Mississippi State entered the Starkville Regional looking to win its first regional since 2021, a mission that started the day that Coach Brian O’Connor was hired as Head Coach at Mississippi State. When he was hired as the Head Coach in Starkville, Coach O’Connor embraced the expectations, and the Mississippi State fans yearned for the day that meaningful postseason baseball would be played back inside the friendly confines of Dudy Noble. 

With wins over Lipcomb and Cincinnati, the Bulldogs of Mississippi State came into the matchup on Sunday with Louisiana looking to take care of business and advance to play Georgia for a fifth and sixth time this season in the Super Regional next weekend in Athens. On the other hand, Louisiana would come into the Sunday night matchup with Mississippi State looking to keep the season alive by at least one game, seeking a second win on Sunday while forcing a winner-take-all game on Monday afternoon. 

With a spot in the Super Regionals on the line, Mississippi State would keep with the trend this weekend, going with Ryan McPherson as the normal Sunday starter this season; he would get the nod in the matchup with Louisiana on Sunday. Ryan McPherson would deliver an incredible game on Sunday night, delivering the Bulldogs with five complete innings, striking out seven batters, and only giving up two runs on five hits. Jack Bauer would see the field as he came into the pitch for Mississippi State in the 6th inning, as he went 1.1 innings, giving up a pair of runs on four hits while striking out three batters. 

Mississippi State would jump out on Louisiana early, building an 8-2 lead through five complete innings. From there, the race to the finish line was on for the Bulldogs as they extended the lead to 13-3 after the top half of the 7th inning, a 7th inning where the Bulldogs added five more runs to the scoreboard and all but shut the door on Louisiana. Louisiana would add two runs to the scoreboard in the bottom of the 5th before forcing the hand of Mississippi State with bases loaded and two outs in what seemed like a last-ditch effort from Louisiana to apply a little late-game pressure. Louisiana would leave the bases stranded before Mississippi State added two more back to the lead and took a 15-5 lead to the bottom of the 8th inning. Vytas Valincius would add a grand slam in the top half of the 9th inning to extend the lead to 19-5 and slam the door shut on any hope of a comeback for Louisiana. 

Mississippi State did all the small things right this weekend and has more than enough mometum to carry into Athens next weekend as they look to make a return to the College World Series for the first time since winning the National Championship to close out the 2021 season. It’s a familiar foe for Mississippi State, but sometimes to get back to where you want to be, you sometimes have to face your demons head-on and slay the dragons in between. 

As far as an early look at Georgia goes, if you’re either team, you know what the other will do. At this point, let the chips fall where they may. Georgia has had Mississippi State’s number this season, but Mississippi State has the roster to make some noise next weekend at Foley Field. You can’t get into the uphill mental block that will likely come when facing Georgia for a 5th and 6th time this season. 

Photo Credits- Mississippi State baseball on X