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What Stood Out this Weekend for Mississippi State Baseball versus Ole Miss

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What Stood Out this Weekend for Mississippi State Baseball versus Ole Miss


OXFORD, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs lost the series to their rival, Ole Miss. MSU got off to a hot start with an 8-0 win in game one, but it fell apart after that. 

What stood out from Swayze Field?

True Ace

Mississippi State has not had a bonafide ace since Will Bednar, and at times this year, it looked like they would be without one again. However, Khal Stephen has proven to be just that for MSU, and the Indiana native pitched his best game to date in game one. 

The Purdue transfer only lasted two innings a season ago against the Rebels but pitched eight scoreless with nine strikeouts this year. He does not have the typical overpowering stuff, but he competes in the zone well and does not beat himself. 

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Stephen has quickly become one of the top arms in the SEC and will give his team a chance to win every Friday. 

Old Issues

In game two, the Bulldogs seemed poised to take the series as they held a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. However, the bullpen could not hold the lead as Cam Schuelke and Tyler Davis gave up the lead. 

After a Hunter Hines home run, the Bulldogs turned to Karson Ligon to try to close it out. The Miami transfer could not do so as he walked a pair of batters, and Amani Larry could not make a tough play to end the game.

Once again, the offense came through as Johnny Long launched a solo home run in the top of the 12th. True freshman Nolan Stevens was given the ball to close it out, and he struggled as he hit a batter and walked a pair to load the bases with one out. 

Ole Miss took advantage as Jackson Ross lined a walk-off single into left field. That was the third SEC game in which the bullpen has blown a late lead, and it is tough to win like that. 

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A lack of clutch hits was another issue for the Bulldogs that seemed to be buried. However, it was resurrected as nobody in the lineup could get a big hit with runners on base. 

The offense put up nine runs in game two but did not play well, leaving 11 runners on base. 

Designated Hitter

This spot in the lineup has been a struggle for MSU all season. Aaron Downs has gotten most of the reps lately but has been slumping.

Michael O’Brien and Steven Spalitta drew starts at the DH spot in the final two games, and like Downs, they struggled. Someone needs to step up and bring some production to that spot in the lineup because, right now, it is an automatic out. 

Embarrassing 

Mississippi State has done an excellent job bouncing back this season when adversity hits. However, they could not do that after a heartbreaking game two loss as they seemed unprepared for the rubber match and got run off the field by Ole Miss. 

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Pitchers were not competing, and many bats did not even look competitive. 

The Bulldogs had a chance to continue building momentum, but they failed to do so in game two, and they let it carry over to the rubber match. This team has been on the ropes this season, but this weekend could have been the knockout punch as they dropped the first series to the Rebels since 2015. 



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Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time

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Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time


Mississippi College baseball has won the series against West Florida for the first time ever

The Choctaws have been playing UWF since 2015

MC won the first two games and put on a bit of a comeback in game 3

Next: GSC at Delta St., then Conference Tournament

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George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says

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George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says


GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A George County High School senior is dead after an SUV hit him while bicycling on Highway 26 Friday night.

Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) officials said at 8:15 p.m. the MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 26 in George County.

Those officials said a Ford SUV traveling west on Highway 26 collided with 18-year-old Tyree Bradley of McLain, Mississippi, who was bicycling.

Bradley was fatally injured and died at the scene, MHP officials said.

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The crash remains under investigation by the MHP.

See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.

Copyright 2026 WLOX. All rights reserved.



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Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances

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Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances


Some losses feel like they drag on longer than the box score suggests, and Mississippi State’s 3-1 opener at Texas A&M fits that category.

 It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game where the Bulldogs looked outmatched.

It was just one of those nights where the early mistakes stuck around and the offense never quite found the swing that could shake them loose.

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The frustrating part is how quickly the hole formed. Two solo homers and a wild pitch in the first two innings put Mississippi State behind 3-0, and that was basically the ballgame.

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Against a top tier SEC team on the road, spotting three runs that early is a tough ask. The Bulldogs didn’t fold, but they also didn’t cash in when the door cracked open.

“I liked our fight. I think we’re really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together,” Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. “This team still believes, and we’re going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I’m encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they’re a good hitting team, and we’ve got to be able to shut them down early. I don’t think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs.”

They had chances. Two runners stranded in the fifth. Two more in the sixth. Another in the seventh. Des Rivera finally got the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single, but the big hit that usually shows up for this lineup never arrived.

It wasn’t a lack of traffic. It was a lack of finish.

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If there was a bright spot, it came from the bullpen. Delainey Everett gave Mississippi State exactly what it needed after the rocky start.

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“That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it,” Ricketts said. “It’s really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she’s going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well.”

Three hitless innings, one baserunner, and a reminder that she’s quietly putting together a strong stretch.

There were individual positives too. Nadia Barbary keeps climbing the doubles list. Kiarra Sells keeps finding ways on base.

But the bigger picture is simple. Mississippi State is now 6-10 in the SEC, and the margin for error is shrinking. Nights like this one are the difference between climbing back into the race and staying stuck in the middle.

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They get another shot this morning with the schedule bumped up for weather. The formula isn’t complicated.

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Clean up the early innings, keep getting quality relief, and find one or two timely swings. The Bulldogs didn’t get them Friday. They’ll need them today.

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