No. 13 Georgia Welcomes No. 12 Mississippi State to Athens this Weekend

Friday, March 20

Athens, Ga.

6:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

Mississippi State

Tickets From $12

No. 13 Georgia Welcomes No. 12 Mississippi State to Athens this Weekend

March 19, 2026 | Softball

ATHENS, Ga. – No. 13 Georgia will host No. 12 Mississippi State in a battle of the Bulldogs this weekend at the Jack Turner Stadium to kick off home conference series play this season. Georgia enters the weekend at 21-7 (1-2) and the visiting Bulldogs come in at 28-4 (1-2).

No. 13/15 Georgia
vs. No. 12/11 Mississippi State
Location: Athens, Ga.
Venue: Jack Turner Stadium
Date: Mar. 20-22, 2026
First Pitch: Friday - 6:00 p.m. ET, Saturday – 2:00 p.m. ET, Sunday – 2:00 p.m. ET
General Admission Gates: 1 Hour before first pitch
Promotion (Friday only): Crossbody Bags for first 500 fans presented by Georgia's Own Credit Union

Media Information
Streaming (Friday): SEC Network
                  PxP: Matt Shick; Analyst: Monica Abbott
Streaming (Sat. & Sun.): SEC Network+
                  PxP: Kaleb Frady; Analyst: Mary Wilson Ross
Live Updates: GeorgiaDogs.com
X Updates: @UGASoftball

Leading Off
Georgia enters this weekend's Southeastern conference clash of the Bulldogs after a midweek victory over Georgia Tech. This series with Mississippi State marks the first home conference series of the season for Baldwin's side.

Series History
Mississippi State
- This will be the 68th meeting between the two schools
- Georgia owns a 35-32 all-time series advantage over Mississippi State
- The last time these two schools met in series play in 2024 was on the road in Starkville, and the home team took the series 2-1
- The last time these two schools met in Athens, Georgia took the series with wins in the first two games before game three was canceled due to weather

Georgia in the Polls
Georgia in the Polls: Week Six
     - NFCA/GoRout: 15
     - ESPN/USA Softball: 13
     - D1Softball: 14
     - Softball America: 11

Opponent Outlook
No. 12 Mississippi State enters this weekend's series after taking down UAB, 4-0, in a midweek clash. Last weekend, the visiting Bulldogs hosted No. 1 Tennessee in Starkville. After falling to the top-ranked Volunteers 3-1 in a nine-inning series opener, the Bulldogs stormed back with a 1-0, walk-off victory in game two. In the Sunday rubber match, Tennessee took the series with a 4-1 decision.

Peja Goold and Alyssa Faircloth had led the Bulldogs in the circle with 18 and 19 appearances, respectively. Goold owns a 0.95 ERA with an 11-2 record. On the season, she had recorded 100 strikeouts in 74.0 innings pitched while allowing just 34 hits, 12 earned runs and 16 walks. Faircloth, who has pitched a team-high 78.0 innings, has a 1.44 ERA with an 8-2 record to go with 137 strikeouts to 42 hits, 16 earned runs and 19 walks.

In the batter's box, Kiarra Sells boasts a team-best .389 average to go with 35 hits, 32 runs, 10 home runs and 24 RBIs. Along with batting average, Sells leads Mississippi State in runs, hits, doubles, home runs and stolen bases this season. Nadia Barbary paces the team with 27 RBIs and has recorded a team high 100 at-bats this campaign. As a team, the Bulldogs are batting .307 with 192 runs, 243 hits, 42 home runs and 180 RBIs.

Head coach Samantha Ricketts, in her seventh season at the helm of the program, has guided the Yellow Jackets to several impressive wins this season. This campaign, Mississippi State has taken down No. 25 Clemson and No. 1 Tennessee. Across her seven seasons in Starkville, Ricketts has taken the Bulldogs to their first Super Regional while also guiding State to its highest SEC win total in 12 years during the 2025 season.

Conference Stat Leaders (as of Thurs, Mar. 19)
Sarah Gordon
The senior from Louisville, Ky. is among the top ten in the conference in two statistical categories:

Batting Average: Ninth - .4860
Doubles: Tied First - 11

Keirstin Roose:
The graduate from Wolcottville, Ind. ranks in the top ten in the conference in two statistical categories:

Home Runs: Tied Ninth - 10
Assists: Sixth - 51

Tyler Ellison
The senior from McDonough, Ga. is among the top ten in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:

On-Base Percentage: 10th - .582

Jaydyn Goodwin
The senior from Paris, Ky. is among the top ten in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:

Sacrifice Bunts: Tied Seventh - 3

Delani Sullivan
The junior from Georgetown, Ky. is among the top ten in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:

Triples: Tied Fifth - 2

Marisa Miller
The senior from Suwanee, Ga.is among the top ten in the top ten in the conference in one statistical category:

Caught Stealing By: Tied Second - 4

Midweek Breakdown
On Wednesday night, Georgia defeated Georgia Tech, 5-1, in Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate on the dirt.

RHP Addisen Fisher made the start in the circle going 5.0 innings for the win with three strikeouts and one earned run. Senior Tyler Ellison and junior Emily Digby starred on the night each going 2-3 at the plate. Ellison recorded an RBI triple and a two-RBI double in the win while Digby blasted her fifth home run of the season. RHP Presley Harrison and LHP Randi Roelling each pitched one inning in relief allowing zero earned runs and each tallying a strikeout.

SEC Opening Weekend Series
Georgia kicked off conference play on the road at No. 9 Arkansas last weekend going 1-2 across the weekend.

The Bulldogs took Friday's series opener, 7-2. Senior Jaydyn Goodwin kicked off the scoring in the top of the first inning with a solo home run. Georgia stacked on five more runs in the third inning behind four successive RBI-hits and a fielder's choice. Arkansas scored in the bottom of the third on a two-run shot before Tyler Ellison wrapped up the afternoon with a solo homer to left field.

The Razorbacks jumped out to an early lead with a first inning grand slam on Saturday, but the Bulldogs rallied to tie the game in the second off a two-RBI double from Bailey Lindemuth and a two-run shot from Keirstin Roose - her 10th home run of the campaign. Arkansas plated two more runs in the third inning before Lindemuth launched her first home run of the season to make it a one-run game. The Razorbacks added one more run in the fifth inning. Entering the top of the seventh down two, Roose scored off an infield single from Sarah Gordon. Ultimately, Georgia was unable to tie the game or take the lead with runners aboard, and Arkansas took game two, 7-6.

On Sunday, the Bulldog offense was never able to get rolling. Arkansas jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after the second inning before adding one insurance run via a solo home run in the sixth inning. The Razorbacks took the series with a 6-0 victory on Sunday.

Bulldog Classic Recap
Georgia was a perfect 4-0 across the weekend in the 17th Annual Bulldog Classic with two wins each over South Alabama and UNC-Wilmington. In Friday night's game against the Jaguars, LHP Randi Roelling made her ninth start of the season. After walking the first batter, Roelling shut down the South Alabama offense there after en route to a seven strikeout, complete game no-hitter - the first of her career. In the win, Sarah Gordon, Emma Castorri and Tyler Ellison all homered. Ellison's home run in the bottom of the fifth inning was a walk-off, run-rule score to seal the win, 8-0 (5 inn.).

On Saturday, freshman LHP Presley Harrison made her return to the circle - her first appearance since the opening game of the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational. Harrison went 4.0 innings with one hit and three strikeouts to move to 2-0 on the season. Two early home runs by Gordon and Emily Digby saw Georgia race out to a 3-0 lead and hold on for the 9-0 (5 inn.) victory. Later that afternoon, Baldwin's side and UNC-Wilmington met for the first time during the weekend. Senior RHP Destin Howard made the start and earned her first win of the season in a 4.0 inning, one hit, one earned run and three strikeout performance. Senior C Marisa Miller blasted the Bulldogs' third grand slam of the season and the first of her career in the bottom of the first inning. Georgia piled on five runs in the bottom of the first frame, and Gordon also homered in the 9-1 (5 inn.) win.

The Bulldogs closed out Bulldog Classic action on Sunday afternoon with another contest against the Seahawks. RHP Maddie Johnson also returned to action making her second start of the season and going 2.0 innings with just one hit and one earned run. Roelling returned to the circle to close the final 3.0 innings with three hits and five strikeouts to earn her team-best seventh win of the season. Graduate INF Keirstin Roose had two home runs in the game, and Gordon launched her fourth home run of the weekend - one in each game - to seal a 9-1 (5 inn.) win.

Georgia Classic Recap
The Bulldogs opened the 23rd Annual Georgia Classic against Seton Hall last Friday night with a 9-1 (5 inn.) victory. The Bulldogs took a swift 3-0 lead after two innings off an Emily Digby RBI single and Bailey Lindemuth two-RBI triple. The Pirates added one in the third before Georgia cruised to the run-rule win in five. Later Friday evening, Georgia defeated Utah State, 4-1, paced by freshman LHP Ada Little's first career win and three-run second inning.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs opened the rain-delayed afternoon with an afternoon loss to No. 20 Virginia Tech, 9-3 before turning around and beating Utah State, 11-2 (5 inn.) on Saturday evening.

Georgia closed the weekend dropping the Georgia Classic finale to the Hokies, 9-3.

March Position Rankings
Four Bulldogs were recognized in Softball America's March Position Rankings.

Sarah Gordon was tabbed as the No. 1 overall UTL, Emily Digby as the No. 3 SS, Keirstin Roose as the No. 4 2B and Tyler Ellison as the No. 13 UTL.

National Recognition
A trio of Bulldogs have earned preseason recognition from both Softball America and D1Softball. In the Softball America preseason Top 100 Player Rankings, Sarah Gordon checked in at No. 78 and transfer pitcher Addisen Fisher spotted in at No. 93. More, Jaydyn Goodwin, Gordon and Fisher were tabbed as the No. 12 outfielder, the No. 8 UTL player and the No. 23 pitcher, respectively, by the outlet.

D1Softball had three Georgia players in its D100 preseason Player Rankings with Goodwin at No. 52, Gordon at No. 67 and Fisher at No. 74. Positionally, by D1Softball, Goodwin was pinned as the No. 20 outfielder, Gordon as the No. 14 outfielder and Fisher as the No. 25 pitcher.

Eyes on the Freshman
Four Bulldog freshmen earned spots on Softball America and D1Softball's preseason Freshman Watch Lists. Pitchers Presley Harrison and Ada Little along with infielder Brooke Smith were all selected to the Softball America Freshman Watch List. More, Harrison and Little joined infielder Gabi Novickas on D1Softball's SEC Freshman Watch List.

New Faces, New Places
12 new players will don the red and black this season with six transfer athletes and six freshmen.

Out of the portal, Baldwin and his staff welcome sophomore pitchers Addisen Fisher and Maddie Johnson. Fisher, a UCLA transfer, was tabbed to the Big-10 All-Freshman Team last season, as well as the D1Softball Freshman All-American First Team. Johnson, an Athens native, arrives from Georgia Southern after being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference First Team and to the D1Softball Freshman All-American Second Team. Outfielders Natalie Ray and Delani Sullivan join infielders Bailey Lindemuth and Keirsten Roose to round out the portal class. Ray is a North Georgia transfer who started her career at Ole Miss while Sullivan arrives from SEC opponent Kentucky. Lindemuth comes to Athens after reaching the Womens' College World Series with Texas Tech last season, and graduate transfer Roose joins the Bulldogs after four strong seasons with Coastal Carolina.

Two of Georgia's six freshman signees will join the pitching staff in lefty Ada Little from Georgetown, Ky and the right-handed Presley Harrison from Baxley, Ga. Infielders Gabi Novickas, Brooke Smith and Katelin Smith hail from Chicago, Ill., Brandon, Miss. and Glennville, Ga. Outfielder Natalie Donaldson, a native of DeWitt, Mich. rounds out the six-person freshman class and the 12 newcomers.

Clearwater Recap
After suffering a loss in the opener in Clearwater to No. 23 Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs rallied for five successive wins including two ranked wins to close out play in Florida.

On Thursday, down 6-0 going into the sixth inning, the Bulldogs scored three in the bottom of the frame before adding another two runs in the bottom of the seventh against Oklahoma State. Later that afternoon after falling to Oklahoma State, 6-5, Georgia rebounded with a 6-5 win over No. 8 Nebraska.

On Saturday, the Bulldog bats came alive in successive five inning, rule-rule victories over NC State and UCF. Georgia took down the Wolfpack, 16-2 (5 inn.), and UCF, 13-5 (5 inn.).

To end play in Clearwater, Georgia won both games against Northwestern and No. 22 Duke. With the score level after three innings against Northwestern, the Bulldogs punched a seven-spot in the top of the fourth inning en route to an 8-3 win. Later, against Duke, Georgia hit three straight home runs in the top of the first inning - the first time since Feb. 9, 2024, against Murray State - to run out 9-1 (5 inn.) victors.

Over the course of the weekend, Georgia tallied 57 runs in six games. More pointedly, in the fourth inning alone across all six games, the Bulldogs tallied 26 runs.

What's Up Next?
Baldwin's side will host Mississippi State this weekend in the SEC home opener. A complete list of this weekend's conference slate is compiled below:

Mississippi State at Georgia, Fri. Mar. 20 - Sun. Mar. 22

LSU at South Carolina, Fri. Mar. 20 - Sun. Mar. 22

Alabama at Missouri, Fri. Mar. 20 - Sun. Mar. 22

Tennessee at Florida, Fri. Mar. 20 - Sun. Mar. 22

Kentucky at Texas A&M, Fri. Mar. 20 - Sunn. Mar. 22

Oklahoma at Ole Miss, Sat. Mar. 21 - Mon. Mar. 23

Gordon Tabbed National Player of the Week
Senior Sarah Gordon was tabbed the National Player of the Week by D1Softball, Softball America and Softball on SI following play in Clearwater, Florida. During the week, Gordon went 12-18 with nine runs, 10 RBIs, six doubles, one triple, three home runs and two walks while only striking out once. She also slugged 1.444 while boasting a 0.700 OBP with a perfect fielding percentage and a team-high 17 put-outs.

Clearwater Team of the Tournament
Sarah Gordon and Kierstin Roose were named to the 2026 Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational Team of the Tournament following their performances in Florida.

Georgia was one of four schools with two or more players named to the team.

2025 Season Recap
- Georgia finished the 2025 season at 35-23 after reaching the Gainesville Super Regional, falling one win short of a sixth trip back to Oklahoma City.
- The Bulldogs tallied a 7-16 mark in conference play, finishing 12th overall in the Southeastern Conference.
- In the SEC Tournament, hosted in Athens, Georgia reached the second round of play before falling to No. 5-seed Arkansas.
- Senior Dallis Goodnight was named Second Team All-SEC after hitting at a .345 clip for 45 runs off 61 hits with four doubles, four triples, two home runs and 11 RBIs.
- Four Bulldogs earned NFCA All-South Region honors. Goodnight and Jaydyn Goodwin landed on the Second Team, and Sarah Gordon and Marisa Miller were named to the Third Team.
- Rising senior Destin Howard was named to the 2025 SEC Softball Community Service Team for her actions within and commitment to her home and Athens communities.
- 53,867 fans packed into The Jack over the course of the 2025 season - a new season record. More, during the series against No. 3 LSU, a program-best 7,098 fans were in attendance.