Categories: College University AthleticsCollege/University News

Mississippi State Baseball Secures SEC Tournament Spot

Mississippi State baseball team playing in the stadium

News Summary

Mississippi State baseball achieved a historic series sweep over Missouri, securing their position in the SEC Tournament. The Bulldogs dominated with a remarkable total of 50 runs and set a school record of 15 home runs during the series. Key player Hunter Hines broke records with four home runs while interim coach Justin Parker lauded the team’s improved performance. Despite injuries to several key players, Mississippi State looks to carry their momentum into the upcoming SEC Tournament match against Texas A&M.

Starkville, MS – Mississippi State baseball has secured a spot in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament following a historic sweep of Missouri in their final regular season series. The Bulldogs achieved an impressive series of victories, winning Game 1 with a score of 25-7, Game 2 at 13-3, and Game 3 at 12-1 on May 17. This dominant performance propelled MSU to a final regular season record of 34-20 overall and 15-15 in the SEC.

The Bulldogs’ sweep against Missouri, who ended the season with a dismal record of 16-38 and 3-27 in the SEC, marked the first road series sweep for Mississippi State since their national championship win in 2021. Over the three-game series, Mississippi State scored a staggering total of 50 runs and launched a school record of 15 home runs, highlighting their offensive prowess.

Among the standout performances, senior first baseman Hunter Hines made headlines by hitting four home runs throughout the series. His performance allowed him to break Mississippi State’s career home run record with a total of 69, positioning him in fourth place in SEC history. In addition, sophomore third baseman Ace Reese had an exceptional series, batting 8-for-12 with four home runs, six RBIs, eleven runs, and five walks. Entering the last day of the season, Reese led the SEC in total bases with 154 and slugging percentage at .759.

Interim coach Justin Parker, who stepped in after the firing of coach Chris Lemonis on April 28, emphasized the team’s improvements in playing complementary baseball since the coaching change. This newfound dynamic has contributed significantly to the Bulldogs’ successful end of the season.

Mississippi State now heads into the SEC tournament as the No. 11 seed and is set to face off against No. 14 Texas A&M at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium on May 20 at 8 p.m. This match will be pivotal as the Bulldogs aim to continue their momentum from the Missouri series into the postseason.

In a brief return from injury, freshman pitcher Charlie Foster made a notable appearance in the series, pitching one scoreless inning against Missouri after being sidelined since March 16. However, the Bulldogs faced some challenges as three key position players suffered injuries during the series: starting left fielder Gehrig Frei, reserve outfielder Aaron Downs, and starting catcher Joe Powell. As of now, updates on their conditions are still pending.

This series also marked a low point for Missouri, as they wrapped up their season with the worst SEC record in modern history since the league adopted the 30-game schedule in 1996. The Tigers concluded their season with three consecutive defeats, and pitcher Josh McDevitt remained winless for the season after taking the loss in Game 3.

Mississippi State’s offensive output in this series stands as the highest number of runs scored in an SEC series in the school’s history. The Bulldogs had not faced Texas A&M during the regular season in 2025, but they did compete against them four times the previous season with varied results. As they prepare for the upcoming tournament, all eyes will be on Mississippi State as they strive for success in the postseason.