Trustmark Park was the place to be, as Ole Miss and Mississippi State met on the diamond in the annual Govern’s Cup showdown. Ole Miss took the series a few weeks ago at Swayze Field in Oxford, creating an exciting night of baseball in South Mississippi on Wednesday night. 

Ole Miss took an early lead over Mississippi State with a solo shot from Judd Utermark to deep left field to make it 1-0 in favor of the Rebels. 

The game was a nail-biter, with three innings passing before a crucial base hit from Hunter Hines allowed Powell to score for Mississippi State, leveling the game at one in the bottom half of the 5th inning. The tension continued in the 6th inning when Amani Larry started with a base hit for Mississippi State, but the Rebels managed to hold their ground, heading into the 7th inning tied at one. 

Judd Utermark would strike out for Ole Miss, giving the Rebels their first out of the inning. Brayden Randle would pinch hit with two outs for Ole Miss, drawing a much-needed walk for the top of the lineup with Ross Jackson stepping up to the plate. Jackson would reach first off another walk, giving the Rebels two on with two outs. With Andrew Fisher coming to the plate, Mississippi State would go to the Bullpen, bringing Tyler Davis in to clean up the mess. Tyler Davis would strike out Fisher, sending the Bulldogs and Rebels to the bottom of the 7th. 

Mississippi State would have their top half of the lineup to start the 7th with Bryce Chance batting lead-off for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State would have to face a new Ole Miss pitcher in Josh Mallitz. Bryce Chance would start the 7th with a bass hit for the Bulldogs. David Mershon would hit into an incredible double play by the Ole Miss first baseman. Dakota Jordan would step into the box with two outs and nobody on. Despite starting the game 3-3, Jordan would strike out, sending the tie game to the 8th inning. 

Ole Miss would have their 3,4,5 hitters due up in the top half of the 8th inning, with a pinch hitter in Treyson Hughes stepping to the plate for the Rebels. It would be a one, two, and three innings for Ole Miss as Tyler Davis continued to dominate in his two innings on the mound. 

Mississippi State would have Hunter Hines leading off in the bottom of the 8th inning. Mason Morris would be in to pitch for Ole Miss in the 8th. Morris would catch Hines swinging for the first out of the inning. Connor 

Hujsak would step to the plate with one out and nobody on for the Bulldogs and would be nailed with a pitch by Morris to give the Bulldogs a runner on base. A passed ball would advance Hujsak from first to third with Larry at the plate. Larry would draw a walk with one out. Ole Miss would go to the Bullpen with runners on first and third with one out. Ryne Rodriguez would be the new Ole Miss pitcher. Logan Kohler would hit into a fielder choice to score Hujsak from third to make it 2-1 in favor of Mississippi State. Sam Tookoian would be the new Ole Miss pitcher with two outs in the bottom half of the 8th. Pulliman would reach with a base hit, advancing Kohler to second with two outs. Joe Powell would draw a walk, loading the bases for Bryce Chance with two outs. Bryce Chance would walk, making it 3-1 Mississippi State with bases loaded with Mershon to the plate. Ole Miss would replace Tookoian with Kyler Carmack. Mississippi State would add two more insurance runs to make it 5-1 in favor of the Bulldogs. 

Mississippi State would beat Ole Miss to the 2024 Governors Cup and tie the series with Ole Miss.