STARKVILLE, Miss. (Interstat) — A afternoon evening crowd at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium witnessed the Mississippi State Bulldogs rally from a seven-run deficit to defeat the LSU Tigers 9-8 on Saturday, April 25, in Southeastern Conference play.

LSU jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Mason Braun walked, Derek Curiel grounded out but advanced Braun to second, and Omar Serna Jr. doubled down the third-base line to drive in Braun for the first run. Cade Arrambide then homered to right field, scoring Serna and himself to make it 3-0. After a mound visit by Mississippi State, Steven Milam grounded out and Edward Yamin IV popped out, ending the inning with LSU up 3-0.

The Tigers added to their lead in the top of the second. Jack Ruckert struck out swinging but reached first on a wild pitch, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by William Patrick. Ruckert was caught stealing third, but Tanner Reaves singled and Braun walked. Curiel grounded out, stranding two. LSU led 3-0 after two.

Mississippi State responded in the bottom of the first. With two outs, a batter homered to right-center to make it 3-1, but the Bulldogs could not add more. The score remained 3-1 until the top of the fourth, when Ruckert doubled and later advanced on a flyout, but Reaves lined out. In the bottom of the fourth, Mississippi State cut the lead to 3-2. A single, a wild pitch, and an RBI double by Teel brought home a run, and a walk put runners on, but a strikeout ended the inning.

LSU exploded again in the top of the fifth. After Braun flied out, Curiel singled, Serna flied out moving Curiel to second, and Arrambide doubled to score Curiel. Milam was intentionally walked, and Yamin IV homered to right field, driving in Milam and Arrambide to extend the lead to 7-2. A pitching change followed, and Ruckert struck out to end the inning. LSU led 7-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mississippi State loaded the bases on a walk and a hit-by-pitch, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat. The score remained 7-2 through the sixth, as LSU added a run in the top of the sixth on a single by Braun but could not score further. Mississippi State had runners in the bottom of the sixth but grounded into a double play.

The game turned dramatically in the bottom of the seventh. Mississippi State began the inning with consecutive singles by Frei and Reese. Sullivan singled to load the bases. Bevis walked to force in a run, making it 7-3. After a pitching change, Parker hit a grand slam to right field, scoring Bevis, Sullivan and Reese to tie the game 7-7. Another pitching change followed, and the Bulldogs struck out looking, flied out and struck out swinging to end the inning, but the damage was done.

In the top of the eighth, LSU went down in order with a strikeout and two groundouts. Mississippi State took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Stallman, pinch-hitting for Woodson, doubled. Sanders pinch-ran and advanced on a walk by Frei. Reese struck out, but Sullivan singled to center field, scoring Sanders and sending Frei to third. Frei scored on a throwing error by the center fielder, giving Mississippi State an 8-7 lead. Bevis reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, allowing Sullivan to score an unearned run for a 9-7 advantage. Parker struck out and Chance struck out to end the inning.

LSU made a final push in the top of the ninth. With one out, Serna Jr. homered to right field to cut the lead to 9-8. After a pitching change, Arrambide grounded out, Milam singled, and Harden, pinch-hitting for Yamin, fouled out to third base to end the game.

LSU fell to 24-20 overall and 7-13 in the SEC, while Mississippi State improved to 33-10 and 13-7. The Bulldogs also won the previous night’s series opener 10-8 in 11 innings. The series concludes Sunday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Mississippi State 6, LSU 3, and the ELO system had given the Bulldogs a 51.00 percent probability to win.