Sells, Keller Go Back-To-Back To Even Series At No. 15 Georgia

Saturday, March 21

Athens, Ga.

1 p.m.

Mississippi State

29-5, 2-3

#15 Georgia

22-8, 2-3

Mississippi State

Georgia

Sells, Keller Go Back-To-Back To Even Series At No. 15 Georgia

March 21, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

ATHENS, Ga. – No. 11 Mississippi State trailed by one entering the sixth when Kiarra Sells and Kinley Keller hit back-to-back home runs, both on full counts, to lift State to a 3-2 win at No. 15 Georgia on Saturday.

Georgia (22-8, 2-3 SEC) opened the scoring with a solo home run and a successful squeeze play in the fourth inning, but it was all MSU (29-5, 2-3 SEC) from there.

The Bulldogs battled back to scratch one across in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Morgan Stiles. The sixth inning started with loud swings from Sells and Keller before the game turned over to Alyssa Faircloth in the circle.

"We told Kinley Keller before she went to bat that she was going to like that pitcher, and it was just a very mature at-bat," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She just battled and, you know, was competing on marginal pitches and got something that she could handle in her zone. I just love the competitiveness from her and not getting too big in the moment. She was ready when her number was called for us."

Faircloth tossed her seventh complete game of the year, striking out 11. She allowed just five hits and walked none. The junior struck out three of the final seven hitters to secure her ninth win of the year.

Quotables

Kinley Keller on bouncing back from losing a ball in the sun and hitting the game-winning home run...
"It was great. I just wanted to do whatever I can to, you know, have my teammates' back, and especially Alyssa [Faircloth's], after, you know, what happened in the previous inning. But it was just great to see, and I had a lot of fun. It's just one of those feelings that just great, and I'm so glad I got to experience that."

Samantha Ricketts on both home runs coming on full counts after multiple foul balls…
"Ki [Sells] is just so calm and mature, and it's just really hard to beat her at different parts of the zone. She's been working really hard to get back to where she feels comfortable. She had a chance, got a good swing off on 3-2, but she was, again, winning every pitch. That's something we've talked about a lot lately, and thought she did a great job of that and fouling off pitches, making her make a mistake and bring something in the zone. When you've got good pitcher and good hitters, it's always going to be a battle on each and every pitch, and you have to be ready."

Kiarra Sells on her message to Kinley Keller between the two home runs…
"I just told her, 'You got this, You got this, and it's all for you kid.' That's literally the only things I said. I didn't really give her anything specific. I know she's a really great hitter, and so I just wanted her to continue to trust in that. And look at her there."

Quick Hitters

Alyssa Faircloth – Recorded her sixth double-digit strikeout performance of the year after having just one previously in her career … threw her seventh complete game of the season … walked none.

Kinley Keller – Homered for the game-winning RBI after entering as a defensive replacement.

Kiarra Sells – Hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season to tie the game in the sixth … also singled and walked to reach in every plate appearance … leads the team with 12 multi-hit games.

Morgan Stiles – Has reached base in five straight games … collected another RBI and has driven in three of State's six runs in the series.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 4
Jaydyn Goodwin hit a solo home run to right field with one out. Sarah Gordon singled to left. She advanced to third when Tyler Ellison's fly ball was lost in the sun in right field. Pinch hitter Brooke Smith laid down a squeeze bunt, and Gordon beat the throw home.
No. 11 Mississippi State 0, No. 15 Georgia 2

Top 5
Des Rivera led off with a single, and Ally Supan pinch ran. Xiane Romero beat out a potential double play ball that saw Supan retired at second. Paige Ernstes pinch hit and was hit by the second pitch she saw. With two outs, Morgan Stiles singled up the middle to score Romero from second.
No. 11 Mississippi State 1, No. 15 Georgia 2

Top 6
Kiarra Sells and Kinley Keller opened the inning with back-to-back home runs to left field.
No. 11 Mississippi State 3, No. 15 Georgia 2

Next Up

The series rubber match is set for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday. The game will air on SEC Network+.

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