Alyssa Faircloth leads Mississippi State to first Women's College World Series bid

OKLAHOMA CITY — Former Tuscaloosa County and Holy Spirit star pitcher Alyssa Faircloth has reached the big stage.

The junior lefty had pushed Mississippi State to its first Women's College World Series appearance. She's coming off a recent no-hitter to knock then-regional host Oregon to the losers bracket with a 4-0 shutout May 16. She only allowed one baserunner on a walk and struck out 10 for the Bulldogs' first NCAA Tournament no-hitter.

FAIRCLOTH: Alyssa Faircloth, former TCHS and Holy Spirit star, tosses no-hitter for Mississippi State

PREPS: How Alyssa Faircloth's arrival has changed outlook for Tuscaloosa County softball

And now, she's not taking her moment in Oklahoma City for granted.

"Last year, this really wasn't an opportunity that was really realistic for me," Faircloth said. "So, really just trying to be grateful for the opportunity that I've been given this year and just kind of enjoy the moment and take it in and not let the moment get too big."

Faircloth, the SEC Newcomer of the Year, began her collegiate career at Troy before transferring to Mississippi State ahead of the 2026 season.

Before college, Faircloth led Holy Spirit to an AHSAA Class 1A state title her junior season in high school and was named Class 1A Pitcher and Player of the Year, leading the country with 444 strikeouts. She transferred to Tuscaloosa County for her senior season and was named the AHSAA Class 7A pitcher of the year with 402 strikeouts. She was a four-time all-state and all-county selection.

"It's been amazing being able to be close to my family," Faircloth said of her junior season in Starkville. "Being able to see all my hard work and everything pay off. My journey hasn't looked like everybody else's, so it's just been really great. I'm really grateful for the experiences that have led to this, and I feel like they've prepared me for this moment."

Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alyssa Faircloth leads Mississippi State to first Women's College World Series bid