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Mississippi State Baseball Sweeps Missouri in Series

Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrating a baseball victory

News Summary

Mississippi State baseball completed a remarkable sweep of Missouri, achieving their first road series win since their 2021 championship. The Bulldogs showcased their offensive dominance with 50 runs over three games and a historic 25-run game. Under interim coach Justin Parker, the team has rebounded impressively, earning the No. 11 seed for the SEC tournament despite recent challenges. As they head into the postseason, Mississippi State’s strong form and leadership position them as contenders for further success.

Starkville

Mississippi State baseball achieved a significant milestone by sweeping Missouri in a three-game series, with scores of 25-7, 13-3, and 12-1 from May 16 to May 17, 2025. This sweep marked the Bulldogs’ first road series triumph since clinching the national championship in 2021.

With this victorious series, Mississippi State finished their regular season with an overall record of 34 wins and 20 losses, including a .500 record of 15 wins and 15 losses in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play. This performance has secured them the No. 11 seed in the upcoming SEC tournament, where they are scheduled to face No. 14 Texas A&M (28-25, 11-19) on May 20 at 8 p.m. at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, with the match to be broadcasted on SEC Network.

Following the departure of head coach Chris Lemonis on April 28, Mississippi State has displayed a remarkable turnaround, achieving a record of 9-1 under interim head coach Justin Parker. The team has impressively notched four victories by run rule during this stretch, including eight wins against SEC rivals.

Offensive Dominance

Mississippi State’s offense was a stand-out force in the series against Missouri, amassing an astonishing 50 runs across the three games. The performance was highlighted by the Bulldogs’ hitting prowess, with an impressive total of 15 home runs during the series. This included a record-setting performance in Game 1, where they scored 25 runs, the most for the program since 2010, and eight home runs, setting a new single-game franchise record.

Senior first baseman Hunter Hines played a crucial role in this offensive show, hitting four home runs during the series and surpassing Rafael Palmeiro to become Mississippi State’s all-time leader in career home runs with 68. Additionally, Ace Reese showcased his potential with an outstanding performance, batting 8-for-12 in the series and contributing four home runs, six RBIs, 11 runs, and five walks. He is currently recognized for a possible SEC Player of the Year accolade and leads the SEC in total bases (154) and slugging percentage (.759), while ranking among the top five in various offensive categories.

Pitching and Injuries

In terms of pitching, freshman Charlie Foster made a noteworthy return from injury, throwing a scoreless inning against Missouri after a lengthy absence since March 16. However, the series also saw some setbacks, as three position players, Gehrig Frei, Aaron Downs, and Joe Powell, sustained injuries. At this point, there have been no official updates on their status moving forward.

Missouri’s Struggles

On the opposite side of the field, Missouri concluded their season with a disappointing record of 16-38, which included a staggering 3-27 in SEC play, marking the worst record in modern SEC history since the league adopted a 30-game schedule in 1996.

As the Mississippi State Bulldogs prepare for the SEC tournament, their momentum from the recent series against Missouri, coupled with their impressive offensive display and the strategic leadership of interim coach Justin Parker, sets the stage for a promising postseason run.