Diamond Dawgs Drop Slugfest To No. 10 Sooners

Saturday, March 22

Norman, Okla.

4 p.m.

Mississippi State

15-8, 0

Oklahoma

19-3, 0

Mississippi State

Oklahoma

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Diamond Dawgs Drop Slugfest To No. 10 Sooners

March 22, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Joel Coleman, Senior Writer

NORMAN, Okla. – Mississippi State had an offensive explosion on Saturday, but the Bulldogs fell just short in a slugfest against No. 10 Oklahoma by a final score of 13-11.

State banged out 17 hits and rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to take an 11-10 lead in the seventh, however the Sooners staged a comeback of their own to take the win and even up this weekend's three-game series.

Ace Reese led the way for the Diamond Dawgs at the plate with two home runs and five RBIs. Reese's two long balls now give him the team lead with eight for the year.

Hunter Hines, Noah Sullivan and Sawyer Reeves also had big days at the dish with three hits each. Hines connected for his fourth homer of the season to go along with a double. Sullivan had a double as well and Reeves had a pair of two-baggers.

Reed Stallman and Bryce Chance had two-hit days.

After State fell behind early, the Diamond Dawgs got back into the game, in part, thanks to solid middle relief work on the mound. Chase Hungate was a big piece of that, going 2 1/3 innings and allowing just one run while striking out a pair of Sooners.

Hungate was in line to be the winning pitcher as State took its one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh. But Oklahoma tied the contest with a two-out RBI single in the frame, then hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth that ended up being the evening's decisive blow.

The loss drops State to 15-8 overall and 1-4 in Southeastern Conference play this season. Oklahoma improved to 19-3 with a 3-2 mark in league action.

On Deck:
The Bulldogs and Sooners conclude this weekend's set with a Sunday rubber match. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.

State senior right-hander Karson Ligon (2-2, 3.57 ERA) is slated to start for the Dawgs, while the Sooners counter with junior righty Malachi Witherspoon (2-1, 5.73 ERA).

Game Notes:

Mississippi State scored at least 10 runs for the seventh time this season.
Reese's two home runs give him the MSU team lead with eight. He also has a team-best 32 RBIs.
Hines' home run was the 58th of his career, tying him with Bruce Castoria for third place on State's all-time list. Hines now sits nine homers shy of Rafael Palmeiro's school record 67 round-trippers.

Scoring Summary:

Bottom 1st
Trey Gambill scored on an error. Easton Carmichael scored on a Dayton Tockey double. Jaxon Willits scored on an error. Tockey scored on a single by Sam Christiansen. Kyle Branch scored on a fielder's choice.
OU 5, MSU 0

Bottom 2nd
Gambill scored on a Willits single. Carmichael scored on a fielder's choice.
OU 7, MSU 0

Top 3rd
Reese hit a two-run home run. Stallman scored on a wild pitch. Hines hit a two-run home run.
OU 7, MSU 5

Bottom 3rd
Dawson Willis scored on a sacrifice fly. Willits hit a two-run home run.
OU 10, MSU 5

Top 4th
Reese hit a three-run home run. Sullivan scored on a Chance ground out.
OU 10, MSU 9

Top 5th
Hines scored on an RBI single by Reeves.
MSU 10, OU 10

Top 7th
Joe Powell scored on an RBI single by Sullivan.
MSU 11, OU 10

Bottom 7th
Willis scored on an RBI single by Carmichael.
MSU 11, OU 11

Bottom 8th
Willis hit a two-run home run.
OU 13, MSU 11

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