Four days ago, Mississippi State Baseball had a bleak reality of what the end of the season would look like for the Bulldogs. However, Mississippi State went to Alex Box Stadium and stunned the hometown LSU Tigers by winning two games to take the series. Not many teams can say they went into the mouth of Alex Box Stadium and came out on top, especially a team like Mississippi State. Mississippi State has struggled all season in Southeastern Conference play, with six conference wins heading into the weekend series with LSU. However, that did not stop Mississippi State from competing and pulling off one of the biggest comebacks of the 2023 season.

It happened on Sunday when the Bulldogs and Tigers met for a rubber match that would decide the fate of the weekend. LSU jumped ahead of Mississippi State 13-8 until the top half of the 7th inning. Not sure what changed for the Bulldogs to spare the onslaught of runs, but Mississippi State would put together a five-run inning taking away all life from the hometown LSU Tigers in stunning fashion.

Heading into the weekend series with LSU, the talk surrounding Mississippi State had been the must-win situation the Bulldogs faced and how they would miss out on the postseason for a second season. With the series win over LSU, Mississippi State Baseball has a glimmer of hope as they prepare to welcome Texas A&M to Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi, over the weekend.

Sure, Mississippi State will need help from Auburn and LSU as they pray for a miracle and go for the sweep of the Aggies. As it stands, heading into the weekend, Mississippi State is two games behind Georgia and Missouri for the final spot in the 2023 SEC Tournament in Hoover. Mississippi State will need to sweep Texas A&M at Dudy Noble Field and have both Georgia and Missouri lose two out of three this weekend to have a chance at competing in the postseason. For Mississippi State to reach the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs need to earn a trip to Hoover and likely win the 2023 SEC Tournament. Difficult but not impossible, as Mississippi State has an offensive unit that could rival anybody in baseball.

Luckily for Mississippi State, Texas A&M will have to travel to Dudy Noble Field this weekend to take on the Bulldogs in front of a raucous environment. As the series progresses, if Mississippi State can find a way to win the first two on Thursday and Friday, Saturday could provide Mississippi State with legendary Dudy Noble Field moments. Be mindful that Head Coach Chris Lemonis is also fighting for the approval and likely his job this weekend as he prepares his team to welcome Texas A&M to town.

Mississippi State understands what’s at stake this weekend when they welcome the Aggies to Dudy Noble Field. Will the Bulldogs produce to the level that is needed to reach the 2023 SEC Baseball Tournament? Who knows, but the chance for them to salvage this 2023 season is right there for the taking. At this point in the season, a team like Mississippi State can either take care of business this weekend or watch the others have fun in the postseason without them. Simple as that, sweep the Aggies, and Mississippi State could return to Hoover.

Mississippi State and Texas A&M will get underway under the lights on Thursday at Dudy Noble Field.

• Cotton States Baseball League