Mississippi State
7-2
Rice
2-6
No. 18 State Slugs Past Rice, 14-3
February 28, 2025 | Baseball
HOUSTON – No. 18 Mississippi State erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a 14-3 rule-rule victory over Rice to open the Astros Foundation College Classic on Friday.
Bulldog bats accounted for 16 hits on the day including three home runs in the final frame by Aaron Downs, Nolan Stevens and Ace Reese. Stevens led the way going 3-for-4 with three RBIs while Gehrig Frei went 3-for-5 with a double and drove in a pair.
Reese and Sawyer Reeves were both 2-for-4 with Reese's two-run blast walking things off in the bottom of the seventh. Ross Highfill added a two-run triple while Bryce Chance and Dylan Cupp each chipped in a double with Cupp collecting an RBI.
Pico Kohn improved to 2-0 on the mound logging 6 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. Chase Hungate was credited with his second save after striking out a pair of hitters in the top of the seventh.
Rice was held to five hits and fell to 2-6 on the year.
Game Notes:
- Kohn has struck out 28 and only surrendered two walks in 17 2/3 innings this season.
- MSU had its second-highest run total of the season and run-ruled an opponent third time in 2025.
- The Bulldogs scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh against Rice, their best offensive inning so far this season.
- Highfill hit his first-career triple in the bottom of the seventh. He also extended his team-best hitting streak to five games.
- Frei earned his third-straight start and first at first base with State.
- Downs and Reese are tied for the team lead with three home runs apiece.
On Deck: Mississippi State (7-2) is set for its second game at Daikin Park taking on Arizona on Saturday at 3 p.m. Senior right-hander Karson Ligon (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will take the mound for the Diamond Dawgs while the Wildcats counter with sophomore righty Owen Kramkowski (0-1, 12.71 ERA).
The game will be streamed free of charge on Astros.com as well as the Astros' X, Facebook and YouTube Channels. It will also be televised on Space City Home Network in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Scoring Summary:
Bottom 2nd
Noah Sullivan was hit by a pitch and advanced to second via a balk. Stevens drove in Sullivan on a bloop single to center with two outs.
MSU 1, Rice 0
Bottom 3rd
Cupp was hit by pitch to leadoff the inning and advanced to second on a two-out walk by Reese. Sullivan also walked to load the bases. Reed Stallman ripped a two-run single to right scoring both Cupp and Reese.
MSU 3, Rice 0
Top 5th
Michael Zito drew a two-out walk. Hiram Bocachica Jr. hit a two-run homer to left.
MSU 3, Rice 2
Bottom 5th
Frei doubled down the left field line. Frei was bunted to third by Highfill and came in to score on a throwing error by Davion Hickson.
MSU 4, Rice 2
Top 6th
Blaine Brown reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a two-out triple to left-center by Landon West.
MSU 4, Rice 3
Bottom 6th
Stevens led off with a single to left and went first to third on a double to right-center by Reeves. Frei drove in both runners on a single up the middle.
MSU 6, Rice 3
Bottom 7th
Downs led off with a pinch-hit homer. Chance doubled down the left field and scored on a two-run homer to right by Stevens. Reeves singled up the middle and scored on a double to left-center by Cupp. Frei singled to send Cupp to third and both came around to score on a two-run triple by Highfill. Reese ended the game with a walk-off two-run homer down the left field line.
MSU 14, Rice 3
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kohn, Pico (2-0)
L: Davion Hickson (0-1)
S: Hungate, Chase (2)
Batting:
2B: Landon West 1
3B: Landon West 1
HR: Hiram Bocachica Jr. 1
RBI: Landon West 1 ; Hiram Bocachica Jr. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Blaine Brown 1 ; Michael Zito 1 ; Hiram Bocachica Jr. 1
Batting:
2B: Frei, Gehrig 1 ; Chance, Bryce 1 ; Reeves, Sawyer 1 ; Cupp, Dylan 1
3B: Highfill, Ross 1
HR: Reese, Ace 1 ; Downs, Aaron 1 ; Stevens, Nolan 1
RBI: Frei, Gehrig 2 ; Highfill, Ross 2 ; Reese, Ace 2 ; Stallman, Reed 2 ; Downs, Aaron 1 ; Stevens, Nolan 3 ; Cupp, Dylan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Frei, Gehrig 2 ; Highfill, Ross 1 ; Reese, Ace 2 ; Sullivan, Noah 1 ; Downs, Aaron 1 ; Chance, Bryce 1 ; Stevens, Nolan 2 ; Reeves, Sawyer 2 ; Cupp, Dylan 2
HBP: Sullivan, Noah 1 ; Cupp, Dylan 1
