No. 17 Mississippi State clinches SEC series with 9-0 shutout at South Carolina

COLLEGE PARK, S.C. — No. 17 Mississippi State defeated South Carolina 9-0 on Saturday at Founders Park, securing the series in SEC play. The Bulldogs improved to 29-10 overall and 9-8 in conference. South Carolina fell to 19-21 and 5-12 in the SEC.

Right-hander Duke Stone led the Bulldogs on the mound, pitching six scoreless innings while striking out 12 batters. He allowed five hits and walked three, earning his sixth win of the season. Stone repeatedly escaped danger, leaving runners in scoring position and preventing the Gamecocks from scoring.

Mississippi State broke the game open in the fourth inning. Ace Reese reached on an error, and Noah Sullivan followed with a single. Gehrig Frei drove in a run with a groundout, then Blake Bevis hit a three-run homer to left-center, scoring Sullivan and Jacob Parker. Bryce Chance added an RBI single later in the inning, giving the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead.

The Bulldogs added another run in the sixth when Ryder Woodson singled home Bevis after a balk and a single. In the eighth, Chance doubled, and Reese hit a two-run homer to right-center. Parker later drove in Sullivan with a single to make it 9-0.

Bevis led Mississippi State with three RBIs, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Reese and Sullivan each scored twice, and MSU finished with 14 hits. The bullpen of Chris Billingsley Jr. and Dane Burns closed out the game, with Burns striking out five in two innings. Mississippi State pitchers combined for 18 strikeouts.

South Carolina managed seven hits but left 11 runners on base and never threatened the Bulldogs’ lead. The series concludes Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT, with Mississippi State sending Charlie Foster to the mound against South Carolina’s Alex Valentin.

For more updates, visit www.HailState.com or follow the team on social media at ‘HailStateBB’ on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

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