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Cowbell Corner

Mississippi State Almost Turned Disaster into a Statement Win

Mississippi State nearly pulled off a comeback from down 10-2 but fell 10-9 to Georgia in a game defined by early struggles and late drama.
Taylor Hodges|
Mississippi State Catcher Andrew Raymond (#19) during the game between the Grambling State Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS.
Mississippi State Catcher Andrew Raymond (#19) during the game between the Grambling State Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. | Mississippi State Athletics

Dudy Noble Field, the ballpark that owns the 25 largest crowds in college baseball history, was in real danger of watching its home team get run‑ruled Thursday night.

Trailing 10-2 going into the seventh, No. 4 Mississippi State wasn’t far from seeing No. 5 Georgia push the game to that point.

A five‑run seventh inning kept the Bulldogs alive, and loading the bases with one out in the ninth nearly turned the night into a massive comeback. Two runs in the final frame gave the remaining crowd in Starkville a reason to believe.

The hope ended on a grounder to first with the tying run in scoring position, and the visiting Bulldogs walked off with a 10-9 win

At the Plate

Two of the SEC’s best offenses lived up to their reputations Thursday night. Three home runs, seven extra‑base hits, 17 RBIs and 24 total hits is a lot of production.

The difference was when those offenses showed up. Georgia’s came early. Mississippi State’s came late. And there was one inning that put the home Bulldogs in a hole they never fully climbed out of.

Mississippi State loaded the bases in the third inning down 5-1 with one out. It came away with only one run, and back‑to‑back strikeouts to end the inning didn’t help the frustration.

That would feel more damaging if Mississippi State hadn’t finally found its swing in the final third of the game. But losing by one run also puts a spotlight on the other missed chances that could have flipped the outcome.

On the Mound

Mississippi State could use a long outing from Tomas Valincius on Saturday after the number of relievers it burned through Friday. The Bulldogs used eight pitchers against Georgia, and only two threw fewer than 20 pitches.

Charlie Foster’s second series‑opening start didn’t last long. In two innings, he allowed five runs, only two of them earned, on four hits and two walks. When he exited after facing one batter in the third, Mississippi State trailed 5-1.

The first two relievers didn’t stop the bleeding. Tyler Pitzer and Jack Gleason combined for 2.2 innings and gave up five earned runs on two hits, three walks and two wild pitches while striking out five.

The final four relievers settled things down. Dane Burns needed only 11 pitches to face two batters, Peyton Fowler struck out two in 1.1 innings despite three walks, and Jack Bauer added two strikeouts across 2.1 innings.

Mississippi State didn’t empty its bullpen Friday night, but it used enough of it to make Saturday trickier if things go sideways again. With Valincius on the mound, a repeat of Thursday’s script is unlikely, but if it happens, the series finale gets a lot tougher.

Pitching Decisions

  • WP: Volchko (6-0), 5 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HP, 96 TP
  • LP: Charlie Foster (0-1), 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 45 TP, 27 ST
  • S: Aoki (3), 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 39 TP, 22 ST

Next Up

Mississippi State and Georgia’s three-game series will continue at 6 p.m. Friday on SECN+.

Golden Spikes Award Watch List selection Tomas Valincius (6-0, 0.91 ERA) will get the start for Mississippi State. Georgia will counter with its own ace, Dylan Vigue (3-1, 3.03 ERA).

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas, but he was taken to Razorback pep rallies at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth before he could walk. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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