Columbia News

Mississippi State secured a series win over the University of Missouri baseball team with a 13-3 victory Friday at Taylor Stadium. The Bulldogs built an early lead, scoring five runs in the first inning, including a three-run home run by Joe Powell. Mississippi State continued its offensive performance from Thursday, when it set a program record with eight home runs in the series opener.

In the second inning, an error by Missouri extended the frame and allowed Bryce Chance to hit a two-run homer, pushing Mississippi State’s lead to eight runs. Missouri responded in the third with a two-out, two-run double from Cayden Nicoletto. Both teams scored in the fourth inning: Ace Reese hit a solo home run for Mississippi State, while Jedier Hernandez drove in a run for Missouri.

Hunter Hines contributed significantly for Mississippi State, hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning to become the Bulldogs’ all-time leader in career home runs. Noah Sullivan added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to complete the scoring.

Mississippi State pitchers Ben Davis and Evan Siary combined for 11 strikeouts and limited Missouri to five hits. Davis earned his third win of the season after pitching 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Tyler Macon led Missouri with two hits. Lovich’s six-game hitting streak ended after going hitless, while Keegan Knutson extended his own streak to six games. Macon notched his seventh multi-hit game this year, and Nicoletto recorded his fourth multi-RBI game as a Tiger.

Mississippi State now holds a 15-7 record all-time against Missouri.

The series finale is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m., following Senior Day festivities honoring 11 Missouri student-athletes at approximately 1:30 p.m.