. She did a great job turning the lineup over for us in the ninth and just finding ways on base in front of the three at the top. So, I thought she had a great day, putting down a bunt to get us going late in the 1st game was huge, too."
Morgan Bernardini on the team's approach at the plate...
"I think it's just that our main focus is trying not to hit a home run, you know? We're thinking doubles and line drives. Home runs will come. That's just having team at-bats, trying to stick with the plan and just looking for good quality at-bats to help the team."
Quick Hitters
Circling The Bases – State's 19 runs are the most it has scored since a 19-14 victory at Middle Tennessee on March 30, 2022 … the 18-run margin of victory is second only to a 23-0 win over Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 9, 2012, for the largest victory margin in school history.Career Firsts – Gretta Grassel, Carson Smith and Abigail Stevens all recorded their first career hits and RBIs … Stevens recorded her first career home run along with her first strikeout and win in her first pitching appearance.
Anna Carder – Reached based in every plate appearance against Belmont … had an RBI single and a walk … drew her team-leading 12th walk against Delaware State.
Alyssa Faircloth – Posted double-digit strikeouts for the third time in her career … struck out the side in order in the second and fifth innings … struck out seven of the first nine hitters she faced ... finished with 5.2 innings, 13 strikeouts, and allowed one run against Belmont.
Peja Goold – Recorded her first save of the season against Belmont, retiring four batters in order over the final 1.1 innings.
Des Rivera – Produced three RBIs with a single and a sacrifice fly against Delaware State.
Gabby Schaeffer – Recorded her second multi-hit game of the season against Belmont … hit her first career homer against Delaware State.
Kiarra Sells – Reached based in every plate appearance against Belmont … went 2-for-2 with a double and hit-by-pitch … added an RBI double against the Hornets.
Abigail Stevens – Made her pitching debut against Delaware State, earning the win with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief … also homered for her first career hit.
Morgan Stiles - Has reached to open the MSU half of the first inning in 11 of 15 games … led off with a double in both game against Belmont and Delaware State … posted her team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the year against the Bruins, adding a single and a hit-by-pitch.
Scoring Recap vs. Belmont
Top 1Morgan Stiles led off with a double to center field. Stiles advanced to third on Nadia Barbary's fly out to center field and scored on a wild pitch. Kiara Sells doubled to center before scoring on Anna Carder's single through the right side. Carder advanced to second on a throwing error. Des Rivera singled to right-center field, scoring Carder.
Belmont 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 3
Kiarra Sells was hit by a pitch to lead off and stole second. Anna Carder was walked. Morgan Bernardini beat out a bunt single to load the bases. Tatum Silva pinch ran for Carder, and Gretta Grassel ran for Bernardini. Des Rivera hit a ground ball to short and was safe on a fielder's choice as Sells scored on the play and Silva was put out at third.
Belmont 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 4
Top 4
Rylee Spindler led off with a double to center field. Nicole Hughes followed up with a single down the left field line, and Spindler advanced to third. Lizzie Ozim hit a ground ball into the hole between short and second where Morgan Stiles made a sliding stop and threw Hughes out at third while Spindler scored.
Belmont 1, No. 14 Mississippi State 4
Scoring Recap vs. Samford
Bottom 1Morgan Stiles led off with a double, followed by a Nadia Barbary walk. Kiarra Sells doubled off the wall in left-center, scoring Stiles and pushing Barbary to third. Anna Carder lined out to first, and the Hornets tried to throw behind Sells but the ball went into left field, allowing Barbary to score on the error. Sells then stole third and scored when the catcher's throw got away. Morgan Bernardini doubled to center and scored on Des Rivera's two-run home run. Kinley Keller singled, then stole second before Gabby Schaeffer hit a two-run homer off the scoreboard in left field.
Delaware State 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 7
Bottom 2
Barbary, Kiarra Sells and Carder drew three straight walks to load the bases. Bernardini's second double of the game scored Barbary and Kiarra Sells, while Carder moved to third. Consecutive sacrifice flies by Rivera and Paige Ernstes scored Carder and Bernardini.
Delaware State 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 11
Bottom 3
Back-to-back walks by Schaeffer and Stiles started the inning. With one out, Gretta Grassel walked to load the bases. Abby Grace Richardson scored Schaeffer with a sacrifice fly. Tatum Silva drove in Stiles with a single up the middle.
Delaware State 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 13
Bottom 4
Abigail Stevens led off with a solo home run. Ernstes was hit by a pitch followed by a Kalani Sells single advancing her to second. With two outs, Carson Smith doubled to left scoring both Kalani Sells and Ernstes. Grassel then singled to left, scoring Smith. Richardson followed with a two-run homer.
Delaware State 0, No. 14 Mississippi State 19
Top 5
Mi'Shon King doubled to right center to lead off the inning. She advanced to third on a Brylin McCray ground out to third and scored on a Kaylanie Rodriguez single to right field.
Delaware State 1, No. 14 Mississippi State 19
Next Up
The Bulldog Invitational wraps up on Sunday with one game between Mississippi State and Delaware State at 10:30 a.m. CT. The game will be available on SEC Network+.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Faircloth, Alyssa (4-0)
L: Leierer, Hannah (1-4)
S: Goold, Peja (1)
Batting:
2B: Spindler, Rylee 1
3B: Bertucci, Ella 1
RBI: Ozim, Lizzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spindler, Rylee 1
SB: Hughes, Nicole 1
Batting:
2B: Stiles, Morgan 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
RBI: Carder, Anna 1 ; Rivera, Des 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Stiles, Morgan 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 2 ; Carder, Anna 1
SB: Sells, Kiarra 1
HBP: Stiles, Morgan 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
rf/dp
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
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Saturday, February 21
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference - Bulldog Invitational (Day 1)
Saturday, February 21
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. Samford
Friday, February 20