How underdog Mississippi State softball turned into top dog vs OU, made first WCWS

• Mississippi State softball defeated Oklahoma to advance to the Women’s College World Series for the first time.
• The Bulldogs beat the Sooners 6-0 in the final game of the best-of-three super regional series.
• Coach Samantha Ricketts encouraged the team to embrace their underdog status and play freely.

Mississippi State softball’s NCAA Tournament super regional against Oklahoma was a David vs. Goliath scenario.

The Bulldogs were on the hunt for their first Women’s College World Series appearance. The No. 3 Sooners were looking for their 10th straight.

Few expected Mississippi State (43-19) to even win a game in the best-of-three series, let alone eliminate Oklahoma (52-10) from the tournament on its home field.

But that’s exactly what happened when the Bulldogs beat the Sooners 6-0 in Game 3 at Love’s Field on May 24, advancing to the WCWS for the first time.

They’ll face No. 11 seed Texas Tech (57-7) on May 28 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN) at Devon Park in Oklahoma City in the first round of the double-elimination tournament.

“An underdog is still a frickin dog,” pitcher Delainey Everett said in a TV interview after pitching a three-hit shutout. “We knew it. We were on the bus. Oh my gosh. Everything that we worked for came through today and we ain’t done yet.”

By encouraging her team to lean into the underdog mentality, coach Samantha Ricketts created an environment in which MSU could play “loose (and) free” in the game that could have been its final one of the season.

“A big message today was just staying present in the moment and understanding that this is a situation that it’s not life or death,” Ricketts said. “At the end of the day, it’s softball, and we’re going to go out there and give it everything we’ve got and have fun.”

This messaging helped to keep the players settled even when the crowd’s cheers grew in volume in support of the Sooners.

After losing 7-1 in Game 2, Mississippi State recorded nine hits, including two home runs, in Game 3 and struck out just once. The Bulldogs scored their first run in the first inning and never let up offensively.

“We definitely embraced it,” said Kinley Keller, who had two hits and three RBIs. “And I think just staying grounded is a big thing for us, and we knew we were going to punch them first and just play what we know we can play.”

For MSU and Ricketts, it didn’t matter that most of the crowd and the fans at home were not expecting them to knock off the eight-time national champions. All they needed was each other.

“Just so proud of this group,” Ricketts said. “When nobody believed in us, they believed in themselves and in each other. It was the 25 in the dugout and the parents over in the stands.”

Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.