Mississippi State mounts 13-run inning to beat Texas A&M 18-11
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Mississippi State scored 13 runs in the third inning to rally past Texas A&M with an 18-11 victory Thursday night at Blue Bell Park, according to the school. The win improves the Bulldogs’ record to 39-14 overall and 16-12 in SEC play, while the Aggies fall to 37-13 and 16-11.
Gavin Grahovac and Chris Hacopian homered in the first inning for Texas A&M, giving the Aggies an early 2-0 lead. Mississippi State responded with a dominant third inning, fueled by a single from Vytas Valincius, a sacrifice bunt and error loaded the bases, and a series of hits that culminated in a three-run homer by Jacob Parker. The Bulldogs scored 13 runs in the inning to take a commanding 13-2 lead.
Jacob Parker finished with two hits, a home run, double and five RBIs to lead Mississippi State’s offense. Gehrig Frei went 3-for-6 with two RBIs, and Vytas Valincius was 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs. Ace Reese, Noah Sullivan and Kevin Milewski each drove in two runs.
Mississippi State added to its lead with solo home runs from Vytas Valincius and Reese, and extended the lead to 17-4 after scoring three more runs in the fifth inning. Texas A&M mounted a late rally, with Jake Duer hitting a three-run homer in the fifth and the Aggies adding three more runs in the eighth, but the Bulldogs held on.
Relievers Tyler Pitzer, Maddox Webb and Ben Davis combined to keep the Aggies from completing a comeback. Pitzer struck out six over 2 2/3 innings, Webb bridged the eighth, and Davis closed the game with one strikeout in the ninth.
Texas A&M’s Gavin Grahovac, Chris Hacopian and Jake Duer homered for the Aggies, with Duer driving in three runs. Ethan Darden took the loss for Texas A&M, falling to 4-2 after allowing three runs in two-plus innings.
Mississippi State will look to close out the series Friday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+. The Bulldogs will send sophomore Duke Stone (6-1, 4.65 ERA) to the mound, while the Aggies have not announced their starter.
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