No. 4 MSU Falls to No. 5 Georgia In Extra Innings

Saturday, April 4

Starkville

10 a.m.

Mississippi State

25-7, 7-5

Georgia

27-6, 10-2

Georgia

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

No. 4 MSU Falls to No. 5 Georgia In Extra Innings

April 04, 2026 | Baseball

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STARKVILLE — No. 4 Mississippi State surged early and battled into extra innings, but No. 5 Georgia delivered the decisive blow in the 10th to hand MSU an 8-5 loss Saturday morning at Dudy Noble Field.

State (25-7, 7-5 SEC) jumped on UGA immediately, using a two-run first inning highlighted by Ace Reese's two-run homer after Bryce Chance reached and moved into scoring position. MSU added another run in the second when Vytas Valincius launched a solo shot to center, giving the Bulldogs a quick 3-0 cushion.

Georgia (27-6, 10-2 SEC) chipped away, plating a run in the third before breaking through in the fifth. After an overturned double-play call kept the inning alive, UGA capitalized with a three-run homer from Rylan Lujo and a solo blast by Brennan Hudson to seize a 5-3 lead.

MSU answered in the sixth as Ryder Woodson worked a leadoff walk before Gehrig Frei ripped a two-run homer down the right-field line to tie the game at 5, energizing the home crowd of 10,256.

From there, both pitching staffs settled in. State's bullpen combined to keep UGA off the board from the sixth through the ninth, while MSU threatened but couldn't break through against Georgia's relievers.

In the 10th, UGA delivered the knockout punch. After a leadoff single and a fielder's choice, Daniel Jackson singled to put two on before Michael O'Shaughnessy crushed a three-run homer to left, giving Georgia an 8-5 advantage.

Mississippi State was unable to respond in the bottom half, as Georgia's bullpen closed it out to secure the win.

MSU showed early offensive firepower with home runs from Reese, Frei and Valincius, accounting for all five runs. Chance led State with two hits and two stolen bases, while the Bulldogs drew three walks and flashed aggressiveness on the basepaths.

Mississippi State starting pitcher Duke Stone struck out a career-high 10 batters. MSU followed with six relievers after Stone exited one batter into the fifth frame.

UGA finished with 16 hits, paced by Lujo's four RBIs and O'Shaughnessy's late-game heroics.

State continues its homestand Tuesday hosting UAB at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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