Mississippi State's Power Duo Leads Bulldogs to Win Over South Alabama

Kiarra Sells and Nadia Barbary each homered twice to power Mississippi State to victory.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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In a 4-2 win over South Alabama, Mississippi State's softball team was led by standout performances from power hitters Kiarra Sells and Nadia Barbary. Sells homered twice, including a two-run shot, while Barbary also hit two home runs to pace the Bulldogs' offense. The pitching staff held up its end as well, with Peja Goold, Leila Ammon, and Alyssa Faircloth combining for a solid effort on the mound.

Why it matters

Mississippi State's reliance on the long ball has become a defining part of their identity this season, with Sells and Barbary emerging as a formidable power duo. Their ability to change the game with one swing has helped the Bulldogs get off to a 24-2 start, and they'll look to continue that trend as they host Tennessee in their SEC opener.

The details

In the third inning, Barbary got the Bulldogs on the board with a solo home run. Sells then followed with a home run of her own, marking the fourth time in their careers the two have hit back-to-back homers. In the fifth inning, Barbary was hit by a pitch, and Sells then launched a two-run shot to extend Mississippi State's lead. The Bulldogs' pitching staff, led by Goold, Ammon, and Faircloth, held South Alabama in check after the early runs to secure the victory.

  • In the third inning, Barbary hit a solo home run to get the Bulldogs on the board.
  • Immediately after Barbary's homer, Sells hit a home run of her own, marking the fourth time in their careers the two have hit back-to-back homers.
  • In the fifth inning, Barbary was hit by a pitch, and Sells then hit a two-run home run to extend Mississippi State's lead.

The players

Kiarra Sells

A standout hitter for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Sells homered twice in the game, including a two-run shot in the fifth inning.

Nadia Barbary

Barbary, another power hitter for the Bulldogs, also homered twice in the game, including a solo shot in the third inning that got Mississippi State on the board.

Peja Goold

The Mississippi State pitcher settled in after the early runs, helping the Bulldogs secure the victory.

Leila Ammon

Ammon bridged the middle innings for the Bulldogs, contributing to the strong pitching performance.

Alyssa Faircloth

Faircloth closed out the game with two steady innings on the mound for Mississippi State.

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What’s next

Mississippi State will host a doubleheader on Tuesday before welcoming Tennessee for their SEC opener.

The takeaway

Mississippi State's reliance on the power-hitting duo of Kiarra Sells and Nadia Barbary has become a defining part of their identity this season. As the Bulldogs continue to hit home runs at a high rate, they'll look to maintain this trend against tougher SEC competition.