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.
MORE: Omaha bar where Brian O’Connor worked changing to Mississippi State hangout for College World Series
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
Mississippi State injury updates
There is no official injury report for this series, though Mississippi State pitcher William Kirk exited his Feb. 24 start with a leg injury.
Mississippi State baseball 2026 schedule
Next five games:
- March 3: at Southern Miss
- March 6-8: vs. Lipscomb
- March 10: vs. Tulane (in Biloxi)
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.