STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State secured a crucial Southeastern Conference series victory Saturday night, rallying from behind to beat LSU 9-8 at Dudy Noble Field. The game featured a dramatic late-inning comeback led by freshman Jacob Parker, who hit a game-tying grand slam in the seventh inning, according to the school.
Parker, a native of Purvis, Mississippi, said he was surprised by his own swing. “I blacked out, so I really don’t know what all happened, but it was pretty cool,” he told reporters.
MSU trailed 7-2 entering the bottom of the seventh. The Bulldogs responded with three singles and a bases-loaded walk before LSU reliever Cooper Williams was brought in. Coach Brian O’Connor decided to keep Parker in to face Williams, a left-handed pitcher. Parker connected on a 2-0 pitch, hitting a 374-foot shot over the right-field wall at 100 mph, igniting the crowd of 15,289, the third-largest on-campus attendance in NCAA history.
O’Connor praised Parker’s performance, calling it “a moment for that kid.” The victory was also supported by strong relief pitching from Jack Bauer, who entered in the fifth inning. Bauer, a freshman, pitched 3 2/3 innings, striking out eight and allowing just one run. Noah Sullivan delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth, putting MSU ahead 8-7.
The Tigers made the game tense in the ninth with a solo homer, but Maddox Webb closed out the game for the save, securing the series win for Mississippi State. Fans celebrated loudly after the final out, and Sullivan summed up the night by saying, “This is why you come to Mississippi State. That was the craziest fan experience I’ve ever seen.” Parker added, “It was surreal. The fans made that moment so special for me.”
