Late Rally By MSU Falls Short In Top 5 Showdown

Thursday, April 2

Starkville

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

25-5, 7-3

Georgia

25-6, 8-2

Georgia

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Late Rally By MSU Falls Short In Top 5 Showdown

April 02, 2026 | Baseball

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STARKVILLE - No. 4 Mississippi State nearly erased a massive early deficit, but No. 5 Georgia held off a furious late rally to hand MSU a 10-9 loss Thursday night at Dudy Noble Field.

State (25-5, 7-3 SEC) pounded out 14 hits and scored seven runs over the final three innings, but ultimately came up one run short after UGA built a sizable lead midway through the game.

Georgia (25-6, 8-2) wasted no time jumping in front. Tre Phelps delivered the early blow with a three-run homer in the second inning that gave UGA a 4-0 cushion. The Bulldogs from Athens continued to apply pressure, adding single runs in the third and fourth before breaking the game open with a four-run fifth inning to stretch the lead to 10-2.

MSU showed resilience throughout, starting with Gehrig Frei's solo home run in the second inning. The Diamond Dawgs added another run in the third when Ryder Woodson worked a bases-loaded walk, but State struggled to contain Georgia's offense early as the visitors capitalized on timely hitting and a pair of Mississippi State errors.

Trailing by eight entering the seventh, MSU mounted its biggest push. Aidan Teel sparked the rally with a leadoff homer, and the momentum quickly snowballed. Woodson delivered a two-run double, Jacob Parker followed with an RBI double and Andrew Raymond capped the inning with a run-scoring single as State plated five runs to cut the deficit to 10-7.

MSU wasn't finished.

In the ninth, State loaded the bases and scratched across two more runs on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly by Bryce Chance, trimming the margin to one and bringing the tying run into scoring position. However, UGA reliever Caden Aoki recorded the final out to secure the save and halt the comeback.

Despite the loss, Mississippi State's offense showed depth and production throughout the lineup. Frei led the way with three hits, while Woodson drove in three runs and Parker added two hits and an RBI. Teel's home run keyed the late surge and eight different MSU players recorded at least one hit.

Phelps paced Georgia's offense with three hits and four RBIs, including the pivotal early home run, while Kenny Ishikawa added three hits and two RBIs.

Georgia starter Joey Volchko earned the win after allowing two runs over five innings, while MSU starter Charlie Foster was tagged with the loss after surrendering five runs in two innings of work.

State will attempt to even the series on Friday by sending sophomore left-hander Tomas Valincius (6-0, 0.91 ERA) while UGA counters with junior righty Dylan Vigue (3-1, 3.03 ERA).

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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