Sunday, May 17
Eugene, Ore.
6:30 p.m.
Mississippi State
41-18
5
vs
0
Saint Mary's (CA)
42-16
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's (CA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Mississippi State | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 5 | 9 | 1 |
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 just went out there and did it three outs at a time again. I don't want to get too big or look too far ahead," Faircloth said. "That was their message before we even left the hotel, which was like 'Let's take it one pitch at a time, one out at a time,' that kind of thing, rather than looking ahead. So, I'm just staying present in the moment and trusting the girls behind me."
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 broke 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.
"I'm just really proud of the way that they've continued to fight and grind all season. We were the only SEC team that played all 24 games against Quad 1 RPI teams, and it was a grind. It was tough at times for us. We definitely took our lumps, and I think overall the message was just continuing to fight, leaning on each other and just knowing that we were a team that's built for May. The opportunity to come out here and just put it all together at the right time is really special. Obviously, Alyssa leading the way for us to continue to attack and just keeping us in games, giving us a chance to score some runs for her. Whether it's Nadia, Tatum, or really anybody in our lineup, just finding ways to come up with some big runs for us. I think overall, just the joy they had playing for each other, something bigger than themselves, was just very evident with this group. That is something that I know we're all really proud of."
Tatum Silva on hitting her second career home run today…
"Yes. I transferred this last year to Mississippi State, and I was really excited. I've always been the small hitter, just line grip drive, gap to gap. For the past few weeks, I've really been stepping into a bigger pair of shoes a little bit. I've been expecting more for myself, and making adjustments, and just trusting the Lord in His process, and that'd be His will. So, yes, this is my second career home."
Nadia Barbary on her four years in the program…
"Freshman year, we started at the bottom a little bit. We didn't make postseason, and now we're going to Super Regionals. I wouldn't want to do it with any other group of girls. I've said it since the fall: this is the closest-knit team that I've been a part of here at State. So, just knowing that we're doing it together, and everybody has their role, and everybody plays their role really well, it's just a very cohesive group."
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) previously held by Alison Owen (250 in 2013) … also broke Owen's 2013 single-year NCAA Tournament strikeout record with 26 … allowed just two hits in the Eugene Regional in 15.2 scoreless innings … has not allowed a run in 17.2 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.
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
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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 just went out there and did it three outs at a time again. I don't want to get too big or look too far ahead," Faircloth said. "That was their message before we even left the hotel, which was like 'Let's take it one pitch at a time, one out at a time,' that kind of thing, rather than looking ahead. So, I'm just staying present in the moment and trusting the girls behind me."
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 broke 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.
Quotables
Samantha Ricketts on the Eugene Regional… "I'm just really proud of the way that they've continued to fight and grind all season. We were the only SEC team that played all 24 games against Quad 1 RPI teams, and it was a grind. It was tough at times for us. We definitely took our lumps, and I think overall the message was just continuing to fight, leaning on each other and just knowing that we were a team that's built for May. The opportunity to come out here and just put it all together at the right time is really special. Obviously, Alyssa leading the way for us to continue to attack and just keeping us in games, giving us a chance to score some runs for her. Whether it's Nadia, Tatum, or really anybody in our lineup, just finding ways to come up with some big runs for us. I think overall, just the joy they had playing for each other, something bigger than themselves, was just very evident with this group. That is something that I know we're all really proud of."
Tatum Silva on hitting her second career home run today…
"Yes. I transferred this last year to Mississippi State, and I was really excited. I've always been the small hitter, just line grip drive, gap to gap. For the past few weeks, I've really been stepping into a bigger pair of shoes a little bit. I've been expecting more for myself, and making adjustments, and just trusting the Lord in His process, and that'd be His will. So, yes, this is my second career home."
Nadia Barbary on her four years in the program…
"Freshman year, we started at the bottom a little bit. We didn't make postseason, and now we're going to Super Regionals. I wouldn't want to do it with any other group of girls. I've said it since the fall: this is the closest-knit team that I've been a part of here at State. So, just knowing that we're doing it together, and everybody has their role, and everybody plays their role really well, it's just a very cohesive group."
Quick Hitters
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) previously held by Alison Owen (250 in 2013) … also broke Owen's 2013 single-year NCAA Tournament strikeout record with 26 … allowed just two hits in the Eugene Regional in 15.2 scoreless innings … has not allowed a run in 17.2 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.
Scoring Recap
Bottom 1Morgan 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
Next Up
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.For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Faircloth, Alyssa (16-7)
L: Nishikawa, Mia (5-3)
Batting:
2B: Ferguson, Hannah 1
SH: Lane, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Rivera, Des 1
HR: Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Silva, Tatum 1
RBI: Barbary, Nadia 2 ; Silva, Tatum 3
SH: Ernstes, Paige 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Grassel, Gretta 1 ; Barbary, Nadia 1 ; Romero, Xiane 1 ; Keller, Kinley 1 ; Silva, Tatum 1
HBP: Sells, Kiarra 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballSOFTBALL | Postgame Press Conference vs. Saint Mary's (NCAAT) 5/17/26
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