MSU walks off No. 1 Tennessee with Troutman home run

Bulldogs even SEC series with dramatic victory over top-ranked Volunteers

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:22pm

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Mississippi State softball evened its SEC series with No. 1 Tennessee on Saturday after another pitching duel between the respective teams' aces. A record crowd of 2,134 witnessed a memorable walk-off victory for the Bulldogs' first conference win of the season.

Why it matters

This victory over the top-ranked Volunteers is a significant boost for the Bulldogs' season, as they look to build momentum and make a push for the SEC title and a high seed in the NCAA tournament.

The details

MSU starter Peja Goold tossed all seven innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 10 batters in a shutout win. The Bulldogs, now 27-3 on the season, had struggled to score against Tennessee pitchers Maddi Rutan and Erin Nuwer before redshirt freshman Taylor Troutman launched a game-winning home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning.

  • The teams will meet again for Game Three on Sunday at noon at Nusz Park.

The players

Peja Goold

The Mississippi State starting pitcher who tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just two hits and striking out 10 batters.

Maddi Rutan

The Tennessee pitcher who held the Bulldogs scoreless through six innings before the walk-off home run.

Erin Nuwer

The other Tennessee pitcher who combined with Rutan to keep Mississippi State's offense in check for most of the game.

Taylor Troutman

The redshirt freshman for Mississippi State who hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

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What’s next

The teams will meet again for Game Three on Sunday at noon at Nusz Park.

The takeaway

Mississippi State's dramatic walk-off win over the nation's top-ranked team showcases the Bulldogs' resilience and potential to make a deep postseason run, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to their SEC series with Tennessee.