Tuesday, March 10
Starkville
3 p.m.
Mississippi State
25-2
9
vs
0
Southeast Missouri
6-14
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Southeast Missouri
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Mississippi State
7
1
0
1
X
9
8
1
State Enters SEC Play With Historic Start Behind Ammon’s No-Hitter
March 10, 2026 | Softball
STARKVILLE – No. 12 Mississippi State swept Southeast Missouri on Tuesday with a pair shutouts to enter SEC play with its best winning percentage on record. The Bulldogs downed the Redhawks by scores of 9-0, in five innings, and 4-0.
Leila Ammon got things started by tossing her first career no-hitter and the 27th in program history. Ammon struck out seven over 5.0 innings in Game 1. The second game was a staff effort with Peja Goold getting the start before handing the ball over to Delainey Everett and Alyssa Faircloth. Faircloth earned her four save of the year, striking out five of six hitters she faced.
"The pitchers have been a huge part of everything up to this part of the season," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Just having a full staff and being able to turn to any of the arms at any point has been really nice. Easing Delainey [Everett] back into these last couple weeks is going to be big for us moving forward. Great starts from both of them. Leila has looked really sharp lately and, with her being a sophomore, is really exciting for us. With her, Peja and Alyssa, we really can start any of them at any time this weekend. Knowing we've got Delainey in relief, we're still trying to piece her piece her back in a little bit too, But I really like what we're seeing from our staff."
The Bulldogs (26-2) took the first game of the day in five innings, scoring seven runs in the first. Des Rivera and Morgan Stiles both posted multi-hit and multi-RBI efforts in the first game. Along the way, Nadia Barbary hit her eighth homer of the year.
In Game 2, Gabby Schaeffer opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second. Rivera later added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly, and Abigail Stevens plated one on a single into center. Barbary picked up her third RBI of the day in the sixth.
For the Bulldogs, Tuesday stood as their eighth and ninth consecutive wins. State has 10 run-rule wins this season and eight shutouts.
"I think we learned a lot about our team in games like those. Even this weekend, facing South Alabama for the second time on a Sunday, fifth game in a row after so many days on the road and getting down early, I think we learned a lot about ourselves. The big thing I've seen is we just really don't panic. There's not a lot of pressing. Not a lot of 'Oh my gosh, we have to do this.' They just very much go about our business and do what we do best. I think after the two losses – the responses we saw with Belmont and Clemson – it was just, we didn't play our game. We need to come out and do what we know how to do and just know that we have higher expectations than we showed the day before. Those were good responses from the team. I think just they have very mature approaches, a very veteran mentality. I think that starts at the top with a lot of our upperclassmen and the younger ones are doing a really good job of learning from them as we go."
Leila Ammon on her no hitter...
"Honestly, I was kind of freaking out. I knew my defense had my back. They've had it all season so far, so I just pounded the zone and trusted that they were going to get the outs."
Leila Ammon on the conversations in the dugout...
"It's kind of like a curse to say, 'You know, you have a no-hitter,' or a perfect game or anything like that. I was glad that nobody told me because I was already internally freaking out. I'm glad they just kept me grounded."
Everybody Up – Mississippi State batted around in the first inning of Game 1, scoring seven runs … tied for MSU's most first-inning runs this year … it was the seventh time this season the Bulldogs batted around in an inning.
Sacrificial Swings – The Bulldogs have hit 18 sacrifice flies this year, the third most in program history … MSU hit a school-record 21 in each of the past two seasons … Des Rivera hit one in Game 2.
Leila Ammon – Threw the 27th no-hitter in school history and the first of her career … struck out seven in 5.0 innings … it was her second complete game of the year and first solo shutout as a Bulldog.
Nadia Barbary – Has a hit in six consecutive games and has reached safely in nine straight … hit her eighth home run of the year in Game 1 … went 3-for-4 in Game 2, including her 40th career double, which ranks ninth in program history … now has eight multi-hit games this year.
Alyssa Faircloth – Earned her fourth save of the year … entered the game in the sixth inning and struck out five of the six batters she faced.
Des Rivera – Went 2-for-2 in Game 1, driving in two runs … tagged a runner out at the plate to preserve the shutout in Game 2 … hit her fourth sacrifice fly, which is tied for third in MSU single-season history.
Gabby Schaeffer – Stole her fifth base this year … played her first innings at shortstop this season during Game 1 … opened the scoring for the Bulldogs in Game 2 with a home run.
Kiarra Sells – Stole her eighth base of the year in Game 1, setting a new single-season career high … walked in both games … drew a career-high-tying three walks in Game 2.
Tatum Silva – Beat out a bunt single in Game 1 to extend her reached-base streak to three games … picked up her second outfield assist of the year, throwing out a runner at home in Game 2.
Morgan Stiles – Went 2-for-3, recording her first hit with the bases loaded this season … singled to score two in Game 1 … now has 10 multi-hit and four multi-RBI games this year … stole her first base of the season.
Morgan Stiles and Nadia Barbary led off with back-to-back singles. Kiarra Sells reached on a fielder's choice to second that saw Barbary retired while Stiles advanced to third. Morgan Bernardini reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, scoring Stiles. Des Rivera singled to right field, scoring Sells while Bernardini reached second. Bernardini was forced out at third on Kinley Keller's fielder's choice to third base. Anna Carder singled off the pitcher to load the bases. Xiane Romero and Abby Grace Richardson both drew bases-loaded walks to plate runs. Stiles singled up the middle, scoring Carder and Romero while Richardson moved to third. Richardson scored on the throw when Stiles stole second.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 7
Bottom 2
Sells walked to lead off and stole second with one out. She scored on Rivera's single up the middle.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 8
Bottom 3
Barbary led off the inning with a home run to left.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 9
Gabby Schaeffer homered to left field with one out.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 1
Bottom 3
With one out, Nadia Barbary singled through the left side followed by a Kiarra Sells walk to advance to second. Ally Supan pinch ran for Barbary. Morgan Bernardini drew a walk to load the bases, and Kalani Sells came in to run for Bernardini. Des Rivera hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Supan. Abigail Stevens then singled to center scoring Kalani Sells.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 6
With one out, Taylor Troutman hit a pinch-hit double down the right field line. Anna Carder pinch hit and walked. Xiane Romero entered the game as a pinch runner for Carder, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Morgan Stiles drew a walk to load the bases. Barbary reached first one a fielder's choice that punched out Romero and scored Silva.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 4
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Leila Ammon got things started by tossing her first career no-hitter and the 27th in program history. Ammon struck out seven over 5.0 innings in Game 1. The second game was a staff effort with Peja Goold getting the start before handing the ball over to Delainey Everett and Alyssa Faircloth. Faircloth earned her four save of the year, striking out five of six hitters she faced.
"The pitchers have been a huge part of everything up to this part of the season," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "Just having a full staff and being able to turn to any of the arms at any point has been really nice. Easing Delainey [Everett] back into these last couple weeks is going to be big for us moving forward. Great starts from both of them. Leila has looked really sharp lately and, with her being a sophomore, is really exciting for us. With her, Peja and Alyssa, we really can start any of them at any time this weekend. Knowing we've got Delainey in relief, we're still trying to piece her piece her back in a little bit too, But I really like what we're seeing from our staff."
The Bulldogs (26-2) took the first game of the day in five innings, scoring seven runs in the first. Des Rivera and Morgan Stiles both posted multi-hit and multi-RBI efforts in the first game. Along the way, Nadia Barbary hit her eighth homer of the year.
In Game 2, Gabby Schaeffer opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second. Rivera later added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly, and Abigail Stevens plated one on a single into center. Barbary picked up her third RBI of the day in the sixth.
For the Bulldogs, Tuesday stood as their eighth and ninth consecutive wins. State has 10 run-rule wins this season and eight shutouts.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on the team's response from their two losses..."I think we learned a lot about our team in games like those. Even this weekend, facing South Alabama for the second time on a Sunday, fifth game in a row after so many days on the road and getting down early, I think we learned a lot about ourselves. The big thing I've seen is we just really don't panic. There's not a lot of pressing. Not a lot of 'Oh my gosh, we have to do this.' They just very much go about our business and do what we do best. I think after the two losses – the responses we saw with Belmont and Clemson – it was just, we didn't play our game. We need to come out and do what we know how to do and just know that we have higher expectations than we showed the day before. Those were good responses from the team. I think just they have very mature approaches, a very veteran mentality. I think that starts at the top with a lot of our upperclassmen and the younger ones are doing a really good job of learning from them as we go."
Leila Ammon on her no hitter...
"Honestly, I was kind of freaking out. I knew my defense had my back. They've had it all season so far, so I just pounded the zone and trusted that they were going to get the outs."
Leila Ammon on the conversations in the dugout...
"It's kind of like a curse to say, 'You know, you have a no-hitter,' or a perfect game or anything like that. I was glad that nobody told me because I was already internally freaking out. I'm glad they just kept me grounded."
Quick Hitters
Commanding Non-Conference – State posted its best winning percentage entering conference play in program history this season … the Bulldogs will open SEC play with a 26-2 (.929) record … the previous record was .905 (19-2) in 2014.Everybody Up – Mississippi State batted around in the first inning of Game 1, scoring seven runs … tied for MSU's most first-inning runs this year … it was the seventh time this season the Bulldogs batted around in an inning.
Sacrificial Swings – The Bulldogs have hit 18 sacrifice flies this year, the third most in program history … MSU hit a school-record 21 in each of the past two seasons … Des Rivera hit one in Game 2.
Leila Ammon – Threw the 27th no-hitter in school history and the first of her career … struck out seven in 5.0 innings … it was her second complete game of the year and first solo shutout as a Bulldog.
Nadia Barbary – Has a hit in six consecutive games and has reached safely in nine straight … hit her eighth home run of the year in Game 1 … went 3-for-4 in Game 2, including her 40th career double, which ranks ninth in program history … now has eight multi-hit games this year.
Alyssa Faircloth – Earned her fourth save of the year … entered the game in the sixth inning and struck out five of the six batters she faced.
Des Rivera – Went 2-for-2 in Game 1, driving in two runs … tagged a runner out at the plate to preserve the shutout in Game 2 … hit her fourth sacrifice fly, which is tied for third in MSU single-season history.
Gabby Schaeffer – Stole her fifth base this year … played her first innings at shortstop this season during Game 1 … opened the scoring for the Bulldogs in Game 2 with a home run.
Kiarra Sells – Stole her eighth base of the year in Game 1, setting a new single-season career high … walked in both games … drew a career-high-tying three walks in Game 2.
Tatum Silva – Beat out a bunt single in Game 1 to extend her reached-base streak to three games … picked up her second outfield assist of the year, throwing out a runner at home in Game 2.
Morgan Stiles – Went 2-for-3, recording her first hit with the bases loaded this season … singled to score two in Game 1 … now has 10 multi-hit and four multi-RBI games this year … stole her first base of the season.
Game 1 Scoring Recap
Bottom 1Morgan Stiles and Nadia Barbary led off with back-to-back singles. Kiarra Sells reached on a fielder's choice to second that saw Barbary retired while Stiles advanced to third. Morgan Bernardini reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, scoring Stiles. Des Rivera singled to right field, scoring Sells while Bernardini reached second. Bernardini was forced out at third on Kinley Keller's fielder's choice to third base. Anna Carder singled off the pitcher to load the bases. Xiane Romero and Abby Grace Richardson both drew bases-loaded walks to plate runs. Stiles singled up the middle, scoring Carder and Romero while Richardson moved to third. Richardson scored on the throw when Stiles stole second.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 7
Bottom 2
Sells walked to lead off and stole second with one out. She scored on Rivera's single up the middle.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 8
Bottom 3
Barbary led off the inning with a home run to left.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 9
Game 2 Scoring Recap
Bottom 2Gabby Schaeffer homered to left field with one out.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 1
Bottom 3
With one out, Nadia Barbary singled through the left side followed by a Kiarra Sells walk to advance to second. Ally Supan pinch ran for Barbary. Morgan Bernardini drew a walk to load the bases, and Kalani Sells came in to run for Bernardini. Des Rivera hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Supan. Abigail Stevens then singled to center scoring Kalani Sells.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 6
With one out, Taylor Troutman hit a pinch-hit double down the right field line. Anna Carder pinch hit and walked. Xiane Romero entered the game as a pinch runner for Carder, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Morgan Stiles drew a walk to load the bases. Barbary reached first one a fielder's choice that punched out Romero and scored Silva.
Southeast Missouri 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 4
Next Up
Mississippi State welcomes No. 1/1 Tennessee to Nusz Park on Friday, March 13 for its SEC opener at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs and Lady Vols will play three games on March 13-15 with all three airing on SEC Network+. Saturday is scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch with the series concluding at noon on Sunday.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ammon, Leila (7-0)
L: CARNEY, Maddie (2-6)
Batting:
HR: Barbary, Nadia 1
RBI: Stiles, Morgan 2 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1 ; Rivera, Des 2 ; Romero, Xiane 1 ; Richardson, Abby Grace 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stiles, Morgan 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 2 ; Rivera, Des 1 ; Keller, Kinley 1 ; Carder, Anna 1 ; Romero, Xiane 1 ; Richardson, Abby Grace 1
SB: Stiles, Morgan 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1 ; Schaeffer, Gabby 1
Game Leaders
ss/dp
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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C
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P
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P
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P
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OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballC
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INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
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P
/ SoftballINF
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UTL
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INF
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Highlights vs. SE Missouri (Game 2)
Tuesday, March 10
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Tuesday, March 10
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Tuesday, February 24