No. 6 MSU Takes Vandy Opener Behind Two Homers

Friday, March 20

Starkville

7 p.m.

Mississippi State

18-4, 2-2

Vanderbilt

13-10, 2-2

Vanderbilt

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

No. 6 MSU Takes Vandy Opener Behind Two Homers

March 20, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

STARKVILLE - Sixth-ranked Mississippi State delivered in front of one of the largest crowds in college baseball history, riding a decisive third inning and a steady bullpen to a 4-2 win over Vanderbilt on Friday night at Dudy Noble Field.

A crowd of 14,649 — the sixth-largest on-campus attendance in NCAA baseball history — watched the Diamond Dawgs improve to 18-4 overall and even their SEC mark at 2-2 with a crisp, complete performance.

Mississippi State struck first in the second inning when Kevin Milewski launched a solo home run to left, igniting the huge crowd and giving the Bulldogs an early edge.

The game turned an inning later.

After Vanderbilt tied it in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly, State responded immediately. Noah Sullivan worked a walk and Gehrig Frei followed with another free pass before Ryder Woodson delivered the decisive blow — a towering three-run homer to center that put MSU ahead 4-1.

That swing proved to be all the offense the Bulldogs would need.

Mississippi State's pitching staff handled the rest.

Starter Ryan McPherson allowed just one run on two hits over four innings while striking out four. Jack Gleason (2-0) earned the win in relief, navigating a tight fifth inning, and the bullpen trio of Gleason, Maddox Webb and Ben Davis combined to limit Vanderbilt to just two runs on four hits.

Davis slammed the door over the final 2 2/3 innings to secure his third save of the season.

The Commodores threatened late, trimming the deficit to 4-2 in the eighth on an RBI double from Chris Maldonado, but the Bulldogs bullpen stranded multiple runners and never allowed the tying run to come to the plate in the ninth.

At the plate, Sullivan led the way with two hits, while Woodson drove in three runs with his game-changing homer. Milewski added his solo shot and Bryce Chance chipped in a double as part of MSU's eight-hit night.

Vanderbilt starter Connor Fennell (2-1) took the loss after surrendering four runs over five innings.

Mississippi State will try to clinch the series on Saturday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+. The Diamond Dawgs will send sophomore left-hander Tomas Valincius (4-0, 1.30 ERA) to the mound while Vandy counters with freshman righty Wyatt Nadeau (1-0, 1.50 ERA).

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