Bulldogs Fall In Walk-Off Fashion At Ole Miss Friday

Friday, May 1

Oxford, Miss.

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

37-16, 9-14

Ole Miss

31-23, 5-18

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mississippi State	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	5	0
Ole Miss	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	5	0

STARKVILLE, MS - April 25, 2026 - Mississippi State Catcher Des Rivera (#23) during the game between the LSU Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Nusz Park in Starkville, MS. Photo By Mike Mattina

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Bulldogs Fall In Walk-Off Fashion At Ole Miss Friday

May 01, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

OXFORD, Miss. – A pair of home runs proved to be the difference on Friday night as No. 18 Mississippi State lost the second game of the series at Ole Miss, 3-2.

The Rebels' Kennedy Bunker began and ended the game with solo home runs, leading off the bottom of the first and providing the walk-off blast in the seventh.

In between Bunker's swings. State (37-16, 9-14 SEC) battled back to tie the game twice. The Bulldogs drew four walks in the fourth inning, culminating in an RBI free pass issued to Nadia Barbary. After the Rebels (31-23, 5-18 SEC) regained the lead with a pair of doubles in the bottom of the sixth, Xiane Romero hit a solo homer to tie it in the seventh.

"I think just the too many opportunities early on wasted," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "I always like the fight at the end, but 10 left on base and not taking advantage of the pitchers early in the game, I think is where we lost that game."

MSU retired the first hitter in the bottom of the seventh before surrendering the game-ending hit. Both teams totaled five hits on the night. Romero was joined by Des Rivera with an extra-base hit, and Barbary, Paige Ernstes and Kiarra Sells all singled.

Quick Hitters

Nadia Barbary – Singled and now three hits away from 200 for her career and would be 13th player in MSU history to reach that milestone … turned an unassisted double play to end the fifth inning.

Paige Ernstes – Reached twice with a walk and a single.

Xiane Romero – Homered in the sixth inning to tie the game … hitting .467 (7-for-15) over the last five games with a double, two home runs, and four runs scored ... extended hitting streak to career-long four games.

Des Rivera – Doubled off the left-center wall … first extra-base hit since April 10 against Arkansas

Kiarra Sells – Has walked or been hit by a pitch 21 times in the last 22 games.

Morgan Stiles – Extended her reached-base streak to eight games with a walk.

Dawg Defense – MSU turned in its seventh consecutive errorless game and 35th of the season … MSU's longest streak of errorless games this year is eight.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 1
Kennedy Bunker led off with a home run to right field.
No. 18 Mississippi State 0, Ole Miss 1

Top 4
Morgan Bernardini walked to lead off. Tatum Silva pinch ran for Bernardini but was retired when Des Rivera hit into a fielder's choice. Ally Supan pinch ran for Rivera. Gretta Grassel, Morgan Stiles and Nadia Barbary then drew three straight walks to load the bases and score Supan.
No. 18 Mississippi State 1, Ole Miss 1

Bottom 6
Madi George led off with a double. George advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Cassie Reasner. Laylonna Applin doubled to right field, scoring George.
No. 18 Mississippi State 1, Ole Miss 2

Top 7
Xiane Romero hit a leadoff home run to right field.
No. 18 Mississippi State 2, Ole Miss 2

Bottom 7
With one out, Bunker hit a walk-off home run.
No. 18 Mississippi State 2, Ole Miss 3

Next Up

The rubber match is set for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday and will be televised nationally on SEC Network.

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