Key Takeaways
- Mississippi State’s Alyssa Faircloth hit Texas Tech’s Mia Williams with the first pitch of the WCWS opener, putting Williams on base.
- Jackie Lis followed with a two‑run home run, giving Texas Tech an early 2‑0 lead.
- Williams had been hit five times in the previous super‑regional series against Florida, a fact both teams acknowledged as unintentional but emotionally charged.
- Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts noted the pressure of a first‑time WCWS appearance and praised the Red Raiders’ ability to turn hit‑by‑pitch moments into rallying points.
- In the fifth inning, a pickoff attempt by catcher Des Rivera accidentally struck Williams in the head; the ball bounced into the camera well, awarding her two bases and setting up another RBI single by Lis.
- Additional hits and a throwing error by Mississippi State extended the inning, yielding four more runs and sealing an 8‑0, five‑inning victory for Texas Tech.
- The Bulldogs (43‑20) now face No. 2 seed Texas (47‑12) in an elimination game on May 29 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
Mississippi State made its inaugural appearance at the Women’s College World Series on May 28, 2026, taking on Texas Tech at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. The game got off to a disastrous start for the Bulldogs when starting pitcher Alyssa Faircloth’s very first pitch struck Texas Tech outfielder Mia Williams on the hip. Williams was awarded first base, and the very next batter, Jackie Lis, launched a two‑run home run to left field, giving the Red Raiders an immediate 2‑0 advantage.
The hit‑by‑pitch was not an isolated incident for Williams. During the super‑regional round against her former school, Florida, she had been hit five times—though none of those plunkings directly produced runs. Both teams stressed that the hits were accidental, products of the high‑stakes, pressure‑filled atmosphere of postseason softball. Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts acknowledged the emotional charge such moments create, saying, “Either side is going to use anything they can to really fire up a dugout… I think emotion in this game is huge.”
Faircloth’s early mistake rattled a Mississippi State squad already feeling the nerves of a first‑time WCWS appearance. Ricketts observed that the Bulldogs seemed tentative in the opening inning, noting that against a deep Texas Tech lineup there is no room for lapses: “You have to be on. There’s no letup. You can’t let up in the nine hole, anywhere in the bottom of that lineup.”
The Red Raiders continued to capitalize on any opportunity later in the game. In the fifth inning, pitcher Peja Goold walked Williams to lead off the frame. Rather than hitting her at the plate, Mississippi State attempted a pickoff; catcher Des Rivera’s throw sailed toward first base and accidentally struck Williams in the head. The ball ricocheted into the camera well behind the base, prompting the umpire to award Williams two bases, placing her on third. Lis delivered again, singling to drive in Williams and make it 3‑0.
Texas Tech’s offense did not relent. Kaitlyn Terry followed with a single that scored Lis, extending the lead to 4‑0. Mihyia Davis then singled to bring home Taylor Pannell, making it 5‑0. Terry later scored on a throwing error by Mississippi State, pushing the tally to 6‑0. The inning concluded with additional runs that pushed the final score to 8‑0, and the game ended after five innings due to the run‑rule.
The loss leaves Mississippi State with a 43‑20 record and forces them into an elimination contest. Their next opponent will be either the No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns (47‑12) or the Tennessee Volunteers, depending on the outcome of the other semifinal. The Bulldogs will look to rebound quickly, hoping to settle their early‑inning nerves and turn the page on a painful first WCWS experience. The elimination game is scheduled for May 29 at 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Note: Word count ≈ 620.