Fourth-Ranked MSU Swings Past Sun Devils

Friday, February 27

Arlington, Texas (Globe Life Field)

11 a.m.

Mississippi State

10-0

Arizona State

8-2

Arizona State

Mississippi St.

Photo by: Mario Terrana Photography

Fourth-Ranked MSU Swings Past Sun Devils

February 27, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

ARLINGTON, Texas - Fourth-ranked Mississippi State erupted for seven runs over the fifth and sixth innings and rode another steady outing from Ryan McPherson to an 8-4 victory over Arizona State on Friday morning at Globe Life Field to open the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.

The Diamond Dawgs improved to 10-0 with the win, while the Sun Devils fell to 8-2.

For four innings, MSU and Arizona State traded zeros as McPherson and ASU starter Cole Carlon matched each other pitch for pitch. McPherson worked around three walks and scattered four hits over seven innings, allowing just one run while striking out five to move to 2-0 on the season.

The Bulldog bats finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth.

After Blake Bevis singled and Ryder Woodson drew a walk, Bryce Chance chopped a single over the third baseman to plate the game's first run. Moments later, Gehrig Frei — pinch-hitting for Drew Wyers — unloaded on a 382-foot home run to right field, a three-run blast that ignited the pro-Mississippi State crowd and gave State a 4-0 lead.

The Bulldogs weren't finished.

Arizona State scratched across a run in the sixth on a double-play ball, but MSU answered immediately in the bottom half. Noah Sullivan singled and James Nunnallee walked before Chone James delivered a two-run single through the left side to push the lead to 6-1. Reed Stallman followed with an RBI single to cap a three-run inning and extend the margin to 7-1.

McPherson kept Arizona State quiet through seven, mixing ground balls and flyouts and stranding traffic when needed. The Diamond Dawgs turned two double plays behind him and did not commit an error.

Aidan Teel added insurance in the eighth, hammering a 385-foot solo homer to right field to make it 8-2. It was Teel's second home run of the season and gave Mississippi State breathing room heading into the ninth.

Arizona State mounted a late push against reliever Maddox Miller in the ninth on a pair of solo home runs, but the Bulldogs closed the door to secure the four-run win.

Frei finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a walk in his pivotal pinch-hit appearance, while James drove in two. Chance, Stallman and Teel each added an RBI as part of a seven-hit attack.

The Diamond Dawgs return to the home of the Texas Rangers to take on Virginia Tech at 3 p.m. streamed on FloCollege. MSU will send sophomore Tomas Valincius (2-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound.

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.