No. 18 State Caps Off Opening Weekend Sweep

Sunday, February 16

Starkville

1 p.m.

Mississippi State

3-0

Manhattan

0-3

Manhattan

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mike Mattina/MSU Athletics

No. 18 State Caps Off Opening Weekend Sweep

February 16, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Kinsley Hunter, Student Assistant

STARKVILLE - No. 18 Mississippi State capped off an opening weekend sweep with a 5-1 win over Manhattan at Dudy Noble Field on Sunday.

Stone Simmons opened the game on the mound, making his first appearance since March 5, 2022. He earned the win after logging three innings and recorded a new single-game strikeout high with the Bulldogs, punching out five batters.

Following Simmons, Ryan McPherson, Dane Burns, Nate Williams and Mikhai Grant all made their first mound appearances for MSU before Luke Dotson pitched the last inning.

The Diamond Dawgs (3-0) had seven hits including a double and a home run.

Nolan Stevens hit his first home run of the season and collected two RBIs. Dylan Cupp doubled and went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in a pair. Aaron Downs singled, stole a career-high two bases and scored a run.

Next up for State is a trip to Hattiesburg on Tuesday to take on Southern Miss at Pete Taylor Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Game Notes:

This was Stone Simmons' first start since March 5, 2022. It has been 1,079 days since his last appearance on the mound.
Ace Reese stole is first base.
Simmons recorded a new single-game strikeout high at Mississippi State, punching out five batters.
Ryan McPherson made his first mount appearance for the Bulldogs, pitching two innings, striking out three batters and allowing no walks.
Downs recorded a new career-high with two stolen bases.
Dane Burns made his first mound appearance for the Bulldogs, pitching one frame, striking out three batters and allowed no walks.
Nolan Stevens tied his single-game and career-high home run.
Nate Williams made his first appearance with the Bulldogs, pitching one inning, striking out three batters and allowing one walk.
Mikhai Grant made his first appearance with the Bulldogs.
This is Mississippi State's 2,850th win.

Scoring Summary:
Bottom 1:
Ace Reese scored on a single by Noah Sullivan. Sullivan scored on a single by Hunter Hines.
MSU 2, Manhattan 0

Bottom 2:
Aaron Downs scored on a double by Dylan Cupp.
MSU 3, Manhattan 0

Top 5:
Dylan Mayer hit a home run.
MSU 3, Manhattan 1

Bottom 6:
Two-run home run by Nolan Stevens. Hines scored.
MSU 5, Manhattan 1

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