Wednesday, February 26
Starkville
4 p.m.
Mississippi State
14-2
11
vs
1
UAB
8-7
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
UAB
0
0
1
0
0
1
3
1
Mississippi State
0
3
3
5
X
11
10
0
Bulldogs Power To Midweek Run-Rule Victory
February 26, 2025 | Softball
STARKVILLE – A season-high four home runs were more than enough to give No. 21 Mississippi State its fifth run-rule victory of the year on Wednesday as the Bulldogs downed UAB, 11-1, in five frames.
Freshman Morgan Stiles opened the scoring with her first career home run, a three-run blast in the bottom of the second. In the third, Nadia Barbary and Kiarra Sells left the yard on back-to-back pitches to make it a 5-1 ballgame before Morgan Bernardini delivered the knockout blow with a three-run shot of her own in the fourth. Stiles also scored on an error in the fourth, and Kylee Edwards and Sells added RBI singles in the game.
For Stiles, it was a breakout day. She also walked and came around to score. Her three RBIs are a career high, and she raised her batting average by more than 60 points on Wednesday.
"We're just trying to get her comfortable," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "That was what preseason was about, especially when she's kind of, really the only freshman in there right now, and one of two underclassmen, with her and Kylee [Edwards]. I think it's been a lot of learning and adjusting to the game where everybody is good. Everybody is great in high school and at the travel ball level, but I think she's continuing to learn. She puts in a ton of extra work, and I think it's always satisfying to see that pay off for a player like that. She's a competitor. She's fiery. She's athletic. She can hit for average and for power, so I think we saw this weekend better and better at-bats from her and knew that she was getting close to some big swings for us. That was really good to see her come through for her first tonight."
In the circle, Raelin Chaffin dominated yet another ballgame, tossing her SEC-leading sixth complete game of the year while earning her eighth win. She struck out eight without allowing a walk.
"Yeah, I mean it worked out well with the type of pitchers we were seeing. They're a little more up in the zone, and Raelin is the same way. Anytime you're a rise ball pitcher with the wind blowing out, it can be a little tougher, so you've got to make sure you're making the ball move. I think that their pitcher, the first inning, did a really good job with that and just kind of kept us on our heels. Again, good adjustments by us up and down the line up. I think most of them were probably out without the wind, but always I think it's more of a hitter-friendly ballpark when you see that."
Raelin Chaffin on her progression and comfort in the circle...
"I think it's super easy to perform when you have a coach like Coach T [Taryne Mowatt-McKinney], and she knows what's good. She really works with us in the bullpen before the game, sees what's good and knows what to call. Our defense is always just shut down, so it's very easy on the mind to go out there and know that they've got your back."
Morgan Stiles on support through an early season slump at the plate...
"The biggest thing that the older girls have helped with is just confidence and being okay with failing. I've been talking with them because they've all been through it, and they know how hard it can be. I've been learning that it's okay to fail, and that's what makes you better. I'm really leaning on them to help guide me through it when I'm in my head or not doing what I can do and just looking to them for leadership. The coaches as well, they've all been really great. Everyone's just been really supportive and cheering me on, and it's the best environment ever."
Nadia Barbary – Hit her second home run of the year … extended her hitting streak to four games.
Morgan Bernardini – Hit her third double of the year and second three-run home run of the season … leads the team with six multi-hit games.
Raelin Chaffin – Tossed her sixth complete game of the season, earning her eighth win … ranked fourth nationally entering play in complete games and sixth in wins … has allowed two runs or less in three of her complete games this season … struck out eight without allowing a walk.
Kylee Edwards – Extended her career-long reached-base streak to nine games and career-long hitting streak to five games with a hit-by-pitch and RBI single … now 4-for-4 on stolen bases this season, which is second on the team.
Sierra Sacco – Extended her reached-base streak to 14 games with a single … stole a base and is now 9-for-11 on steal attempts this year … boasts 92 career stolen bases … entered play today ranked fifth among active players nationally … boasts 209 career hits and is among the top 10 active players nationally.
Kiarra Sells – Hit her third home run of the season … recorded her first career multi-hit game and team-leading fourth multi-RBI game this season.
Morgan Stiles – Hit her first career home run, which was also her first extra-base hit … the three-run homer gave her a career-high in RBIs.
With one out, Morgan Bernardini doubled to right-center field. Kylee Edwards was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Morgan Stiles hit her first career home run to left field, opening the scoring.
UAB 0, No. 21 Mississippi State 3
Top 3
Hannah Miles doubled to right-center with one out. A two-out single by Bella Wiggins brought Miles home.
UAB 1, No. 21 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 3
Nadia Barbary led off the bottom of the third with a home run to left center. Kiarra Sells hit the very next pitch out for a homer of her own.
UAB 1, No. 21 Mississippi State 6
Bottom 4
Stiles drew a walk to open the inning. Sierra Sacco followed with a single into right field before Barbary flied out to right, moving Stiles to third. Sacco stole second and an error on the back pick attempt at third allowed Stiles to score. Kiarra Sells hit an RBI single through the right side to score Sacco. Lexi Sosa then singled up the middle, moving Kiarra Sells to second. Kalani Sells came in to pinch run for Sosa. Jessie Blaine flied out to right, but Kiarra Sells advanced to third on the play. Kalani Sells then stole second base before Bernadini hit a three-run homer to left-center.
UAB 1, No. 21 Mississippi State 11
State starts off the weekend on Friday against Alabama State at 3 p.m. before meeting New Mexico at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Bulldogs play Northwestern State at 12:30 p.m. then face New Mexico again at 3 p.m. They'll close the weekend at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday with a rematch against Northwestern State.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Freshman Morgan Stiles opened the scoring with her first career home run, a three-run blast in the bottom of the second. In the third, Nadia Barbary and Kiarra Sells left the yard on back-to-back pitches to make it a 5-1 ballgame before Morgan Bernardini delivered the knockout blow with a three-run shot of her own in the fourth. Stiles also scored on an error in the fourth, and Kylee Edwards and Sells added RBI singles in the game.
For Stiles, it was a breakout day. She also walked and came around to score. Her three RBIs are a career high, and she raised her batting average by more than 60 points on Wednesday.
"We're just trying to get her comfortable," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "That was what preseason was about, especially when she's kind of, really the only freshman in there right now, and one of two underclassmen, with her and Kylee [Edwards]. I think it's been a lot of learning and adjusting to the game where everybody is good. Everybody is great in high school and at the travel ball level, but I think she's continuing to learn. She puts in a ton of extra work, and I think it's always satisfying to see that pay off for a player like that. She's a competitor. She's fiery. She's athletic. She can hit for average and for power, so I think we saw this weekend better and better at-bats from her and knew that she was getting close to some big swings for us. That was really good to see her come through for her first tonight."
In the circle, Raelin Chaffin dominated yet another ballgame, tossing her SEC-leading sixth complete game of the year while earning her eighth win. She struck out eight without allowing a walk.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on the wind blowing out..."Yeah, I mean it worked out well with the type of pitchers we were seeing. They're a little more up in the zone, and Raelin is the same way. Anytime you're a rise ball pitcher with the wind blowing out, it can be a little tougher, so you've got to make sure you're making the ball move. I think that their pitcher, the first inning, did a really good job with that and just kind of kept us on our heels. Again, good adjustments by us up and down the line up. I think most of them were probably out without the wind, but always I think it's more of a hitter-friendly ballpark when you see that."
Raelin Chaffin on her progression and comfort in the circle...
"I think it's super easy to perform when you have a coach like Coach T [Taryne Mowatt-McKinney], and she knows what's good. She really works with us in the bullpen before the game, sees what's good and knows what to call. Our defense is always just shut down, so it's very easy on the mind to go out there and know that they've got your back."
Morgan Stiles on support through an early season slump at the plate...
"The biggest thing that the older girls have helped with is just confidence and being okay with failing. I've been talking with them because they've all been through it, and they know how hard it can be. I've been learning that it's okay to fail, and that's what makes you better. I'm really leaning on them to help guide me through it when I'm in my head or not doing what I can do and just looking to them for leadership. The coaches as well, they've all been really great. Everyone's just been really supportive and cheering me on, and it's the best environment ever."
Quick Hitters
Loving The Long Ball – State hit a season-high four homers, marking its first game with three or more home since March 28, 2024, against Florida … MSU recorded its first pair of back-to-back home runs this year thanks to Nadia Barbary and Kiarra Sells, who left the yard on back-to-back pitches.Nadia Barbary – Hit her second home run of the year … extended her hitting streak to four games.
Morgan Bernardini – Hit her third double of the year and second three-run home run of the season … leads the team with six multi-hit games.
Raelin Chaffin – Tossed her sixth complete game of the season, earning her eighth win … ranked fourth nationally entering play in complete games and sixth in wins … has allowed two runs or less in three of her complete games this season … struck out eight without allowing a walk.
Kylee Edwards – Extended her career-long reached-base streak to nine games and career-long hitting streak to five games with a hit-by-pitch and RBI single … now 4-for-4 on stolen bases this season, which is second on the team.
Sierra Sacco – Extended her reached-base streak to 14 games with a single … stole a base and is now 9-for-11 on steal attempts this year … boasts 92 career stolen bases … entered play today ranked fifth among active players nationally … boasts 209 career hits and is among the top 10 active players nationally.
Kiarra Sells – Hit her third home run of the season … recorded her first career multi-hit game and team-leading fourth multi-RBI game this season.
Morgan Stiles – Hit her first career home run, which was also her first extra-base hit … the three-run homer gave her a career-high in RBIs.
Scoring Recap
Bottom 2With one out, Morgan Bernardini doubled to right-center field. Kylee Edwards was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Morgan Stiles hit her first career home run to left field, opening the scoring.
UAB 0, No. 21 Mississippi State 3
Top 3
Hannah Miles doubled to right-center with one out. A two-out single by Bella Wiggins brought Miles home.
UAB 1, No. 21 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 3
Nadia Barbary led off the bottom of the third with a home run to left center. Kiarra Sells hit the very next pitch out for a homer of her own.
UAB 1, No. 21 Mississippi State 6
Bottom 4
Stiles drew a walk to open the inning. Sierra Sacco followed with a single into right field before Barbary flied out to right, moving Stiles to third. Sacco stole second and an error on the back pick attempt at third allowed Stiles to score. Kiarra Sells hit an RBI single through the right side to score Sacco. Lexi Sosa then singled up the middle, moving Kiarra Sells to second. Kalani Sells came in to pinch run for Sosa. Jessie Blaine flied out to right, but Kiarra Sells advanced to third on the play. Kalani Sells then stole second base before Bernadini hit a three-run homer to left-center.
UAB 1, No. 21 Mississippi State 11
Next Up
Mississippi State remains in Starkville this weekend to host the Bulldog Invitational presented by C Spire. Alabama State, New Mexico and Northwestern State will be in attendance.State starts off the weekend on Friday against Alabama State at 3 p.m. before meeting New Mexico at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Bulldogs play Northwestern State at 12:30 p.m. then face New Mexico again at 3 p.m. They'll close the weekend at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday with a rematch against Northwestern State.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Chaffin, Raelin (8-1)
L: Tait Davidson (4-3)
Batting:
2B: Hannah Miles 1
RBI: Bella Wiggins 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hannah Miles 1
Batting:
2B: Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1
HR: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 1 ; Stiles, Morgan 1
RBI: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 2 ; Bernardini, Morgan 3 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Stiles, Morgan 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 2 ; Sells, Kalani 1 ; Grassel, Gretta 1 ; Bernardini, Morgan 2 ; Edwards, Kylee 1 ; Stiles, Morgan 2
SB: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Sells, Kalani 1 ; Edwards, Kylee 1
HBP: Edwards, Kylee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
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