Mississippi State Baseball Tops Ole Miss in Thrilling Showdown

Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrating victory at Dudy Noble Field

News Summary

Mississippi State University baseball celebrated a narrow 6-5 victory over No. 24 Ole Miss in a heated rivalry matchup. The game, held at Dudy Noble Field, saw MSU’s dynamic offense shine early, while strong pitching kept Ole Miss at bay. Freshman Ryan McPherson secured the win with a critical double play in the ninth inning. The victory improves MSU’s season record and enhances their NCAA Tournament hopes under interim coach Justin Parker, marking a pivotal moment in their season.

Starkville, Mississippi – Mississippi State University (MSU) baseball claimed a thrilling 6-5 victory over No. 24 Ole Miss on May 10, 2025, in the final game of their rivalry series. The game took place at Dudy Noble Field and was rescheduled a day earlier due to expected inclement weather.

With this victory, MSU improved its season record to 32-20 and an SEC record of 13-15, while Ole Miss fell to 34-18 and 14-14 in SEC play. The win significantly boosts Mississippi State’s prospects for making it to the NCAA Tournament as they head into the concluding games of the regular season.

MSU’s offense was dynamic early in the game, scoring all six runs within the first five innings. The Bulldogs executed a strong start, entering the seventh inning with a commanding 6-1 lead. Key contributions came from Ace Reese and Gatlin Sanders, each providing multiple runs batted in (RBIs), and the team collectively amassed 13 hits during the match.

MSU’s pitching strategy featured starter Karson Ligon, who demonstrated resilience on the mound. Ligon pitched for over five innings, surrendering just one run on three hits, while walking six batters and striking out seven. Despite his high number of walks, Ligon’s strong strikeout performance kept the Ole Miss batters at bay for much of the game.

In the critical ninth inning, with the game tied and Ole Miss threatening, freshman Ryan McPherson took the mound and faced a stressful situation. With opponents on base, he successfully induced a double play, ending the game and securing the win for MSU. This moment underscored the team’s effective, if sometimes shaky, defensive capabilities throughout the contest, even with two errors being recorded.

Ole Miss showcased a late-game rally, scoring two runs during the eighth inning, highlighted by a pinch-hit home run from Collin Reuter. However, despite their best efforts, they could not complete the comeback, leaving them narrowly defeated.

The game’s outcome also marks another positive development for MSU’s interim head coach, Justin Parker, who has propelled the team to a 6-1 record since taking over on April 28. This sharp turnaround comes after the dismissal of previous head coach Chris Lemonis and has instilled renewed hope within the program and its fanbase.

Coaches have emphasized areas for improvement, particularly concerning walks that permitted Ole Miss to score five runs despite only managing six hits overall. Coach Parker expressed concerns over the team’s performance in the late innings, highlighting the importance of maintaining focus and executing well through every part of the game.

Next, Mississippi State will face North Alabama, followed by an important series against Missouri as they aim to solidify their position in the NCAA Tournament landscape. With their recent success and the support of their fanbase, the team looks to build on this momentum as they push through the closing stages of the season.