Ammon Shuts Out Golden Eagles As State Claims Home Opener

Tuesday, February 10

Starkville

4 p.m.

Mississippi State

5-0

Southern Miss

4-2

Southern Miss

Mississippi State

Ammon Shuts Out Golden Eagles As State Claims Home Opener

February 10, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Highlights

By: Anna Price Mattox, Student Assistant/Communications

STARKVILLE – No. 19 Mississippi State extended its winning streak to five games with 5-0 shutout victory in Tuesday's home opener against Southern Miss. This marks the 13th year in a row that State has started 1-0 in Nusz Park.

Des Rivera led the Bulldogs with her first multi-hit and multi-RBI game that saw her homer and double. Gabby Schaeffer picked up her first career hit with a double and later scored the opening run on a sacrifice fly by Nadia Barbary. Kinley Keller also recorded her first career RBI while reaching on a fielder's choice.

"[Rivera] brings a big bat, and she took a pitch that we were seeing and struggling with, and she did this. That was just a mature, veteran approach and at-bat from her there.," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "And then she busted it open, expanding our lead there later in the game, which was huge and something we were trying to focus on late in that game."

Laila Ammon's debut in Nusz Park saw her claim her first win as a Bulldog, totaling six strikeouts without allowing a walk. Alyssa Faircloth threw in relief, picking up her second career save.

With the win, Mississippi State improved to 31-6 against in-state teams under Ricketts.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Leila Ammon...
"Yeah, I really liked seeing Leila out there, and the way she started off. I thought she gave us a quality start and did a great job anytime they got a runner on she immediately responded. I really liked her presence and her poise. For kind of being the youngest out of the staff that we're probably going to see quite a bit, it was good to see her get some experience. We're going to continue to use her. I think she provides a different look, and she's able to mix speeds, going up and down, and really have them off balance there. I thought she got more comfortable later as the game went on too."

Samantha Ricketts on Des Rivera...
"I think she's someone that's a lot of experience and is just looking to settle in the Maroon and White for us. Over the weekend, we'll be mixing quite a bit behind the plate, so I know it's tough for them to be comfortable, but she's been a great teammate and just works really hard. We know that we feel comfortable with her or Anna behind the plate and what they're able to provide.

Des Rivera on her performance at the plate today...
"I was just trying to make an adjustment and learn from the hitters in front of me early on in the count. We did a good job of scouting the pitchers this week. The coaches prepared us really well, so going in with the plan and making sure I stuck to it. It felt good yeah."

Quick Hitters

Our State – The Bulldogs improved to 31-6 against teams from the state of Mississippi under Samantha Ricketts … MSU has outscored in-state foes, 266-84, in her tenure.

Call The Bomb Squad – MSU has homered in every game this season … State has scored 17 of its 34 runs via the long ball this season (50 percent) … last year, MSU scored 37.6 percent of its runs with a homer.

Leila Ammon – Picked up her first win at Mississippi State … threw 5.0 innings to lead Bulldogs to their second shutout win of the season … struck out six without walking a batter.

Nadia Barbary – Extended her hitting streak to a career-best-tying nine games dating back to last year … batting .375 (12-for-32) in that span with an .833 slugging percentage … drove in the winning run for the third time this year with a sacrifice fly.

Alyssa Faircloth – Earned MSU's first save of the season and the second of her career … struck out four hitters in 2.0 innings without allowing a hit.

Des Rivera – Homered for her first hit as a Bulldog … homer was the first hit in Nusz Park this season … later hit a double marking her first multi-hit and multi-RBI game in Maroon and White … recorded a season-high 10 putouts.

Gabby Schaeffer – Doubled for her first career hit … scored Bulldogs' first run of the game.

Morgan Stiles – Extended her hitting streak to a career-long nine games dating back to last year … hitting .533 (16-for-30) during the streak with a .733 slugging percentage.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 3
With one out, Gabby Schaeffer doubled to left field before advancing to third on a single by Morgan Stiles. Schaeffer scored on Nadia Barbary's sacrifice fly to center.
No. 19 Mississippi State 1, Southern Miss 0

Bottom 5
Des Rivera led off the inning with a solo homer to left.
No. 19 Mississippi State 2, Southern Miss 0

Bottom 6
Barbary led off the inning with a single to left-center field. Ally Supan pinch ran for Barbary and advanced to second on a single by Kiarra Sells. A Taylor Troutman single to left field loaded the bases. Tatum Silva pinch ran for Troutman. Kinley Keller reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop that saw Sells thrown out at third while Supan scored. With two outs, Rivera doubled to center field, scoring Keller and Silva.
No. 19 Mississippi State 5, Southern Miss 0

Next Up

Mississippi State remains in Starkville this weekend to host The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial presented by Newk's Eatery. State welcomes Murray State, Rutgers and North Texas for five games on Feb. 13-15.

The Bulldogs play at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday before a 12:30 p.m. first pitch against the Mean Green to wrap up the tournament on Sunday.

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