What we learned from Mississippi State baseball’s dominant series sweep vs Manhattan

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball never trailed more than one inning in its 2025 season-opening series.

The No. 19 Bulldogs (3-0) pounded Manhattan (0-3) for a three-game sweep at Dudy Noble Field over the weekend. The first two wins on Friday were by run-rule in an opening day doubleheader. Game 1 was a 17-3 decision, while Game 2 finished at 13-1. MSU took Sunday’s finale 5-1. 

It’s Mississippi State’s first 3-0 start to a season since 2020. 

“Really pleased,” coach Chris Lemonis said. “Lot of work left to do, obviously, and a long road ahead of us, but we played good defense all weekend. We threw a ton of strikes.”

Here’s what we learned from the series sweep.

Chris Lemonis proud of Mississippi State defense

Lemonis said before the season there was still plenty he wouldn’t learn about Mississippi State until the games were played. On Sunday, he pointed to MSU’s defense as one of his impressions. 

The Bulldogs only committed one error in the three games. It came in Game 2 when Ross Highfill, who’s more experienced as a catcher, mishandled a ball in right field.

Lemonis singled out a strong play by shortstop Dylan Cupp that ended Sunday’s game.

“The play to end the game, that’s a special, special play,” he said. “A lot of guys don’t make that play.” 

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Stone Simmons sharp in first game since 2022

Lemonis admitted he was emotional as Stone Simmons took the mound Sunday for the first time since 2022 after Tommy John surgery. Simmons said he was emotional too. 

Simmons threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, two walks with five strikeouts. Four of the five strikeouts came consecutively across the second and third innings. 

“It was great,” he said. “It took me a little while to settle in, to be honest with you. For the first half of the first inning, I was a little juiced up.”

Simmons has been on Mississippi State since 2021 after a freshman season at Furman. 

He ended the first inning Sunday picking off a Manhattan player at first base.

“I think that may have been my first collegiate pick off,” Simmons said. “It took me six years, so that was pretty great.”

Simmons threw 50 pitches, which Lemonis said was about the target because of the cold weather. It was 40 degrees at first pitch at Dudy Noble Field. 

Pico Kohn picked up where he left off

It was clear right away that Pico Kohn was sharp in Friday’s Game 1 start. He struck out the first Manhattan batter of the game in three pitches, then also struck out the next two Jaspers. 

The senior never found trouble during his start, only allowing one base runner from a single in five scoreless innings. His 11 strikeouts were a career-high.

“I felt good,” Kohn said. “Just being in control of my body, I’ve been working a lot with (assistant coach Justin) Parker on slowing down and not trying to do too much. I feel like I did that well today.”

Kohn only made eight starts last season but had his best in his final appearance when he allowed two earned runs in seven innings in a NCAA tournament regional final loss to Virginia.  

Aaron Downs leads Mississippi State’s bats

Aaron Downs didn’t start Game 1 but still had one of the most productive offensive weekends on the team. 

The senior outfielder had seven RBI in two games on Friday, including a pinch-hit three-run home run. In Game 2, Downs batted two-of-three with four RBI. He didn’t have an RBI on Sunday, but scored a run, drew a walk and stole two bases. 

Downs had just 12 career RBI entering the season. He ended the weekend with a .571 batting average and 1.556 OPS. 

“He’s probably the most loved kid in our program from teammates to the people in the community,” Lemonis said. “He’s had a good career in ways but hadn’t had that big year yet. Sometimes that senior does. No better guy to get it from, because he’s super talented.”

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.