Bulldogs Clinch Series Over No. 20 LSU On Record-Setting Senior Day

Saturday, April 25

Starkville

2 p.m.

Mississippi State

36-14, 8-12

#20 LSU

32-16, 9-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
LSU	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	7	1
Mississippi State	5	0	0	0	0	0	X	5	8	0

Bulldogs Clinch Series Over No. 20 LSU On Record-Setting Senior Day

April 25, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Highlights AUSL Golden Ticket Presentation Press Conference

By: Anna Price Mattox, Student Assistant/Communications

STARKVILLE – Peja Goold and No. 17 Mississippi State clinched the series against No. 20 LSU with a 5-2 win in front of a record-breaking crowd on Saturday.

After a first inning homer by the Tigers (32-16, 9-11 SEC), State answered back with a five-run bottom of the first. Paige Ernstes hit a go-ahead three-run homer for the second day in a row, followed by a two-run shot from Xiane Romero. The Tigers added a run in the third, but Goold finished out the game with four straight scoreless frames.

It was Goold's 12th complete game of the season, and she struck 11 for her fourth double-digit strikeout outing this year. She has only allowed two or fewer runs in 16 appearances this year. Following the game, she was presented with the final Golden Ticket for the AUSL College Draft, guaranteeing her a spot on one of the league's six professional teams this summer.

"Peja is probably one of the most mature players I've had, especially as a pitcher," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "She's confident, hardworking and – honestly – she already has the work ethic of a pro in college. She's a great leader in the circle, and she really trusts her teammates. I love the way she goes about her business. We're so excited for her. Obviously, she's a great pitcher, a great softball player, but she's an even better human being in the way she represents herself and her family. We're just so thrilled that she gets to continue her career and play at the next level and represent Mississippi State in the AUSL."

Romero finished with two hits, but four of the Bulldogs eight hits came from the seniors that were honored prior to the game. The Bulldogs clinched the series in front of 2,606 fans on Super Bulldog Weekend, setting a new single-game Nusz Park record and breaking MSU's own record for the largest crowd at a college softball game in the state of Mississippi.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on the series win and toughness of the SEC…
"Every weekend is like a Super Regional. You've got to bring it every single day. Every team is a quality opponent with great pitchers and great hitters just like LSU is. You can't have an off day and expect to come up with a win or a series win. I'm just really proud of the resiliency of this group, especially the way the last couple of weeks have gone for us. We knew we were better than what we were showing. Facing a really good team in LSU and coming out and attacking the way we have the last two days, I'm just proud of them for the fight we've shown."

Xiane Romero on winning the series...
"Oh my gosh, it's been amazing. I feel like the last few weeks we've had a little bit of trouble with hitting and not getting the timely hits like we're supposed to, and I think we needed that a lot. We worked very hard in the cages and on the field to get here and win."

Peja Goold on the AUSL Golden Ticket...
"It means a lot, especially because of my journey to get here. A year ago this would have never been in the picture for me, so I have a lot to thank Mississippi State for. If I weren't here, that probably wouldn't have been an opportunity presented to me. I have to thank the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to be here. That's such a huge honor to be able to make it this far because a year ago I didn't know if I wanted to keep playing."

Quick Hitters

Pack the Park – Bulldog fans set the school's all-time attendance record with 2,606 fans in the park … it was the fourth time in program history more than 2,000 fans packed Nusz Park, surpassing the 2,299 from Game 2 of the 2022 Starkville Super Regional … two of the top four single-game totals in program history have been posted this season.

The Magic Number – The Bulldogs have scored five or more runs in 104 of State's 136 wins (76.5 percent) since 2023, and they are 174-21 under Samantha Ricketts when scoring at least five.

Peja Goold – Struck out 11 batters over 7.0 innings, her fourth double-digit strikeout outing of the season … since the start of 2025, she has struck out five or more batters in 40 appearances, going 34-3 in those games … received a Golden Ticket for the AUSL College Draft following the game and will be MSU's 19th draft pick in program history.

Paige Ernstes – Hit a three-run homer … has homered and recorded multi-RBI games in both games of the series.

Xiane Romero – Homered to tally her third multi-RBI game of the year … has now hit a home run in two of the last three games … also singled to record her second multi-hit game of the year.

Scoring Recap

Top 1
With one out, Sierra Daniel homered to right field.
No. 20 LSU 1, No. 17 Mississippi State 0

Bottom 1
Morgan Stiles beat out an infield single to third base to lead off. Nadia Barbary singled to center, advancing Stiles to second. With one out, Paige Ernstes hits a three-run homer to left-center field. Anna Carder reached on an error by the second baseman before Xiane Romero homered to left field.
No. 20 LSU 1, No. 17 Mississippi State 5

Top 3
Avery Hodge singled to third. Jalia Lassiter reached on a fielder's choice, that saw Hodge retired at second. With two outs, Kylee Edwards drew a walk, advancing Lassiter. Lassiter scored on a single to center by Alix Franklin.
No. 20 LSU 2, No. 17 Mississippi State 5

Next Up

State will go for its first sweep of the season on Sunday morning. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT, and 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."