Sunday, April 19
Bryan-College Station, Texas
1 p.m.
Mississippi State
34-14, 6-12
9
at
10
#12 Texas A&M
34-12, 14-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Texas A&M | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 10 | 14 | 0 |
Bulldogs’ Late Rally Comes Up Just Short At No. 12 Texas A&M
April 19, 2026 | Softball
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Bulldogs scored early and late, but it was not enough as No. 14 Mississippi State fell, 10-9, in the series finale at No. 12 Texas A&M.
State (34-14, 6-12 SEC) scored six runs in the first with the help of a Xiane Romero grand slam. Romero would finish with a career-high five RBIs on the day.
The Aggies (34-12, 14-4 SEC) responded with a grand slam of their own in a nine-run second inning to take the lead. Texas A&M also pushed what would prove to be the winning run across with a squeeze bunt in the fourth.
"We'd been struggling to score first or score early, so it was good to see us get out to an early lead, put up runs early," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "And, you know, I like the fight to finish late, but we didn't make the adjustment soon enough off of a really good pitcher that they had. That comes back to bite us because we had chances against her early. I think just overall, we're doing some of the things right that we've been asking for. We just haven't put it together yet, and it's frustrating, but we know that we're more than capable. It's just going to be about staying together and finding a way to get back on track here quickly."
State rallied in the seventh inning, scoring three more runs, all with two outs. Every run MSU scored on Sunday came with two outs. Romero delivered an RBI single, and Morgan Stiles plated two with an RBI double off the wall that just missed clearing it for a game-tying homer.
"A great response from Z. I mean, she's a competitor. She has been working hard. You know, we knew she was fully capable, and she'd been making some adjustments. That was a really big swing for us that we've been needing, and it was good to see her come through and just trust herself and get us on the board with a big couple of runs there."
Samantha Ricketts on Alyssa Faircloth's response from Saturday to Sunday…
"Alyssa, she's a competitor too. I mean, she fights her tail off for us, and I thought she calmed it down for us and kept us in the game and gave us a chance to fight back there at the end."
Kinley Keller – Recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the year.
Morgan Stiles – Went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a walk … now has 13 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games this year.
Des Rivera – Reached base in every game of the series … was hit by a pitch for an RBI today.
Xiane Romero – Hit a grand slam in the first inning … third home run of the year … four RBIs are a career high and half of her season total entering the game.
Kiarra Sells – Extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 17 games … singled and was hit by a pitch … now ninth in MSU career history with 26 hit-by-pitches … also drew a walk for the sixth straight game.
Morgan Stiles led off with a single inside the chalk down the right field line. With one out, Kiarra Sells singled to left field. With two outs, Anna Carder walked to load the bases. Morgan Bernardini then walked to bring home Stiles. Des Rivera was hit by a pitch, scoring Sells, before Xiane Romero hit a grand slam to left center.
No. 14 Mississippi State 6, No. 12 Texas A&M 0
Bottom 2
KK Dement singled down the left field line. Paislie Allen beat out a bunt single, and Frankie Vrazel singled to left center to load the bases. Kennedy Powell singled to left field, scoring Dement. Tallen Edwards walked to score Allen before Mya Perez hit a grand slam. Micaela Wark was hit by a pitch, and Annsley Groce pinch ran at first. Groce advanced to third on two separate wild pitches. With one out, Kelsey Mathis singled past the diving third baseman to score Groce. With two outs, Allen hit a two-run homer to left center.
No. 14 Mississippi State 6, No. 12 Texas A&M 9
Bottom 4
Mathis doubled to left center to lead off the inning and took third on a wild pitch. She beat the throw home to score on a squeeze play when Allen laid down a bunt.
No. 14 Mississippi State 6, No. 12 Texas A&M 10
Top 7
Carder led off with a single up the middle, and Gabby Schaeffer pinch ran at first. Schaeffer moved to second on Ally Supan's ground out for the second out of the inning. Romero singled off the diving shortstop to score Schaeffer. Kinley Keller singled off the pitcher to put two aboard. Stiles doubled to left field, scoring Romero and Keller.
No. 14 Mississippi State 9, No. 12 Texas A&M 10
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
State (34-14, 6-12 SEC) scored six runs in the first with the help of a Xiane Romero grand slam. Romero would finish with a career-high five RBIs on the day.
The Aggies (34-12, 14-4 SEC) responded with a grand slam of their own in a nine-run second inning to take the lead. Texas A&M also pushed what would prove to be the winning run across with a squeeze bunt in the fourth.
"We'd been struggling to score first or score early, so it was good to see us get out to an early lead, put up runs early," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "And, you know, I like the fight to finish late, but we didn't make the adjustment soon enough off of a really good pitcher that they had. That comes back to bite us because we had chances against her early. I think just overall, we're doing some of the things right that we've been asking for. We just haven't put it together yet, and it's frustrating, but we know that we're more than capable. It's just going to be about staying together and finding a way to get back on track here quickly."
State rallied in the seventh inning, scoring three more runs, all with two outs. Every run MSU scored on Sunday came with two outs. Romero delivered an RBI single, and Morgan Stiles plated two with an RBI double off the wall that just missed clearing it for a game-tying homer.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on Xiane Romero's career high in RBIs…"A great response from Z. I mean, she's a competitor. She has been working hard. You know, we knew she was fully capable, and she'd been making some adjustments. That was a really big swing for us that we've been needing, and it was good to see her come through and just trust herself and get us on the board with a big couple of runs there."
Samantha Ricketts on Alyssa Faircloth's response from Saturday to Sunday…
"Alyssa, she's a competitor too. I mean, she fights her tail off for us, and I thought she calmed it down for us and kept us in the game and gave us a chance to fight back there at the end."
Quick Hitters
Anna Carder – Reached base in every game of the series … walked twice today.Kinley Keller – Recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the year.
Morgan Stiles – Went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a walk … now has 13 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games this year.
Des Rivera – Reached base in every game of the series … was hit by a pitch for an RBI today.
Xiane Romero – Hit a grand slam in the first inning … third home run of the year … four RBIs are a career high and half of her season total entering the game.
Kiarra Sells – Extended her reached-base streak to a career-long 17 games … singled and was hit by a pitch … now ninth in MSU career history with 26 hit-by-pitches … also drew a walk for the sixth straight game.
Scoring Recap
Top 1Morgan Stiles led off with a single inside the chalk down the right field line. With one out, Kiarra Sells singled to left field. With two outs, Anna Carder walked to load the bases. Morgan Bernardini then walked to bring home Stiles. Des Rivera was hit by a pitch, scoring Sells, before Xiane Romero hit a grand slam to left center.
No. 14 Mississippi State 6, No. 12 Texas A&M 0
Bottom 2
KK Dement singled down the left field line. Paislie Allen beat out a bunt single, and Frankie Vrazel singled to left center to load the bases. Kennedy Powell singled to left field, scoring Dement. Tallen Edwards walked to score Allen before Mya Perez hit a grand slam. Micaela Wark was hit by a pitch, and Annsley Groce pinch ran at first. Groce advanced to third on two separate wild pitches. With one out, Kelsey Mathis singled past the diving third baseman to score Groce. With two outs, Allen hit a two-run homer to left center.
No. 14 Mississippi State 6, No. 12 Texas A&M 9
Bottom 4
Mathis doubled to left center to lead off the inning and took third on a wild pitch. She beat the throw home to score on a squeeze play when Allen laid down a bunt.
No. 14 Mississippi State 6, No. 12 Texas A&M 10
Top 7
Carder led off with a single up the middle, and Gabby Schaeffer pinch ran at first. Schaeffer moved to second on Ally Supan's ground out for the second out of the inning. Romero singled off the diving shortstop to score Schaeffer. Kinley Keller singled off the pitcher to put two aboard. Stiles doubled to left field, scoring Romero and Keller.
No. 14 Mississippi State 9, No. 12 Texas A&M 10
Next Up
The Bulldogs will play their final home series on April 24-26 as part of MSU's annual Super Bulldog Weekend. State will host No. 22/17 LSU with a pregame graduation ceremony on Friday and Senior Day festivities on Saturday. Sunday's game will be the team's annual Samoan Heritage Day.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Taylor Pannell (2-1)
L: Goold, Peja (14-9)
S: Sidne Peters (5)
Batting:
2B: Stiles, Morgan 1
HR: Romero, Xiane 1
RBI: Stiles, Morgan 2 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1 ; Rivera, Des 1 ; Romero, Xiane 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Stiles, Morgan 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1 ; Carder, Anna 1 ; Schaeffer, Gabby 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1 ; Rivera, Des 1 ; Romero, Xiane 2 ; Keller, Kinley 1
HBP: Sells, Kiarra 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1 ; Rivera, Des 1
Batting:
2B: Kelsey Mathis 1
HR: Mya Perez 1 ; Paislie Allen 1
RBI: Kennedy Powell 1 ; Tallen Edwards 1 ; Mya Perez 4 ; Kelsey Mathis 1 ; Paislie Allen 3
SH: Paislie Allen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy Powell 1 ; Tallen Edwards 1 ; Mya Perez 1 ; Annsley Groce 1 ; Kelsey Mathis 2 ; KK Dement 1 ; Paislie Allen 2 ; Frankie Vrazel 1
HBP: Micaela Wark 1
Game Leaders
cf/rf
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
5
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
UTL
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Sunday, April 12
SOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Arkansas (Game 2)
Sunday, April 12
SOFTBALL | Highlights vs. Arkansas (Game 1)
Friday, April 10