#3, Right-Handed Pitcher, R/R

Peja Goold

Mississippi State University '26

Hometown: Stockton, California

Peja Goold is a professional softball pitcher from Stockton, California. She was the No. 10 overall selection by the Oklahoma City Spark in the 2026 AUSL College Draft.

Personal Life

Family: Daughter of Dean and Radora Goold; one of three children.

Education: Majored in marketing at Mississippi State.

Background: Played basketball, soccer, and volleyball growing up. Idolizes Jennie Finch and was starstruck meeting Danielle Lawrie in 2026. Considers her softball journey her proudest accomplishment.

Hobbies: Enjoys fishing, hiking, reading, ice skating, and family time. Has a dog named Nalah Bear and prizes a pencil drawing from her grandfather.

College Experience: Mississippi State & Chattanooga (2023–2026)

Over her collegiate career, Goold made 134 appearances (84 starts), compiling a 61-32 record with eight saves. She totaled 647 strikeouts over 580.2 innings, throwing 43 complete games and 18 shutouts. During her three years at Chattanooga, she logged a 2.28 ERA and a 46-21 record, ranking seventh in program history with 465 strikeouts.

Senior Campaign (2026 - Mississippi State): Started 25 of 38 games, posting a 15-10 record, three saves, and a 2.32 ERA. Struck out 179 batters in 154.0 innings, limiting opponents to a .184 average. Threw her first career no-hitter against UT Martin on March 25, 2026, alongside five one-hit performances.

Junior Year (2025 - Chattanooga): Went 25-7 across 38 appearances (29 starts) with 25 complete games. Led the team in ERA (1.69), strikeouts (244), innings pitched (202.2), and shutouts (8) while holding hitters to a .173 average. Struck out a career-high 14 batters in a shutout against Stony Brook on February 28, 2025.

Sophomore Season (2024 - Chattanooga): Appeared in 33 games (17 starts), earning a 12-5 record, 3.00 ERA, and three saves. Tallied 126 strikeouts in 121.1 innings and spun her first career shutout against North Alabama on February 18, 2024.

Freshman Year (2023 - Chattanooga): Made 24 appearances (12 starts) and registered 95 strikeouts in 100.0 innings. Pitched a career-high 9.0 scoreless innings against Akron on February 26, 2023.

Awards & Honors

All-America: 2026 Softball America Second Team; first Mississippi State pitcher since 2002 to earn All-America honors.

All-Region: Two-time NFCA All-South Region First Team selection (Junior and Senior seasons), leading the Bulldogs to a WCWS berth in 2026.

All-Conference: Two-time Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-SoCon. Named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team in 2023.

National Honors: Named SEC Newcomer of the Year by USA Today Sports.

YEAR	W-L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	SO	LOB	BB	R	ER	HR	B/AVG	HB	CG	SHO	SV	B	S	WP
2026 Spark	1-1	14.61	9	1	7.2	17	4	-	6	19	16	2	.436	1	-	-	-	94	116	-
Career Totals	1-1	14.61	9	1	7.2	17	4	-	6	19	16	2	.436	1	-	-	-	94	116	-

*The AUSL All-Star Cup was known as the Championship season through 2024.

DATE	HOME TEAM	AWAY TEAM	W-L	ERA	G	IP	H	SO	LOB	BB	R	ER	HR	B/AVG	HB	CG	SHO	SV	B	S	WP
7/20/2026	Blaze	Spark	0-0	0.00	1	0.1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-
7/11/2026	Spark	Talons	0-0	0.00	1	0.1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	3	-
6/27/2026	Spark	Bandits	0-0	63.00	1	0.1	4	-	-	-	3	3	1	1.000	1	-	-	-	5	10	-
6/22/2026	Talons	Spark	0-0	42.00	1	0.1	3	-	-	-	2	2	-	.750	-	-	-	-	5	10	-
6/21/2026	Cascade	Spark	0-0	42.00	1	0.1	1	-	-	1	2	2	-	.500	-	-	-	-	8	8	-
6/19/2026	Cascade	Spark	0-0	0.00	1	2.0	-	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	16	17	-
6/14/2026	Bandits	Spark	0-1	31.50	1	1.1	6	1	-	2	8	6	-	.545	-	-	-	-	30	34	-
6/11/2026	Spark	Volts	1-0	0.00	1	1.0	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	8	-
6/10/2026	Spark	Volts	0-0	12.60	1	1.2	3	1	-	1	4	3	1	.375	-	-	-	-	17	25	-

*The AUSL All-Star Cup was known as the Championship season through 2024.

Highlights

1 Big unknown for each AUSL team in 2026

The Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) season is more like a sprint than a marathon – 25 games for each of the six teams in just under two months. That leaves little time for slumps, and the downs need to turn around quickly. There are always unknowns going into Opening Day, and these questions for each […]