Goold Blanks Bears As Bulldog Bats Start Hot

Thursday, February 5

Waco, Texas

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

1-0

Baylor

0-1

Mississippi State

Baylor

Goold Blanks Bears As Bulldog Bats Start Hot

February 05, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

WACO, Texas – Peja Goold was just one out away from a no-hitter in her debut for No. 22 Mississippi State on Thursday night. The Bulldogs defeated Baylor, 10-0, in five innings on Opening Day behind four home runs.

State (1-0) opened the scoring quickly and didn't let up. The first five batters of the game reached safely, and the Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Nadia Barbary's home run in the first. Abby Grace Richardson, making her first career start, launched a solo shot to lead off the second before State exploded for seven runs in the third.

"I'm really proud of the way they came out," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I thought they were focused. They were excited. They were ready to play, and they just set in the tone in the beginning. One through nine and everyone in between – in the dugout – they were embracing their role and just being all in together for each other, and it was a lot of fun. A great start for the season for us."

Goold, meanwhile, quietly kept dealing. She struck out five on the night and did not allow a hit through 4.2 innings. Goold allowed just four baserunners all night, and Baylor saw only two runners reach second.

In the seven-run frame, Morgan Stiles launched a three-run homer quickly followed by Kiarra Sells' own two-run blast. Richardson picked up another RBI, and Xiane Romero plated one as well.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Peja Goold…
"I'll tell you, I know our hitters are glad to not have to be face Peja anymore. She has just been super focused since she got here, and it was fun to see her go out and attack some other hitters. You know, I love the way that she just got stronger as the game went on. Even when the score just continued to inflate. She stayed focused. She never lost it. She's a competitor. She mixes speeds, and she was throwing different pitches for all five innings. I'm so proud of her for her debut and excited to see what she continues to do for us in the Maroon and White."

Quick Hitters

Strong Starts – State won its 13th straight season opener … it was the fifth run-rule victory during that stretch and all five have been shutouts … MSU has shutout the opponent in the first game of the year in eight of the last 13 seasons.

Call The Bomb Squad – The Bulldogs hit four home runs, which is their highest total in a game since April 13, 2025, when they hit four against Missouri … State scored eight of its 10 runs via the long ball tonight … last year, MSU socred 37.6 percent of its runs with a homer.

Nadia Barbary – Opened the scoring with a two-run homer in her first at-bat of the year … later doubled … extended her hitting streak to five games dating back to last year and is hitting .368 (7-for-19) during the streak with an .842 slugging percentage.

Peja Goold – Came one out shy of the 27th no-hitter in school history … struck out five batters … since the start of 2025, she is 23-2 when striking out at least five … allowed just one hit and three walks.

Abby Grace Richardson – Made her first career Division I start while also playing center field for the first time in her collegiate career … homered in her first at-bat of the year … singled home a second run … first career multi-RBI and multi-hit game at the Division I level … walked in final plate appearance.

Morgan Stiles – Was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while drawing a walk and hitting a three-run homer … extended her hitting streak to five games dating back to last year … is hitting .688 (11-for-16) during that span with an .875 slugging percentage.

Kiarra Sells – Hit a two-run home run … was hit by a pitch after ranking fifth nationally with 18 HBPs last season.

Scoring Summary

Top 1
Morgan Stiles opened the ballgame with a single up the middle before Nadia Barbary hit a two-run homer to center.
No. 22 Mississippi State 2, Baylor 0

Top 2
Abby Grace Richardson led off with a home run to right field.
No. 22 Mississippi State 3, Baylor 0

Top 3
With one out, Anna Carder and Morgan Bernardini singled. Tatum Silva pinch ran for Carder at second base. Des Rivera reached on a fielder's choice that saw Bernardini retired at second while Silva moved to third. Richardson blooped a single just inside the right field line, scoring Silva while Rivera advanced to third. Xiane Romero singled into center to score Rivera. Following a pitching change, Stiles hit a three-run homer. Barbary followed up with a double before Kiarra Sells launched a two-run homer to straightaway center field.
No. 22 Mississippi State 10, Baylor 0

Next Up

The Bulldogs continue play at the Getterman Classic on Friday morning. State meets Northwestern State at 10 a.m. CT before playing Wichita State at 12:30 p.m. Both games will air on ESPN+.

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