Mississippi State
Saint Mary's (CA)
Bulldogs Defeat Saint Mary’s To Advance To Second Super Regional In Program History
May 17, 2026 | Softball
EUGENE, Ore. – Starkville is home to some Super Dawgs once again. No. 20 Mississippi State defeated Saint Mary's, 5-0, on Sunday evening to complete an undefeated run through the Eugene Regional and reach the second Super Regional in program history.
As has been the story all year long, the Bulldogs took control of the game from the circle. Alyssa Faircloth completed the most impressive run through a regional that MSU has ever seen. The junior picked up all three wins, struck out an MSU NCAA Tournament-record 26 batters and did not allow a run in 15.2 innings of work while throwing two complete-game shutouts and a no-hitter.
"I feel amazing," Faircloth said. "All the hard work, all the early mornings and everything is paying off and just having fun out here and enjoying every second of it."
Offensively, the veteran presence of Nadia Barbary provided a two-run homer in the first inning. She is just the seventh Bulldog ever with multiple homers in a single NCAA Tournament and now trails only Mia Davidson (5) in MSU's career NCAA Tournament record book. Tatum Silva added a three-run insurance homer in the bottom of the sixth.
That was plenty of support for Faircloth who tied the MSU single-game NCAA Tournament record with 14 strikeouts. Eight of nine Saint Mary's hitters were sat down on strikes at least once.
Super Dawgs – The Bulldogs advanced to the Super Regionals for the second time in program history and first time since 2022 … with the win, State tied the 2008 season with 41 wins, which is the second-highest total in school history.
Nadia Barbary – Hit her third career NCAA Tournament home run, which ranks second in program history … just the seventh Bulldog with multiple homers in a single NCAA Tournament run … also walked today.
Alyssa Faircloth – Recorded her 10th game with double-digit strikeouts this season … broke the MSU single-season strikeout record (261, entered on 247) previously held by Alison Owen (250 in 2013) … also broke Owen's 2013 single-year NCAA Tournament strikeout record with 22 … allowed just two hits in the Eugene Regional … struck out 26 (12 entering) in 15.2 scoreless innings (8.2 entering) over the course of the regional … has not allowed a run in 17.2 (10.2 entering) innings.
Kinley Keller – Has reached base in every game of the 2026 postseason … now 5-for-11 in the postseason with three doubles and two walks … has matched her career-long reached-base streak at six games.
Tatum Silva – Hit her second career home run … the three-run shot tied her career-high in RBIs.
Morgan Stiles – Now tied for fourth in MSU NCAA Tournament history with 12 career hits … boasts a career .500 (12-for-24) average in the NCAA Tournament, which would be the MSU record … has a hit in all seven NCAA Tournament games she's played in her career.
Bottom 1
Morgan Stiles singled just inside the third base line to open the ballgame before Nadia Barbary hit a two-run homer to left field.
Saint Mary's 0, No. 20 Mississippi State 2
Bottom 6
Xiane Romero singled to center. She advanced to third on Abigail Stevens' pinch-hit single to right center. Stevens took second on the throw to third. Tatum Silva hit a three-run homer to right field.
Saint Mary's 0, No. 20 Mississippi State 5
MSU now advances to its second Super Regional appearance in school history. The Bulldogs are slated to meet No. 3-overall national seed Oklahoma next week for a best-of-three series with a trip to the Women's College World Series on the line.
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