No. 12 Bulldogs Sweep Jaguar Classic with 4-2 Win Over South Alabama

Home runs from Kiarra Sells and Nadia Barbary lead Mississippi State to perfect 5-0 weekend in Mobile

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The No. 12 Mississippi State Bulldogs overcame an early 2-0 deficit against host South Alabama, using home runs from Kiarra Sells and Nadia Barbary to rally for a 4-2 victory and complete a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Jaguar Classic in Mobile, Alabama.

Why it matters

The Bulldogs' strong performance in the tournament, including the comeback win over South Alabama, has them riding a seven-game winning streak heading into the start of SEC play, where they will host top-ranked Tennessee this weekend.

The details

After falling behind 2-0 in the early innings, the Bulldogs got on the board in the third when Barbary hit a solo home run. Sells then followed with a game-tying home run of her own. In the fifth inning, Sells broke the tie with a two-run shot to give Mississippi State a 4-2 lead. Pitchers Leila Ammon, Alyssa Faircloth, and starter Peja Goold combined to hold South Alabama scoreless over the final three innings to secure the victory.

  • The Bulldogs trailed 2-0 in the third inning.
  • Barbary hit a solo home run in the third inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.
  • Sells hit a game-tying home run in the third inning to make it 2-2.
  • Sells hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to give Mississippi State a 4-2 lead.
  • The Bulldogs completed the 5-0 weekend at the Jaguar Classic on March 8, 2026.

The players

Kiarra Sells

A Mississippi State player who hit two home runs in the win over South Alabama.

Nadia Barbary

A Mississippi State player who hit a solo home run to get the Bulldogs on the board.

Peja Goold

The winning pitcher for Mississippi State, going 4 innings and allowing 2 runs.

Leila Ammon

A Mississippi State pitcher who pitched 3 innings of scoreless relief.

Alyssa Faircloth

A Mississippi State pitcher who pitched 2 innings of scoreless relief and recorded 3 strikeouts.

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What’s next

The Bulldogs (24-2) will host No. 1 Tennessee in a three-game SEC series starting on Friday, March 13, 2026.

The takeaway

Mississippi State's resilience and power hitting, along with strong pitching, allowed them to overcome an early deficit and complete a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Jaguar Classic, setting them up well for the start of SEC play against the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers.