Mississippi State’s Peja Goold Named 17th and Final AUSL Golden Ticket Recipient

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State right-handed pitcher Peja Goold became the 17th and final 2026 AUSL Golden Ticket recipient on Saturday, closing a Golden Ticket class that now spans 17 of the country’s top college players ahead of the May 4 draft on ESPN2.

Commissioner Kim Ng announced Goold’s selection on April 25. Goold was presented with her ticket during Mississippi State’s series against LSU and becomes the 19th Mississippi State softball player to be selected in a professional draft, and the 29th Bulldog overall to advance to professional softball. She joins Sierra Sacco and Mia Davidson as the third active Mississippi State player in the AUSL.

A breakthrough senior season

Goold leads the Mississippi State staff with a 2.09 ERA across 30 appearances and 21 starts. She owns 14 wins and eight shutouts, and is holding opponents to a .170 batting average — one point off the Bulldogs’ single-season program record. She has also thrown five one-hitters this year.

On March 25, she threw the first no-hitter of her career against UT Martin, striking out a season-high 13 batters. Earlier in the same season, she came within one out of a perfect game. She has delivered shutouts against No. 1 Tennessee, Arkansas, and South Carolina, building a résumé that put her at the top of the AUSL’s final scouting board.

“We are incredibly excited that Peja has received a Golden Ticket to be drafted into the AUSL,” Mississippi State head coach Samantha Ricketts said. “The way she prepares and approaches her craft already reflects a professional mindset, and we’re looking forward to watching her continue to grow and compete at the next level.”

Pitching coach Taryne Mowatt-McKinney added, “This is an incredible opportunity that Peja has earned and I couldn’t be happier for her to have this moment. The AUSL is lucky to be getting a player of her caliber.”

From Chattanooga to Starkville

Goold built the foundation of her draft case at Chattanooga, where she spent three seasons and was named Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. As a junior she compiled a 25-win season while striking out 244 batters — workload numbers that put her on national draft boards before she pitched a single inning in the Southeastern Conference.

The Stockton, California native transferred to Mississippi State for her senior year and stepped immediately into the staff’s No. 1 starter role. The combination of her SoCon track record and her current SEC numbers made her the consensus final pick for the AUSL’s 17-player Golden Ticket class.

What’s next

Goold’s professional path begins with the 2026 AUSL College Draft, which airs Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. As a Golden Ticket recipient, her draft selection is guaranteed; the only open questions are which of the league’s six franchises picks her, and at what spot. Carolina Blaze hold the first overall selection.

The 2026 Golden Ticket class is now closed at 17 players, ranging from NiJaree Canady at Texas Tech (the first ticket, awarded March 27) to Goold (April 25). Every recipient is guaranteed a draft spot, with the remainder of each roster filled in subsequent rounds during the May 4 telecast. Commissioner Kim Ng will announce each selection live on the ESPN2 broadcast.