STARKVILLE – Mississippi State was swept for the first time in 2026 on Saturday after an 8-5 extra innings loss to No. 5 Georgia.
The Bulldogs pulled out to a 3-0 lead after two innings thanks to a two-run home run by Ace Reese in the first inning and a solo shot from Vytas Valincius in the second.
Valincius started in left field as Bryce Chance moved to center in place of Aidan Teel. The junior took a pitch to his right foot in Game Two, leaving the contest and missing the Saturday series finale. Teel didn’t dress on Saturday and had a boot on his right foot.
Starting pitcher Duke Stone put his team in a good spot through the first four innings. He recorded 10 strikeouts and just one earned run despite getting into a couple of jams, including a bases-loaded situation in the fourth.
Stone was taken out after getting the first out of the fifth inning, but his replacement, Brendan Sweeney, didn’t last very long. Georgia’s batters went to work, getting three hits off of the reliever, with the third hit being a three-run home run by Rylan Lujo. It was his second of the day after a solo shot in the third, and was followed immediately by a solo shot from Brennan Hudson to give UGA a 5-3 lead.
MSU would respond the following inning with a two-run homer from Gehrig Frei, putting the game in a deadlock for the final three innings. It would stay that way through nine, with neither team able to pull away and the contest heating up. Noah Sullivan was ejected after arguing a strikeout with the home plate umpire.
The top of the MSU order came up in the ninth with a chance to walk it off, but the best they could manage was a base hit from Drew Wyers.
Georgia’s batters got to the top of the order to start the 10th, and took full advantage with a three-run home run from Michael O’Shaughnessy to take command in extras and eventually the win.
MSU is back in action on Tuesday against UAB at home at 6 p.m.
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