Mississippi State walked into Love's Field on Sunday and turned the softball world upside down, blanking No. 2 Oklahoma 6-0 to lock up the Bulldogs' first trip to the Women's College World Series. Junior left-hander Delainey Everett spun a seven-inning shutout while Mississippi State's bats ambushed the Sooners early, building a lead Oklahoma never threatened. The upset road win sends the Bulldogs to Devon Park in Oklahoma City and slams the brakes on a long run of postseason dominance for the Sooners.
Mississippi State wasted zero time getting comfortable in Norman. Kinley Keller drove in three runs across the first and third innings, then Paige Ernstes added a solo shot and Morgan Bernardini followed with a two-run homer that effectively shut the door. Everett, making the longest appearance of her career, scattered three hits and struck out three. According to NCAA.com, the 6-0 win officially secured the program's first-ever Women's College World Series berth.
Ricketts' Gamble Pays Off
Head coach Samantha Ricketts, an Oklahoma alum who once worked under Patty Gasso, did not blink in the winner-take-all showdown and handed the ball to Everett. "There's no pressure on us. No one expects us to do that (win)," Ricketts said, and Everett backed up that mindset with a poised complete game that included three walks and three strikeouts. As reported by Sports Illustrated, Everett had worked only 13 1/3 innings all season before Sunday, then delivered her best outing when the stakes were highest.
End Of A Streak
The 6-0 defeat did more than knock Oklahoma out of the tournament. It ended the Sooners' nine-year streak of Women's College World Series appearances, per NCAA.com, which also lists Mississippi State in an opening game at Devon Park on Thursday, May 28. It was the first time Oklahoma had been shut out since Alabama held them scoreless at the 2019 World Series, a run Mississippi State snapped in emphatic fashion, according to Mississippi State Athletics.
What Comes Next
For Ricketts, the former Sooner now steering Mississippi State, the win serves as both a full-circle moment and a clear statement about where her program is headed. Sports Illustrated highlighted her steady demeanor and how the Bulldogs stayed loose and aggressive at the plate, the same attitude that carried them through regionals. Mississippi State now rolls into Oklahoma City with momentum, one of eight teams converging on Devon Park next week in pursuit of a national title.
