Needing a series win in the worst way possible after six straight Southeastern Conference losses, the Mississippi State Bulldogs would travel to Founders Park to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks for a three-game series starting on Friday and running through Sunday. Coming into the series with the Gamecocks, the Bulldogs needed a series win, the last two weeks agaisnt conference foes have been odd for the Bulldogs as they’ve struggled in all aspects of the game of baseball, losing all three to Georgia, and losing all three to Tennessee, both of which came at home, making this weekend agaisnt the Gamecocks a must win for the Bulldogs. 

Starting things off on Friday night, the Bulldogs jumped out on South Carolina with an early 4-0 lead through three innings, South Carolina would add three runs in the 5th before the bullpen of Mississippi State took over to get the job done, while the offense added a run in the top half of the 9th, adding an insurance run to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead over South Carolina. While Saturday was all about Mississippi State as the Bulldogs cruised to an easy 9-0 win over the Gamecocks, taking the series, and getting back to playing Mississippi State baseball. 

So, let’s break it down as Mississippi State earns a get-right weekend to regain mometum for the final month of the regular season. 

First, so far this weekend, pitching has been unstoppable for Mississippi State. As a combined unit through two days on the mound, Mississippi State pitchers have 31 strikeouts, 18 of which came on Saturday, and 14 on Friday. No matter the opponent, 32 weekend strikeouts are unheard of at any level. With the strikeouts, the Gamecocks scored only three runs this weekend; again, it was a dominating performance from the Mississippi State pitchers. Tomas Valincius gave up three runs, six hits, with 11 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched. On Saturday, it was Duke Stone getting the job done with six innings pitched, five hits, no runs, with 12 strikeouts. Mississippi State’s bullpen has gotten the job done as well this weekend with a combined nine strikeouts, zero earned runs, and a combined four hits between the group for the first two games of the series. 

Staying with the defense, Mississippi State has played leaps and bounds better in the field this weekend, with only one error in the two days. Mississippi State has done the small things right through the first two games and has since allowed only three runs, giving the pitching staff a deserved break from having to go too deep into the bullpen due to careless fielding mistakes. 

On offense, Mississippi State appears to be returning to what makes this lineup so challenging for opposing pitchers to navigate, as the Bulldogs have hit a combined six home runs through two games, with Ace Reese the lone player with two so far this weekend. Another incredible stat line for Mississippi State fans to be excited about as the Bulldogs shift the focus to retaining the mometum, earning the sweep over South Carolina this weekend before taking the fight to Memphis on Tuesday night and LSU at home next weekend. 

A sweep would be huge, but overall, this weekend at South Carolina has been a massive momentum booster for the Bulldogs, as they now get back in the conversation to host a Starkville Regional. Mississippi State answered the call this weekend, getting back to the basics of Mississippi State baseball and earning a series on the road. Mississippi State has done all the small things right this weekend, and now you can feel the mometum shifting in the direction of the Bulldogs for a week ahead that could offset the struggles of the prior two weeks, so far the Bulldogs have taken the adveristy that was self brought on and they’ve handled business this weekend, not much more you can ask of the team. 

Photo Credits- Mississippi State baseball on X