No. 14 Bulldogs Fall In Opener At No. 12 Texas A&M

Friday, April 17

Bryan-College Station, Texas

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

34-12, 6-10

#12 Texas A&M

32-12, 12-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Mississippi State	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	1
Texas A&M	2	1	0	0	0	0	X	3	4	0

No. 14 Bulldogs Fall In Opener At No. 12 Texas A&M

April 17, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 14 Mississippi State dropped the series opener at No. 12 Texas A&M by a score of 3-1 on Friday night.

The Aggies (32-12, 12-4 SEC) scored all of their runs in the first two innings on a pair of solo home runs and a wild pitch. State (34-12, 6-10 SEC) answered back in the fifth on an RBI single from Des Rivera to score pinch runner Kalani Sells, but the Bulldogs stranded two runners each in the fifth and sixth and another in the seventh.

"I liked our fight. I think we're really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together," head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "This team still believes, and we're going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I'm encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they're a good hitting team, and we've got to be able to shut them down early. I don't think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs."

Delainey Everett was the bright spot out of the bullpen for the Bulldogs. She tossed 3.0 hitless innings while allowing just one baserunner on a walk.

Quotables

Samantha Ricketts on Delainey Everett's pitching performance…
"That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it. It's really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she's going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well."

Quick Hitters

Nadia Barbary – Collected her ninth double of the year … now stands alone in seventh in MSU career history with 44 doubles, including 21 in SEC play, which is sixth in State's SEC-only record book.

Delainey Everett – Tossed 3.0 hitless innings in relief … it was her longest outing of the season … extended her scoreless innings streak to 9.1 innings dating back to last year.

Des Rivera – Drove in State's lone run.

Kiarra Sells – Has reached safely in 15 consecutive games after drawing a walk for the fourth straight game.

Scoring Recap

Bottom 1
With two outs, Mya Perez homered to center field. Ariel Kowalewksi picked up a single sandwiched between walks wot Micaela Wark and Kelsey Mathis. Wark then scored on a wild pitch.
No. 14 Mississippi State 0, No. 12 Texas A&M 2

Bottom 2
Paislie Allen led off the inning with a solo homer.
No. 14 Mississippi State 0, No. 12 Texas A&M 3

Top 5
Taylor Troutman was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Kalani Sells pinch ran. Morgan Bernardini drew a walk, and Gretta Grassel pinch ran at first. Des Rivera singled up the middle to score Sells.
No. 14 Mississippi State 1, No. 12 Texas A&M 3

Next Up

Due to forecasted inclement weather on Saturday, Game 2 of the series has been moved to an 11 a.m. CT first pitch. The game will air on SEC Network+.

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