The Mississippi State University Bulldogs wasted no time during baseball’s opening weekend making a statement with a commanding sweep over the Manhattan Jaspers at Dudy Noble Field over the weekend.
The No. 18 Bulldogs delivered a dominant performance at home, capping off the weekend with a 5-1 win on Sunday.
Mississippi State did not trail for more than an inning all weekend, opening the season with a pair of run-rule victories in Friday’s doubleheader, winning 17-3 and 13-1. The series finale was more competitive, but the Bulldogs still controlled the game en route to their first 3-0 start since 2020. For a program that has seen rough starts in recent seasons, even against weaker opponents, getting three decisive wins was a welcome sight.
One of the biggest storylines of the weekend was the return of graduate right-handed pitcher Stone Simmons, who pitched for the first time since March 5, 2022 on Sunday after having Tommy John surgery to repair his ACL. Simmons threw three shutout innings, striking out five and allowing just one hit.
“It was great,” Simmons said. “It took me a little while to settle in, to be honest with you. For the first half of the first inning, I was a little juiced up.”
Simmons ended the first inning by picking off a Manhattan runner at first base, a milestone he humorously noted as his first collegiate pickoff in six years. He threw 50 pitches, which was the target due to the cold 40-degree weather at first pitch.
Senior pitcher Pico Kohn took the ball for the season opener and delivered a stellar outing. In five innings, Kohn struck out a career-high 11 batters while allowing just one hit and no walks. Senior pitcher Karson Ligon matched Kohn with a spectacular performance in Game 2, striking out eight hitters in four innings and allowing only one run.
The bullpen was sharp as well, giving only four runs on 11 innings of work. In light of the circumstance that Mississippi State lost two of its top starters and some of its top relievers to the 2024 MLB Draft, this was an enjoyable opening for both the fans and the staff.
The Bulldogs’ offense was relentless, tallying 35 runs over three games. Senior outfielder Aaron Downs had a breakout weekend, driving in seven RBIs on Friday, including a three-run pinch-hit homer in Game 1. Downs went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in Game 2 and added a stolen base in the series finale, finishing the weekend with a .571 batting average and a 1.556 OPS.
“He’s probably the most loved kid in our program from teammates to the people in the community,” head coach Chris Lemonis said. “He’s had a good career in ways but hadn’t had that big year yet. Sometimes that senior does. No better guy to get it from, because he’s super talented.”
It was not just Downs making an impact. Senior first baseman Hunter Hines had five hits, including a home run and five RBIs. Senior outfielder Bryce Chance also tallied five hits with a pair of doubles. Sophomore outfielder Nolan Stevens and sophomore shortstop Dylan Cupp both had productive weekends at the plate, while senior designated hitter Noah Sullivan went 3-for-6 with a double and four RBIs. Sophomore second baseman Ace Reese hit just .250 but blasted a home run in his third at-bat of the year and scored four runs.
Mississippi State committed just one error all weekend, a miscue by Ross Highfill in the second game as the junior adjusted to playing right field instead of his primary position at catcher.
Overall, the Bulldogs’ defense was pleasing to Lemonis, and he emphasized clean play in the field.
“Really pleased,” Lemonis said. “Lot of work left to do, obviously, and a long road ahead of us, but we played good defense all weekend. We threw a ton of strikes.”
Cupp also shined on defense, turning in one of the most impressive plays of the series to end Sunday’s game.
“The play to end the game, that’s a special, special play,” Lemonis said. “A lot of guys don’t make that play.”
Mississippi State will host Missouri State for a 3-game series that starts on Friday, Feb. 21, and will be broadcast on the SEC Network+.
