STARKVILLE, Miss. — Fourth-ranked Mississippi State improved to 9-0 with a 16-3 victory over Austin Peay on Tuesday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field. The Bulldogs scored in five of their six at-bats and used a seven-pitcher effort to limit the Governors to four hits.
The game was close early, with Austin Peay scoring one run in the first inning. Mississippi State responded quickly, tying the game in the second and then erupting for five runs in the third to take control. The Bulldogs added two runs in the fourth, four in the fifth, and three in the sixth to invoke the 10-run mercy rule.
Ace Reese led the offensive attack, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and four RBIs. Aidan Teel hit his first home run of the season, a grand slam, while James Nunnallee added a three-run homer off the bench. Bryce Chance contributed a double, a single, and two RBIs, and Reed Stallman delivered a pinch-hit double that drove in two runs. Mississippi State finished with 16 hits, including seven extra-base knocks.
On the mound, Chris Billingsley earned the win, allowing no runs over 1 1/3 innings. A total of seven pitchers combined to hold Austin Peay to four hits and 10 strikeouts. The Governors scored two runs in the seventh, but the game was well in hand by then.
Mississippi State will now head to Arlington, Texas, to compete in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Classic. The Bulldogs are scheduled to face Arizona State on Friday at 11 a.m., Virginia Tech on Saturday at 3 p.m., and No. 1 UCLA on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. All games will be streamed on FloCollege, according to the team.
