Mississippi

Baseball: Mississippi State handles business against Alcorn State

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2024

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.

Mississippi State Baseball MSU

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Mississippi

Mississippi State women’s basketball vs LSU, Kim Mulkey score, live updates, start time, TV

Published

8 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

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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Mississippi

Virginia Tech Drops 15-8 To Mississippi State

Published

20 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Virginia Tech Drops 15-8 To Mississippi State

ARLINGTON, Texas — Mississippi State capitalized on free passes and timely hitting to pull away from Virginia Tech late, defeating the Hokies 15-8 Saturday at Globe Life Field.

The Bulldogs (11-0) collected 15 hits and went 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position, taking control with a five-run seventh inning before tacking on three more scores in the eighth and two in the ninth.

Mississippi State struck first in the opening inning. Aidan Teel singled and later scored on Reed Stallman’s RBI double to right, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead against Virginia Tech starter Griffin Stieg.

The Hokies fell behind further in the second when Teel delivered an RBI single and Ace Reese followed with a 399-foot two-run home run to right-center, pushing the margin to 4-0.

Virginia Tech answered in the third. Hudson Lutterman tripled to right field and Ethan Gibson lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 4-1. But the Bulldogs continued to manufacture offense, adding a run in the fifth after a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded made it 5-1.

The Hokies began to chip away in the sixth when Ethan Ball launched a 448-foot solo home run to center field, trimming the lead to 5-2. Virginia Tech threatened further in the inning after Owen Petrich reached and Treyson Hughes moved into scoring position following an error, but a strikeout and a caught stealing ended the rally.

The game swung decisively in the seventh.

Mississippi State loaded the bases against Aiden Robertson and Peyton Smith before James Nunnallee was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Bryce Chance followed with an RBI single, and Teel delivered a two-run single through the right side. An Ace Reese sacrifice fly capped the five-run inning, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 10-2.

Mississippi State added three more in the eighth on Jacob Parker’s 415-foot, three-run home run to right-center, stretching the advantage to 13-2.

Virginia Tech was able to answer to aviod the run-rule decision. In the bottom half of the eighth, Nick Locurto advanced on a wild pitch before Aimon Chandler crushed a two-run homer to left-center to make it 13-5.

The Bulldogs answered again in the ninth, taking advantage of walks and another hit-by-pitch to plate two more runs and push the lead to 15-5.

The Hokies mounted one final rally in the bottom of the ninth, launching three consecutive solo home runs. Anderson French homered to open the inning, Hudson Lutterman followed with a blast of his own and Sam Gates added another to trim the deficit to 15-8. The comeback attempt stalled there, however, as Mississippi State recorded the final three outs to secure the win.

Virginia Tech finished with 11 hits and hit seven home runs in the contest, but the difference proved to be traffic. The Hokies issued 10 walks and hit four batters, allowing Mississippi State to consistently put runners on base. The Bulldogs stranded 12 but capitalized often enough to keep control.

Ball, Chandler, French, Lutterman and Gates each homered for the Hokies, while Mississippi State countered with long balls from Reese and Parker.

Despite the late power surge, Virginia Tech could not overcome Mississippi State’s sustained offensive pressure and struggled to contain innings once they began to unravel.

The Hokies will look to regroup as they finish tournament play tomorrow against Tennessee.

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Mississippi

Mississippi State baseball, Brian O’Connor 10-0 after Arizona State win

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Mississippi State baseball, Brian O’Connor 10-0 after Arizona State win

Mississippi State baseball didn’t have a hit through four innings but came through with big fifth and sixth innings to reach 10-0.

The No. 5 Bulldogs defeated Arizona State 8-4 in the first game of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 27.

Gehrig Frei jolted MSU’s offense in the fifth inning when he hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run for a 4-0 lead over the Sun Devils (8-2). MSU then added three more runs in the sixth inning for a 7-1 lead. Aidan Teel homered for a second straight game with a solo home run in the eighth inning.

Mississippi State sophomore Ryan McPherson had the longest start of his career, throwing seven innings with one run allowed, four hits, three walks and five strikeouts.

Watch Mississippi State baseball in Amegy Bank College Baseball Series

Mississippi State baseball vs Arizona State score updates

Dominic Longo and Dominic Smaldino both hit solo home runs in the ninth inning off MSU’s Maddox Miller to cut the score to 8-4.

Centerfielder Aidan Teel led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run for an 8-2 lead.

The Sun Devils scored one run in the eighth inning on a PJ Moutzouridis sacrifice fly. It cut Mississippi State’s lead to 7-2.

McPherson is done for the day as MSU’s pitcher after throwing a career long seven innings. He allowed one run with four hits, three walks and five strikeouts.

Chone James hit a two-RBI single, then Reed Stallman also hit an RBI single. Mississippi State is up 7-1 in the sixth inning.

Landon Hairston grounded into a double play to trim MSU’s lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning.

The first pitch thrown by Arizona State reliever Josh Butler was a pinch-hit, three-run home run by Gehrig Frei. MSU leads 4-0 in the fifth inning.

Arizona State starting pitcher Cole Carlon exited in the fifth inning with an apparent cramp after giving up the RBI single to Bryce Chance.

Bryce Chance hit an RBI single for a 1-0 Mississippi State lead in the fifth inning.

There were no hits by either team through four innings. ASU’s Dean Toigo hit a single and so did MSU’s Blake Bevis.

Only one batter has reached base through the first two innings, MSU’s Noah Sullivan via a walk in the first inning. MSU pitcher Ryan McPherson has three strikeouts, while Arizona State pitcher Cole Carlon has five.

The Bulldogs are 9-0 with new coach Brian O’Connor. It’s their best start since they went 13-0 in 2015. However, the Bulldogs had a poor season after that, finishing 24-30.

2B Drew Wyers
3B Ace Reese
DH Noah Sullivan
LF Vytas Valincius
C Chone James
1B Blake Bevis
SS Ryder Woodson
CF Aidan Teel
RF Bryce Chance

The Feb. 27 game between Mississippi State and Arizona State in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series is also streaming for free on YouTube at this link.

Mississippi State vs Arizona State will air on 96.1 FM. It can also be streamed for free on the Mississippi State Hail State app or on the MSU athletics website.

What time does Mississippi State baseball play today?

All games are played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Feb. 27: vs. Arizona State (11 a.m. CT)
Feb. 28: vs. Virginia Tech (3 p.m. CT)
March 1: vs. UCLA (2:30 p.m. CT)

What channel is Mississippi State baseball on today?

All games are streaming on FloCollege. The Feb. 27 game against Arizona State is also streaming for free on YouTube.

Mississippi State starting pitchers in Amegy Bank College Baseball Series

Feb. 27 (vs. Arizona State): RHP Ryan McPherson (2.70 ERA, 1-0) vs. LHP Cole Carlon (2-0, 1.64 ERA)
Feb. 28: (vs. Virginia Tech): LHP Tomas Valincius (2-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBA
March 1 (vs. UCLA): TBA