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

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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  1. 2B Drew Wyers
  2. 3B Ace Reese
  3. DH Noah Sullivan
  4. LF Vytas Valincius
  5. C Chone James
  6. 1B Blake Bevis
  7. SS Ryder Woodson
  8. CF Aidan Teel
  9. 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

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:

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  • 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_.



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Ben Crump seeks independent autopsy in Nolan Wells death

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Ben Crump seeks independent autopsy in Nolan Wells death


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Attorney Ben Crump says Nolan Xavier Wells’ family is pursuing an independent autopsy. Investigators continue working to determine what happened to the 18-year-old after his body was found on Horn Island this week.

Wells, 18, went missing on Saturday, July 4, after taking a boat to the island with friends. A body was found Monday, ending a two-day search.

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Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd told the Sun Herald on Tuesday that the body was identified as Wells. The State Medical Examiner’s Office used dental records to confirm his identity. Officials did not release his cause of death.

In an exclusive interview with Don Lemon on Wednesday, Crump said the body was being flown to Washington, D.C., for a medical examiner to study.

Wells’ disappearance led to an outpouring of prayers, volunteer efforts and community support. By Wednesday morning, a GoFundMe to help the family had raised more than $237,000.

There are still many questions about why Wells was on the island after the boat with his high school friends left. What happened before his death remains unclear.

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On Tuesday, his family hired nationally known civil rights attorney Crump and his team to help them find answers in the case.

What was Nolan Wells’ cause of death?

Crump said the second autopsy will find out “if he had any physical injuries to his body beyond drowning.” He was unaware of the physical condition of the body at the time of the interview.

The remains were being flown to Washington on Wednesday. Crump said his team expects the results on Friday.

Crump said investigators in Mississippi have not given them information about the state’s autopsy.

Crump says family is living in a nightmare

Crump told Lemon the family is living in a nightmare, and they still have many questions about the young man’s death.

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He was clear, however, that his investigation is still in very early stages and they are not sure yet if they will find signs of foul play. If they do, he said, they will work with local law enforcement and the state if there’s anyone who should face criminal charges.

According to the attorney, the sheriff’s office has not shared information with the family about what happened and whether the sheriff’s office suspects criminal behavior.

“There’s no information that we have right now that would lead us to believe that a crime has occurred,” Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter told ABC News earlier this week.

He said the family has concerns about “inconsistencies” including texts deleted from Wells’ phone. They don’t want Wells’ death to be called an accident and swept under the rug if it wasn’t.

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Crump said Wells had a tryout to play Division I football on Monday. The teen was reportedly avoiding substances that could affect his performance. His family said he was an extraordinary athlete and strong swimmer.

There was allegedly an argument on the island, Crump said. Now, Wells’ family isn’t accepting that his death could be a coincidence.

Lemon asked if they knew what the argument was and if Wells and his group were involved. Crump said they have an investigator talking to Wells’ friends. He plans to share the information when the issue becomes clear.

Crump said investigation, not speculation, is the goal.

Questions remain after Horn Island death

Ledbetter said the county’s investigation is still active.

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According to reporting from TMZ, the sheriff’s office was investigating a video shared on social media that appears to show people arguing on Horn Island on the holiday. It’s unclear if the footage, which shows a crowded beach, is related to the case.

Crump and his legal team are planning their independent review. They have committed to urging “the timely release of all records, witness accounts, and autopsy findings.”

What investigators know so far

Wells was reported missing over the holiday weekend after traveling to Horn Island with friends on July 4. The barrier island is part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Wells, who also went by Nono, was last seen on the northwest tip of Horn Island on the afternoon of Saturday, July 4. He did not come back to the mainland with his group, and his mom reported him missing that night.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office led a search on land and water Sunday and Monday. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, National Park Service employees and the U.S. Coast Guard helped with the search. The United Cajun Navy and other volunteers also worked to find Wells.

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His mother, Christine Wonsley, said during the search that she and his father had received Wells’ phone. Location tracking wasn’t an option while they looked for him.

A park ranger found the body Monday morning. The identification was confirmed Tuesday following an autopsy.

Investigators are still trying to determine why he didn’t leave the island and who he was with. They’re limiting the information released at this time as deputies work to find witnesses and collect evidence.

Authorities seek witnesses, photos and video

Ledbetter issued a statement saying rumors, commentary and unchecked information spreading on social media have been a challenge in the investigation.

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Deputies need to speak to people who were at Horn Island. They’re also looking for original photos, video or sound recordings.

They are asking anyone who saw or heard an “argument, disturbance or other unusual activity” on the island to come forward.

Call 228-769-3065 during regular business hours or 228-769-3063 after hours if you have firsthand information about the case.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@usatodayco.com.



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Mississippi’s first Dutch Bros now open in Pearl

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Mississippi’s first Dutch Bros now open in Pearl


PEARL, Miss. (WLBT) – Mississippi’s first Dutch Bros is now open in Pearl!

The coffee shop had its grand opening on Wednesday, July 8, around 5 a.m. It is located at 200 Bass Pro Dr.

To celebrate the grand opening, customers can enjoy $3 medium drinks on Wednesday.

Store hours are Sun-Thurs: 5 a.m.- 10 p.m., Fri-Sat: 5 a.m.- 11 p.m.

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Dutch Bros now has stores in 26 states.

Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.

Copyright 2026 WLBT. All rights reserved.



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Police investigating video of Nolan Wells’ alleged argument on Horn Island before Mississippi teen went missing

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Police investigating video of Nolan Wells’ alleged argument on Horn Island before Mississippi teen went missing


MIAMI – Police are said to be investigating a video that allegedly shows a heated argument before Mississippi teen Nolan Xavier Wells went missing and was later found dead – as his grandfather said: “There’s nothing right about this.”

The 18-year-old star football player vanished during a Fourth of July boat trip with friends Saturday and a body which authorities said matched his description was found Monday morning.

Wells was last seen around 3 p.m. Saturday “talking to a girl” at the north end of Horn Island, a popular barrier island about 10 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Cajun Navy Jackson County Sheriff’s Department said.

Nolan Wells, left, with friends during July 4 celebrations before he went missing. Facebook/Christine Wonsley

Law enforcement have been looking into a viral clip circulated online which appears to show several people having an “intense” argument near the shoreline, TMZ reported.

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It sparked speculation that the tense moment could be connected to Wells’ disappearance.

However, authorities have not confirmed that the footage is authentic or whether the people seen in it have any connection to the college student.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said that Wells’ friends had left the island and gone back without him, ABC News reported.

“From what we understand, he chose to stay there,” Ledbetter added.

Nolan Xavier Wells with his mother Christine Wonsley. Facebook / Christine Wonsley

Ledbetter said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon that officers want to speak with anyone who “observed or heard an argument, disturbance, or other unusual activity while on the island that day.”

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Meanwhile, the family of the teen – who played as a wide receiver at Southwest Mississippi Community College – said they were seeking answers.

“Too many unanswered questions — how can a Island that was searched yesterday produce my grandsons body this morning,” his grandfather Christopher Wells Sr. wrote on Facebook on Monday.

The search for 18-year-old Nolan Wells has been called off after a body was located on the northwest end of Horn Island on July 6, 2026. United Cajun Navy

“There’s nothing right about this, Nolan Xavier Wells deserved the same things that people he knew and associated with will enjoy in life.”

Wells Sr. later said Wells’ mom Christine and dad Elmore had “prayed for a positive outcome but they also had to prepare themselves for the worst”, adding that “it’s time for answers.”

Photos of the 6-foot-1, 180-pound teen showed him shirtless while sporting blue swim trunks, sunglasses and grinning alongside friends on a boat before he went missing.

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The United Cajun Navy non-profit disaster relief organization launched aerial reconnaissance during the search to scour the waters between Horn Island and Ship Island, stretching south to the Chandelier Islands.

The United States Coast Guard, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department also reportedly assisted in the frantic search.





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