Right-Handed Pitcher | Mississippi State University | AUSL Golden Ticket Recipient
About Peja Goold
Peja Goold is a senior right-handed pitcher at Mississippi State and the 17th and final player to receive an AUSL Golden Ticket for the 2026 College Draft, announced on Saturday, April 25, 2026 by Commissioner Kim Ng. The honor guarantees Goold a first-round selection in the May 4 draft and closes the 17-player Golden Ticket class. The Stockton, California, native wears jersey No. 3 and stands 5-foot-7.
Goold has built one of the most dominant individual seasons by any pitcher in the country. She leads the Mississippi State staff with a 2.09 ERA across 30 appearances and 21 starts, owns 14 wins and eight shutouts, and is holding opponents to a .170 batting average — one point off the program’s single-season record. She has also thrown five one-hitters this year and delivered shutouts against No. 1 Tennessee, Arkansas, and South Carolina.
On March 25, she threw the first no-hitter of her career against UT Martin, striking out a season-high 13. Earlier in the same season, she came within one out of a perfect game. Goold becomes the 19th Mississippi State softball player selected in a professional draft and the 29th Bulldog overall to advance to professional softball, joining Sierra Sacco and Mia Davidson as the third active MSU player in the AUSL.
Before transferring to Mississippi State for her senior year, Goold spent three seasons at Chattanooga, where she was named Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. As a junior at Chattanooga she compiled a 25-win season while striking out 244 batters — the workload that put her on national draft boards before she ever pitched in the SEC.
Career Highlights
- AUSL Golden Ticket recipient (April 25, 2026) — 17th and final pick
- 2026 first career no-hitter vs. UT Martin (March 25, 13 K)
- 2026 five one-hitters — one shy of a perfect game earlier in the season
- 2026 shutouts vs. No. 1 Tennessee, Arkansas, and South Carolina
- 2026 stats (Mississippi State): 14-W, 2.09 ERA, .170 OBA across 30 appearances and 21 starts
- 2025 Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year (Chattanooga)
- 2024 Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year (Chattanooga)
- 2024 25-win junior season at Chattanooga with 244 strikeouts
- 19th Mississippi State softball player to be selected in a professional draft
AUSL Draft Result
- Golden Ticket: April 25, 2026
- Draft: May 4, 2026 on ESPN2
- AUSL Team: Oklahoma City Spark (Round 2, Pick #10)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Peja Goold?
Peja Goold is a senior right-handed pitcher at Mississippi State University and the 17th and final AUSL Golden Ticket recipient for the 2026 College Draft. She transferred from Chattanooga, where she was a two-time Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year.
What position does Peja Goold play?
Right-handed pitcher. She wears jersey No. 3 and is the No. 1 starter on Mississippi State’s 2026 staff.
What AUSL team did Peja Goold get drafted to?
Peja Goold was selected by the Oklahoma City Spark in Round 2 (Pick #10) of the 2026 AUSL College Draft on May 4, 2026.
When was Peja Goold’s Golden Ticket announced?
Peja Goold received her AUSL Golden Ticket on Saturday, April 25, 2026, making her the 17th and final player selected for the 2026 AUSL College Draft and closing the Golden Ticket class.
Connect with Peja Goold
- Official School Bio: Mississippi State Athletics
- AUSL Announcement: Athletes Unlimited Softball League
Other Golden Ticket Recipients
- NiJaree Canady — Texas Tech, Pitcher
- Reese Atwood — University of Texas, Catcher
- Leighann Goode — University of Texas, Shortstop / Second Base
- Sydney Stewart — University of Arizona, Catcher
- Karlyn Pickens — University of Tennessee, Pitcher
- Dakota Kennedy — University of Arkansas, Outfielder
- Kenzie Brown — Arizona State University, Pitcher
- Taryn Kern — Stanford University, Infielder
- Maya Johnson — Belmont University
- Jocelyn Erickson — University of Florida
- Kenleigh Cahalan — University of Florida
- Megan Grant — UCLA
- Taylor Tinsley — UCLA
- Jordan Woolery — UCLA
- Amari Harper — University of Oregon
- Ailana Agbayani — University of Oklahoma, Second Base