Mississippi State was one win away from a trip to the NCAA Tournament super regional on May 17, with the Bulldogs set to face Saint Mary's at 6:30 p.m. in Eugene, Oregon, and with Alyssa Faircloth scheduled to start in the circle.

The Bulldogs, 40-18, reached the regional final by beating Saint Mary's in a walk-off on May 15 and then blanking host Oregon on May 16, a game that gave Mississippi State its first NCAA Tournament no-hitter. Faircloth allowed just one base runner on a walk and struck out 10 in that win. Tatum Silva also delivered a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to push the lead to 5-0 before Mississippi State finished off the Ducks behind a two-run first inning and a 5-0 cushion heading into the seventh.

Saint Mary's had fought its way back into the bracket by eliminating Oregon on May 16, which set up the rematch. Mia Nishikawa was scheduled to start for Saint Mary's, and the game was set to stream on ESPNU. If the Gaels beat Mississippi State, they would have to do it again to advance, with a second game scheduled for 9 p.m. if necessary.

The path is straightforward and unforgiving. Mississippi State has already done the hard part twice: it won the opener 3-2 and then beat the regional host with the kind of pitching performance that can change a tournament. Now the Bulldogs need one more win to keep rolling into a super regional series in Norman, Oklahoma, against Oklahoma. Broccoli was visible in the Mississippi State dugout after a fan spread the idea around the stands, a small bit of color in a bracket that has turned serious fast.

For Faircloth, the start is another chance to carry a staff that has already delivered when the margin was thin. For Mississippi State, it is the kind of game that can turn a strong season into a defining week. One more win sends the Bulldogs on; anything less leaves the regional to Saint Mary's.