Mississippi
Baseball: Mississippi State handles business against Alcorn State
STARKVILLE — Pico Kohn’s first start back from Tommy John surgery wasn’t bad, but head coach Chris Lemonis knew the left-hander was capable of much more.
Mississippi State gave Kohn the midweek start at Samford on Mar. 26, and although he allowed only one run, he walked three batters in just two innings of work. Three weeks later, Kohn took the mound again to face an Alcorn State team with just two wins all season, a unit that entered Tuesday ranked 302nd out of 305 Division I teams in the RPI. And this time, he was excellent, holding the Braves to one hit and no walks with five strikeouts over three scoreless innings.
The Bulldogs were patient at the plate against the nation’s second-worst pitching staff by ERA, drawing 12 walks en route to an 11-0 run-rule victory.
“I was very pleased. We got out to a good start, got a little lead, got to add on to it,” Lemonis said. “That was the best we’ve ever seen Pico. Karson Ligon was really good, Gavin Black was probably as good as we’ve seen him.”
MSU (23-14), which fell out of the D1Baseball Top 25 after losing two out of three at Ole Miss over the weekend, jumped out in front in the first inning when Amani Larry and David Mershon walked and Dakota Jordan’s single brought them both in. Jordan drove in his third run of the night with a triple two innings later before he and most of the Bulldogs’ other starters were lifted for pinch hitters or defensive replacements.
Freshman Ethan Pulliam, a Starkville High graduate, made the most of his first collegiate start with an RBI single in the fifth and another single in his next at-bat. Fellow rookie Dylan Cupp, who had not played since Mar. 21 at Texas A&M, returned to action and committed a throwing error on his first fielding chance at shortstop, but later delivered an RBI single of his own.
“Ethan was really good in the fall, really good in spring training,” Lemonis said. “It was his time to get an opportunity, and he had a really good game. He just works. He’s just a worker. He just shows up and gets after it, hasn’t pouted, hasn’t acted like a baby, and the game respects that.”
Kohn retired the first eight batters he faced before giving up a double, then giving way to Ligon in the fourth. Ligon, Black, Colby Holcombe and Logan Forsythe each worked a scoreless inning in relief.
“I feel like I was full go today,” Kohn said. “Slowing down had a lot to do with the (velocity) being more consistent, finishing my pitches a lot. My arm felt really good today.”
Alcorn State (2-27) came in issuing 9.36 walks per nine innings, the most in all of Division I baseball. Mershon drew free passes in all three of his plate appearances before Cupp replaced him, and Jackson McKenzie and Logan Kohler each walked twice.
“That was part of the game plan,” Lemonis said. “It’s not the speed that we usually see, so (we wanted to) take a pitch, see a ball, get our timing, and make sure you get a pitch that you’re willing to hit. Sometimes it’s hard to get a lot of hits when you’re used to 94 (miles per hour) and you’re getting 84. It’s just a difference in timing, and you don’t train every day for that.”
The Bulldogs return to Southeastern Conference play with a three-game series against Auburn beginning Friday night. Lemonis did not provide an update on Nate Dohm, whose return from injury was cut short after just 12 pitches against Georgia on Apr. 7, but he expects Jurrangelo Cijntje — who exited his start last Saturday at Ole Miss with back tightness after three innings — to be ready to go.
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Mississippi
Carpenter Pole and Piling invests $5M in Mississippi, creating 10 jobs
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Staff
A wood products manufacturer is set to create new jobs as part of a major expansion.
Carpenter Pole and Piling is investing nearly $5 million into its Wiggins, Mississippi, operation.
The expansion will add 10 new positions and support long-term growth in the region.
“Carpenter Pole and Piling is a true Mississippi success story, and we’re proud to see the company continue investing right here at home,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said.
“This expansion in Stone County is creating new opportunities for hardworking Mississippians while strengthening a company that has long contributed to our state’s economy,” Reeves said. “When Mississippi businesses grow, our communities grow with them, and we remain committed to fostering a business environment where companies can thrive.”
Carpenter Pole and Piling produces utility poles and pilings for marine and foundation use.
The project includes construction of a new treatment plant, investment in a 2,600-cubic-foot autoclave and an alternative treatment option to improve production capacity.
The company is also clearing and preparing an additional 20 acres for a new pole storage yard.
Stone County is also contributing to the project.
The company expects to complete construction by September 2026.
The new roles are expected to be filled by January 2027.
Carpenter Pole and Piling specializes in the production of utility poles. It also manufactures foundation and marine pilings.
The new autoclave will increase production and add an alternative treatment option.
This story was created by business and development writer Ross Reily, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
Mississippi
CBSB: Southern Miss sweeps again, Mississippi State shines in Texas, Ole Miss struggles – SuperTalk Mississippi
Southern Miss earned its second consecutive sweep, rounding out a mostly successful weekend of college baseball for Mississippi’s major programs.
The No. 12 Golden Eagles (10-1), fresh off a mercy-rule victory over Alabama, exited a hostile Louisiana Tech environment with three straight wins versus a former conference counterpart. Christian Ostrander’s crew won 8-3 on Friday, cruised to an 11-0 run-rule victory through seven innings on Saturday, and was on the good side of a 6-2 scoreboard in Sunday’s finale.
A three-run bomb by Kyle Morrison in the top of the fourth of Friday’s game put the black and gold up 5-3, and solid pitching carried the team the rest of the way. A six-run top of the fourth of Saturday’s game, in part due to a Matthew Russo 2 RBI single, broke a scoring stalemate and fueled Southern Miss to a win in a shortened matchup. A two-run long ball by Joey Urban in the top of the ninth of Sunday’s battle gave the Golden Eagles a buffer that would not be eclipsed.
Kros Sivley (2-0) was Friday’s winning pitcher after logging a pair of strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Grayden Harris (2-0) got the win on Saturday after fanning five batters and surrendering no runs through six complete innings. Camden Sunstrom (1-0) closed out the finale with the win after striking out two batters and not giving up a hit or a run in the final two frames.
Mississippi State wins two in Texas
The No. 4 Bulldogs (11-1) had a solid weekend in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series. Brian O’Connor’s club handled the weekend test with an 8-4 win over Arizona State, a 15-8 victory over Virginia Tech, and a heartbreaking 8-7 extra-innings loss to No. 1 UCLA.
Mississippi State broke a scoring hiatus on Friday with a strong bottom of the fifth. A Bryce Chance RBI single scored the game’s first run, then a Gehrig Frei homer put the Bulldogs up 4-0. Three insurance runs were added in the next offensive frame, and Mississippi State did not look back. On Saturday, an Ace Reece longball gave the maroon and white a 4-0 lead in the top of the second. Virginia Tech chipped away, cutting the deficit to two runs, until a five-run top of the seventh put things out of reach.
Sunday’s finale was a battle between two teams vying for bragging rights as the nation’s best. The Bruins took an early 3-0 lead, but Mississippi State quickly countered. A two-run bomb by Reed Stallman and an RBI double by Ryder Woodson knotted things up 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. The Bulldogs added a run in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to lead 5-3.
A two-out home run by UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky tied the ballgame in the top of the ninth. Mississippi State, with runners on second and third and no outs in the bottom of the ninth, could not send a runner home. A wild pitch and a 2 RBI triple scored three Bruins in the top of the 10th. Stallman hit his second home run of the day to inch the Bulldogs within one run of their foe, but it was not followed up with more scoring.
Winning pitchers for Mississippi State this weekend were Ryan McPherson (2-0) and Tomas Valincius (3-0), while Ben Davis (0-1) was tabbed with the lone loss.
Ole Miss struggles in neutral-site tournament
In its first set of tests versus power conference opponents, the Rebels (10-2) struggled mightily, dropping two of three outings in the BRUCE BOLT College Classic. Mike Bianco’s club fell to Baylor 6-5 in extra innings on Friday before bouncing back on Saturday in an 8-0 win over Ohio State and suffering a 9-2 loss to Coastal Carolina in Sunday’s finale. Ole Miss was a combined 0-18 at the plate with runners in scoring position in the two losses.
Though the weekend didn’t play to the Rebels’ advantage, a few individual performers stood out. Murray State transfer Dom Decker, who entered his junior campaign without hitting a home run, hit three balls over the outfield wall at the Houston Astros’ Daikin Park. Hunter Elliott had a career-high 11 strikeouts on Friday, while Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe collectively fanned 16 batters in Saturday’s shutout.
Next up
Southern Miss will play a pair of home midweek games, the first being against Mississippi State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and the second versus Nicholls on Wednesday at 6 p.m., before hosting North Alabama over the weekend.
Mississippi State will host Lipscomb over the weekend after facing the Golden Eagles.
Ole Miss will host Memphis on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and North Alabama on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., before welcoming Evansville for a weekend series.
Mississippi
Mississippi State women’s basketball vs LSU, Kim Mulkey score, live updates, start time, TV
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State women’s basketball is playing its final regular season game against No. 6 LSU at Humphrey Coliseum on March 1 (3 p.m., SEC Network).
The Bulldogs (18-11, 5-10 SEC) enter the game on the NCAA Tournament bubble after losing three consecutive games, so an upset win could secure an at-large bid.
The Tigers (25-4, 11-4) and coach Kim Mulkey have won three straight games. Their only losses of the season are to Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Texas and South Carolina.
The Clarion Ledger is bringing you live updates from the game. Follow along.
Watch Mississippi State vs LSU
Mississippi State vs LSU score updates
What time does Mississippi State vs LSU start?
- Date: Sunday, March 1
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Where: Humphrey Coliseum
What TV channel is Mississippi State vs LSU on today?
Mississippi State vs LSU prediction
- Sam Sklar, The Clarion Ledger: LSU 77, Mississippi State 74
Mississippi State vs LSU injury report
Mississippi State
None
LSU
- Meghan Yarnevich: Out
- Kailyn Gilbert: Out
Mississippi State women’s basketball schedule 2025-26
Remaining games on the Mississippi State schedule:
- March 4-8: SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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