Friday, February 27
Clemson, S.C.
9 a.m.
Mississippi State
vs
Wofford
No. 12 Bulldogs Continue Road Trip At Tiger Invitational
February 26, 2026 | Softball
CLEMSON, S.C. – No. 12 Mississippi State will make its first trip to McWhorter Stadium this weekend as the Bulldogs play at No. 25 Clemson's Tiger Invitational.
The tournament is a true seeded, round-robin clash. The Bulldogs will play Wofford at 9 a.m. CT on Friday before meeting Georgia Southern and the host Tigers on Saturday. Results of the round robin will dictate who the Bulldogs meet on Sunday. Clemson will automatically be the top seed and play at 11:30 a.m. against the No. 2 seed. The bottom two teams will play at 9 a.m.
Only games that Clemson plays in will be available on ACC Network Extra.
This weekend will mark State's (15-1) first opportunity to face a fellow ranked team. The Bulldogs have 25 ranked wins over the last two seasons.
2 p.m. – at No. 25 Clemson | Watch on ACC Network Extra | Live Stats
11:30 a.m. – No. 2 seed at No. 25 Clemson | Watch on ACC Network Extra | Live Stats
All Strikes For Alyssa: Alyssa Faircloth now boasts three games with double-digit strikeouts this year after entering the season with just one for her career. She ranks fifth nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (12.67), third in total strikeouts (73) and second in called strike plus whiff rate with a strike on 41.8 percent of her pitches.
Starts With Stiles: Morgan Stiles has solidified the leadoff spot in the order, reaching base safely in all but one game this year. She has reached to open the MSU half of the first inning in 12 of 16 games and as scored in the first inning nine times this year. MSU is outscoring opponents 29-1 in the first.
Dawg Defense: State's .990 fielding percentage is second in the nation. Nadia Barbary and Morgan Stiles were jointly named Softball America's Defender of the Week on Tuesday, and Barbary has matched her career-long errorless streak entering the weekend at 59 straight chances.
Down On Strikes: Mississippi State leads the nation with 150 strikeouts this year. The Bulldogs have caught 33 batters looking, which ranks second and is two off the national lead.
Clutch Cashing In: Anna Carder has driven in the game-winning run in a team-high six games this season. Meanwhile, Morgan Bernardini leads the team with seven two-out RBIs.
Long Time No ACC: MSU played its first regular-season true road contest at an ACC park since 2019 on Wednesday night at Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs now make their first ever trip to McWhorter Stadium. Prior to this season, their last regular-season game at an ACC park was at Duke.
Head Coach: Chelsea Butler | Record at WOF: 67-47 (3rd Year) | Career Record: 67-47 (3rd Year)
Batting Average: .384 | Runs Per Game: 8.27| Hits Per Game: 9.87 | Slugging Pct: .564
ERA: 3.36 | K/7: 4.93 | K/BB Ratio: 2.65 | Opp. Batting Avg: .281
Head Coach: Sharon Perkins | Record at GSU: 95-121 (5th Year) | Career Record: 385-259 (12th Year)
Batting Average: .273 | Runs Per Game: 4.38 | Hits Per Game: 6.85 | Slugging Pct: .417
ERA: 2.75 | K/7: 3.75 | K/BB Ratio: 2.05 | Opp. Batting Avg: .272
Current Streak: Won 8 | Last Meeting: Feb. 11, 2016, in Starkville, Miss. (MSU 6, GSU 0)
Head Coach: John Rittman | Record at CLEM: 248-83 (7th Year) | Career Record: 998-434-3 (25th Year)
Batting Average: .298 | Runs Per Game: 5.75 | Hits Per Game: 7.56 | Slugging Pct: .468
ERA: 2.90 | K/7: 5.52 | K/BB Ratio: 1.59 | Opp. Batting Avg: .236
Current Streak: Won 1 | Last Meeting: Feb. 17, 2024, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (MSU 6, CLEM 3)
The tournament is a true seeded, round-robin clash. The Bulldogs will play Wofford at 9 a.m. CT on Friday before meeting Georgia Southern and the host Tigers on Saturday. Results of the round robin will dictate who the Bulldogs meet on Sunday. Clemson will automatically be the top seed and play at 11:30 a.m. against the No. 2 seed. The bottom two teams will play at 9 a.m.
Only games that Clemson plays in will be available on ACC Network Extra.
This weekend will mark State's (15-1) first opportunity to face a fellow ranked team. The Bulldogs have 25 ranked wins over the last two seasons.
Game Coverage
Friday, Feb. 27
9 a.m. – vs. Wofford | Live StatsSaturday, Feb. 28
11:30 a.m. – vs. Georgia Southern | Live Stats2 p.m. – at No. 25 Clemson | Watch on ACC Network Extra | Live Stats
Sunday, March 1 (one of the following depending on seeding)
9 a.m. – No. 3 seed vs. No. 4 seed | Live Stats11:30 a.m. – No. 2 seed at No. 25 Clemson | Watch on ACC Network Extra | Live Stats
Leading Off
High Water Mark: Mississippi State checks in at No. 12 in this week's NFCA Coaches' Poll, which is its highest ranking in that poll in program history. Last week, the team set a new record at No. 14 as well. State's highest ranking in any poll was at No. 11 in the Softball America poll in 2024.All Strikes For Alyssa: Alyssa Faircloth now boasts three games with double-digit strikeouts this year after entering the season with just one for her career. She ranks fifth nationally in strikeouts per seven innings (12.67), third in total strikeouts (73) and second in called strike plus whiff rate with a strike on 41.8 percent of her pitches.
Starts With Stiles: Morgan Stiles has solidified the leadoff spot in the order, reaching base safely in all but one game this year. She has reached to open the MSU half of the first inning in 12 of 16 games and as scored in the first inning nine times this year. MSU is outscoring opponents 29-1 in the first.
Dawg Defense: State's .990 fielding percentage is second in the nation. Nadia Barbary and Morgan Stiles were jointly named Softball America's Defender of the Week on Tuesday, and Barbary has matched her career-long errorless streak entering the weekend at 59 straight chances.
Down On Strikes: Mississippi State leads the nation with 150 strikeouts this year. The Bulldogs have caught 33 batters looking, which ranks second and is two off the national lead.
Clutch Cashing In: Anna Carder has driven in the game-winning run in a team-high six games this season. Meanwhile, Morgan Bernardini leads the team with seven two-out RBIs.
Long Time No ACC: MSU played its first regular-season true road contest at an ACC park since 2019 on Wednesday night at Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs now make their first ever trip to McWhorter Stadium. Prior to this season, their last regular-season game at an ACC park was at Duke.
About Wofford (14-1, 0-0 SoCon)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Chelsea Butler | Record at WOF: 67-47 (3rd Year) | Career Record: 67-47 (3rd Year)
Batting Average: .384 | Runs Per Game: 8.27| Hits Per Game: 9.87 | Slugging Pct: .564
ERA: 3.36 | K/7: 4.93 | K/BB Ratio: 2.65 | Opp. Batting Avg: .281
Series History
Overall: First MeetingAbout Georgia Southern (6-7, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – NR | USA Softball – NR | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: Sharon Perkins | Record at GSU: 95-121 (5th Year) | Career Record: 385-259 (12th Year)
Batting Average: .273 | Runs Per Game: 4.38 | Hits Per Game: 6.85 | Slugging Pct: .417
ERA: 2.75 | K/7: 3.75 | K/BB Ratio: 2.05 | Opp. Batting Avg: .272
Series History
Overall: 8-0 | Home: 3-0 | Away: 2-0 | Neutral: 3-0Current Streak: Won 8 | Last Meeting: Feb. 11, 2016, in Starkville, Miss. (MSU 6, GSU 0)
About Clemson (11-5, 0-0 ACC)
Rankings: NFCA Coaches – 25 | USA Softball – RV | D1Softball – NR | Softball America – NRHead Coach: John Rittman | Record at CLEM: 248-83 (7th Year) | Career Record: 998-434-3 (25th Year)
Batting Average: .298 | Runs Per Game: 5.75 | Hits Per Game: 7.56 | Slugging Pct: .468
ERA: 2.90 | K/7: 5.52 | K/BB Ratio: 1.59 | Opp. Batting Avg: .236
Series History
Overall: 1-0 | Home: 0-0 | Away: 0-0 | Neutral: 1-0Current Streak: Won 1 | Last Meeting: Feb. 17, 2024, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (MSU 6, CLEM 3)
On Deck
The Bulldogs remain on the road next week with trips to Birmingham, Alabama, and Mobile, Alabama. State will play at UAB on Wednesday before traveling to South Alabama for the Jaguar Invitational on March 6-8.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Rounding Third: Abigail Stevens
Tuesday, February 24
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference - Bulldog Invitational (Day 2)
Saturday, February 21
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. Delaware State (Game 1)
Saturday, February 21
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. Belmont
Saturday, February 21