Bulldogs Halt Late Rally To Clinch Series Against No. 23 South Carolina

Monday, March 30

Starkville

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

32-7, 4-5

#23 South Carolina

22-15, 2-7

South Carolina

Mississippi State

Bulldogs Halt Late Rally To Clinch Series Against No. 23 South Carolina

March 30, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Highlights Press Conference

By: Anna Price Mattox, Student Assistant/Communications

STARKVILLE – No. 12 Mississippi State took the series against No. 23 South Carolina with a 4-3 victory on Monday night.

After a solo home run by Paige Ernstes put the Bulldogs out front, the Gamecocks answered back in the fourth to tie up the game. Two doubles from Anna Carder and Xiane Romero in the fifth along with an RBI ground out from Nadia Barbary gave the Bulldogs (32-7, 4-5 SEC) a three-run lead.

South Carolina (22-15, 2-7 SEC) had a chance to tie it in the sixth when Lexi Winters doubled with the bases loaded, but the Bulldogs cut down the tying run at the plate.

"I'm just proud of the fight and toughness that it takes to fall behind after losing Game 1 in the series and bouncing back the way we did," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I love the way they came together and how they just really zeroed in on bringing the energy and controlling it a little bit more out of our dugout and focusing on what we were doing and getting back to playing Mississippi State softball. I love the response. I love that we're seeing different people come through in moments where we need them when they get their opportunities. It's going to take everyone as we continue through this SEC slate we have."

In the circle, the Bulldog trio of Peja Goold, Leila Ammon and Alyssa Faircloth combined to strikeout eight. In her third SEC start, Peja Goold tossed 4.0 innings with only one run allowed. Leila Ammon bridged the gap, entering in a tie ballgame in the fifth, and improved to 8-0 on the season. Goold then re-entered in the seventh to pick up her third save of the year.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on the first SEC series win of the season...
"It is always important in this conference. Every weekend is huge, just knowing that you're constantly facing a ranked team, a postseason type of team and we can't take anything for granted. I think we continued to learn some lessons. That is something that we talk a lot about week after week. What do we learn from each series? I think we learned how to bounce back and what we need to do from Game 1, and hopefully that's something we can apply toward the rest of the season."

Paige Ernstes on her home run tonight...
"I took the first two pitches inside. Then, I knew that she was going to try to tunnel in her rise ball along with that to try to make it seem like the same pitch. I was just thinking, 'I'm going to get on top of it and just hit a line drive,' and it went out."

Xiane Romero on her big double in the fifth...
"I think that was my first at-bat that I was pretty calm. He called this strike up and in, and I didn't really like that so I kind of just got my foot down early and swung my hardest."

Quick Hitters

Nadia Barbary – Singled to extend her hitting streak to five games and her reached base streak to eight.

Anna Carder – Doubled for her first extra-base hit this season.

Paige Ernstes – Hit her first home run of the year to open scoring for the Bulldogs.

Peja Goold – Recorded five strikeouts over 5.0 innings pitched … started and re-entered to secure the save in the seventh … walked none … is 33-3 with a save since the start of 2025 when striking out at least five hitters.

Xiane Romero – Recorded her first multi-RBI game of the year … doubled two runs home in the bottom of the fifth.

Kalani Sells – Recorded her first career outfield assist, throwing out the tying runner at home.

Kiarra Sells – Has reached safely in 13 of her last 20 plate appearances with six walks in that span … has reached safely in eight straight games ... singled to collect a hit for the fourth consecutive game.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 2
Paige Ernstes homered to left to lead off the inning.
No. 23 South Carolina 0, No. 12 Mississippi State 1

Top 4
With one out, Arianna Rodi homered to center.
No. 23 South Carolina 1, No. 12 Mississippi State 1

Bottom 5
Anna Carder doubled to right center to lead off, and Kalani Sells pinch ran. Des Rivera reached on an error by the third baseman that allowed Kalani Sells to advance to third. Gabby Schaeffer pinch ran for Rivera and stole second. Xiane Romero doubled to left center scoring both runners. Kiarra Sells singled to center advancing Romero to third. With one out, Nadia Barbary grounded out to the pitcher scoring Romero.
No. 23 South Carolina 1, No. 12 Mississippi State 4

Top 6
Tori Ensley and Rodi walked to start the inning. Ansley Bennett pinch ran for Rodi. Jamie Mackay singled to load the bases, and Nia McKnight pinch ran for her at first. With one out, Lexi Winters doubled to left-center, scoring Bennett and Ensley while McKnight was thrown out at the plate.
No. 23 South Carolina 3, No. 12 Mississippi State 4

Next Up

The Bulldogs will travel to No. 3/5 Florida next week for a three-game series that will start early. Friday night's game is still scheduled for 5 p.m. CT, but Saturday's contest will be televised nationally on SEC Network beginning at 10:30 a.m. The series finale is set for noon.

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