Sunday, May 18
Lubbock, Texas
2 p.m.
Mississippi State
39-19
6
at
9
#10 Texas Tech
48-12
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5
6
7
R
H
E
Texas Tech
1
3
1
1
1
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0
9
14
2
Mississippi State
0
0
3
0
3
0
0
6
8
1
State’s Season Ends In Slugfest At Lubbock Regional
May 18, 2025 | Softball
LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 18 Mississippi State brought the tying run to the plate in three separate innings, but the Bulldogs could never take the lead as they saw their season end with a 9-6 loss at No. 10 Texas Tech.
Less than 24 hours after winning a back-and-forth offensive battle to reach the Lubbock Regional final, the No. 18 Bulldogs' bats again rose to the challenge, putting up the most hits and runs that Red Raider ace NiJaree Canady has allowed all season.
Freshman Morgan Stiles drove in a pair of runs, while sophomore Ella Wesolowski put up her sixth multi-hit and fifth multi-RBI game of the year. Jessie Blaine and Sierra Sacco both recorded RBI doubles. Seven of Blaine's eight career NCAA Tournament RBIs came in this weekend's regional, and Sacco finished with 19 doubles for the year, which is third in school history, and 64 runs scored, which is second.
"First of all, I just want to say congratulations to Texas Tech. They are a great ball club," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It was a really fun, competitive game for us, but I think going up against a team like that and a pitcher like Nija (Canady), we knew we were going to have our hands full. love the way that our team fought and continued to fight to get runs on the board against the best pitcher in the country."
Texas Tech (48-12, 12-4 Big 12) got out to an early 5-0 lead through two and a half innings before State broke through for the first of its two three-run frames. Sacco and Stiles did their damage in the bottom of the third, but Tech added one run in both the top of the fourth and fifth. Blaine and Wesolowski took their chances in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to one run. A leadoff homer and an RBI double with one out provided the insurance for the Red Raiders.
The Bulldogs (39-19, 13-11 SEC) put the leadoff batter on in the sixth to before a double play ended the threat and put another runner on in the seventh, who was struck with a batted ball for an out.
"I think coming in, they all had high expectations, and we had a big freshman class. They came in and they showed us what it meant to be a State softball player. They set that expectation from the beginning. I'm just so thankful that I can learn from them and everything that we went through and how we handled it all."
Jessie Blaine On the adjustments they made against NiJaree Canady…
"I think we made a great adjustment as a team. Just seeing her spin and jumping on her early and often whenever we could and getting what was given to us. I think we had a much better game offensively, but she's a great pitcher."
Sierra Sacco – Doubled home a run and scored … 19 doubles this year are third in school history … tied for second in program history with 64 runs scored this year.
Kiarra Sells – Collected her ninth multi-hit game of the season … now 4-for-7 (.571) against NiJaree Canady in her career.
Morgan Stiles – Plated two runs … batted 8-for-13 (.615) in the NCAA Tournament … also drew a walk.
Ella Wesolowski – Posted her sixth multi-hit game and fifth multi-RBI game of 2025 … caught her ninth runner stealing of the season … threw out 50 percent of runners attempting to steal this year, which is tied for the second-best percentage by a Bulldog catcher with a minimum of 10 attempts against.
Mihyia Davis singled to shortstop to open the game and advanced to second on Alexa Langeliers' ground out to second. Lauren Allred walked before Bailey Lindemuth doubled down the left field line with two outs to score Davis.
No. 10 Texas Tech 1, No. 18 Mississippi State 0
Top 2
Demi Elder singled to left field. Logan Halleman pinch hit and beat out a slapped single to shortstop. Hailey Toney put down a bunt and beat it out to load the bases. With one out, Langeliers grounded out to short, scoring Elder. Allred singled to right-center to score both Halleman and Toney.
No. 10 Texas Tech 4, No. 18 Mississippi State 0
Top 3
With one out, Lindemuth doubled to left field. With two outs, Elder reached on a fielding error by the second baseman that allowed Lindemuth to score from second.
No. 10 Texas Tech 5, No. 18 Mississippi State 0
Bottom 3
With one out, Riley Hull reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. Kiarra Sells singled to put runners on first and second for Sierra Sacco, who doubled Hull home. With two outs, Morgan Stiles singled up the middle to score Kiarra Sells and Sacco.
No. 10 Texas Tech 5, No. 18 Mississippi State 3
Top 4
Toney hit a leadoff homer.
No. 10 Texas Tech 6, No. 18 Mississippi State 3
Top 5
Alana Johnson walked, and Lindemuth bunted her to second. NiJaree Canady singled through the right side to push Johnson to third. Elder hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Johnson.
No. 10 Texas Tech 7, No. 18 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 5
Nadia Barbary led off with a double to left field, and Stiles walked behind her. Jessie Blaine doubled to left-center to score Barbary and push Stiles to third. With two outs, Ella Wesolowski singled to right to score both runners.
No. 10 Texas Tech 7, No. 18 Mississippi State 6
Top 6
Toney hit a leadoff homer for the second time. Davis beat out an infield single and then scored on Allred's double to right field.
No. 10 Texas Tech 9, No. 18 Mississippi State 6
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Less than 24 hours after winning a back-and-forth offensive battle to reach the Lubbock Regional final, the No. 18 Bulldogs' bats again rose to the challenge, putting up the most hits and runs that Red Raider ace NiJaree Canady has allowed all season.
Freshman Morgan Stiles drove in a pair of runs, while sophomore Ella Wesolowski put up her sixth multi-hit and fifth multi-RBI game of the year. Jessie Blaine and Sierra Sacco both recorded RBI doubles. Seven of Blaine's eight career NCAA Tournament RBIs came in this weekend's regional, and Sacco finished with 19 doubles for the year, which is third in school history, and 64 runs scored, which is second.
"First of all, I just want to say congratulations to Texas Tech. They are a great ball club," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "It was a really fun, competitive game for us, but I think going up against a team like that and a pitcher like Nija (Canady), we knew we were going to have our hands full. love the way that our team fought and continued to fight to get runs on the board against the best pitcher in the country."
Texas Tech (48-12, 12-4 Big 12) got out to an early 5-0 lead through two and a half innings before State broke through for the first of its two three-run frames. Sacco and Stiles did their damage in the bottom of the third, but Tech added one run in both the top of the fourth and fifth. Blaine and Wesolowski took their chances in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the lead to one run. A leadoff homer and an RBI double with one out provided the insurance for the Red Raiders.
The Bulldogs (39-19, 13-11 SEC) put the leadoff batter on in the sixth to before a double play ended the threat and put another runner on in the seventh, who was struck with a batted ball for an out.
Quotables
Morgan Stiles on what the senior class meant to her…"I think coming in, they all had high expectations, and we had a big freshman class. They came in and they showed us what it meant to be a State softball player. They set that expectation from the beginning. I'm just so thankful that I can learn from them and everything that we went through and how we handled it all."
Jessie Blaine On the adjustments they made against NiJaree Canady…
"I think we made a great adjustment as a team. Just seeing her spin and jumping on her early and often whenever we could and getting what was given to us. I think we had a much better game offensively, but she's a great pitcher."
Quick Hitters
Jessie Blaine – Doubled in a run … registered three doubles in this year's NCAA Tournament after not having a single extra-base hit in the Tournament in her career entering play … collected seven of her eight career NCAA Tournament RBIs this weekend.Sierra Sacco – Doubled home a run and scored … 19 doubles this year are third in school history … tied for second in program history with 64 runs scored this year.
Kiarra Sells – Collected her ninth multi-hit game of the season … now 4-for-7 (.571) against NiJaree Canady in her career.
Morgan Stiles – Plated two runs … batted 8-for-13 (.615) in the NCAA Tournament … also drew a walk.
Ella Wesolowski – Posted her sixth multi-hit game and fifth multi-RBI game of 2025 … caught her ninth runner stealing of the season … threw out 50 percent of runners attempting to steal this year, which is tied for the second-best percentage by a Bulldog catcher with a minimum of 10 attempts against.
Scoring Recap
Top 1Mihyia Davis singled to shortstop to open the game and advanced to second on Alexa Langeliers' ground out to second. Lauren Allred walked before Bailey Lindemuth doubled down the left field line with two outs to score Davis.
No. 10 Texas Tech 1, No. 18 Mississippi State 0
Top 2
Demi Elder singled to left field. Logan Halleman pinch hit and beat out a slapped single to shortstop. Hailey Toney put down a bunt and beat it out to load the bases. With one out, Langeliers grounded out to short, scoring Elder. Allred singled to right-center to score both Halleman and Toney.
No. 10 Texas Tech 4, No. 18 Mississippi State 0
Top 3
With one out, Lindemuth doubled to left field. With two outs, Elder reached on a fielding error by the second baseman that allowed Lindemuth to score from second.
No. 10 Texas Tech 5, No. 18 Mississippi State 0
Bottom 3
With one out, Riley Hull reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. Kiarra Sells singled to put runners on first and second for Sierra Sacco, who doubled Hull home. With two outs, Morgan Stiles singled up the middle to score Kiarra Sells and Sacco.
No. 10 Texas Tech 5, No. 18 Mississippi State 3
Top 4
Toney hit a leadoff homer.
No. 10 Texas Tech 6, No. 18 Mississippi State 3
Top 5
Alana Johnson walked, and Lindemuth bunted her to second. NiJaree Canady singled through the right side to push Johnson to third. Elder hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Johnson.
No. 10 Texas Tech 7, No. 18 Mississippi State 3
Bottom 5
Nadia Barbary led off with a double to left field, and Stiles walked behind her. Jessie Blaine doubled to left-center to score Barbary and push Stiles to third. With two outs, Ella Wesolowski singled to right to score both runners.
No. 10 Texas Tech 7, No. 18 Mississippi State 6
Top 6
Toney hit a leadoff homer for the second time. Davis beat out an infield single and then scored on Allred's double to right field.
No. 10 Texas Tech 9, No. 18 Mississippi State 6
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: NiJaree Canady (28-5)
L: Chaffin, Raelin (23-10)
S: Chloe Riassetto (3)
Batting:
2B: Lauren Allred 1 ; Bailey Lindemuth 2
HR: Hailey Toney 2
RBI: Alexa Langeliers 1 ; Lauren Allred 3 ; Bailey Lindemuth 1 ; Demi Elder 1 ; Hailey Toney 2
SH: Bailey Lindemuth 1
SF: Demi Elder 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mihyia Davis 2 ; Alana Johnson 1 ; Bailey Lindemuth 1 ; Demi Elder 1 ; Logan Halleman 1 ; Hailey Toney 3
CS: Lauren Allred 1
Batting:
2B: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Blaine, Jessie 1
RBI: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Stiles, Morgan 2 ; Blaine, Jessie 1 ; Wesolowski, Ella 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sacco, Sierra 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Stiles, Morgan 1 ; Sells, Kalani 1 ; Hull, Riley 1 ; Sells, Kiarra 1
HBP: Blaine, Jessie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC/OF
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