HOOVER, Ala. (Interstat) — Mississippi State rode a seven-run sixth inning to a 12-2 victory over Missouri in a Southeastern Conference game Wednesday night at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

The game ended after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. The Bulldogs improved to 40-16, while the Tigers dropped to 23-31.

Vytas Valincius led the Bulldogs’ offense, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. His two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth gave Mississippi State a 5-2 lead, and he added a three-run blast later in the same inning to cap the scoring. His brother, Tomas Valincius, earned the win on the mound, allowing one earned run on five hits over six innings while striking out eight.

Missouri took an early lead in the first inning when Kam Durnin hit a two-run home run to center field. Durnin finished 2-for-3 with a homer and an RBI. The Tigers managed only five hits in the game, all against Tomas Valincius.

Mississippi State answered in the bottom of the second. With two outs and runners on second and third after a fielding error by Missouri third baseman, Ryder Woodson launched a three-run home run to left field. The runs were all unearned, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.

Brady Kehlenbrink started for Missouri and pitched 4⅓ innings, allowing no hits and one earned run while striking out eight. He was charged with the loss. Sam Rosand relieved Kehlenbrink in the fifth and gave up three earned runs in one inning.

The Bulldogs extended their lead in the fifth. Bryce Chance walked, stole second and scored on a single by Gehrig Frei, making it 4-2. The rally continued when Reese walked to load the bases, but Kehlenbrink was pulled. Rosand entered and escaped further damage by getting a strikeout and a groundout.

The decisive bottom of the sixth began with Vytas Valincius’ solo homer. Singles by Chance and James, a walk and an error loaded the bases. Frei was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Reese walked to force in another. Sullivan singled to drive in a run, and Parker grounded out to plate another. Valincius then hit his second homer, a three-run shot to left-center. Mississippi State sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning.

Ben Davis pitched a perfect seventh inning for Mississippi State, striking out one.

Missouri’s only other hit came from Ty Seals, who singled in the third but was caught stealing. The Tigers had a chance in the fifth when Peer singled, advanced on a throwing error by Tomas Valincius and moved to third on a groundout, but a sacrifice fly by Patterson was ruled a foul out, ending the threat.

Woodson finished 1-for-2 with a homer and three RBIs. Frei had a hit and two RBIs. Parker drove in a run, and Chance scored twice.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Mississippi State 4, Missouri 3. Interstat’s ELO system gave Mississippi State a 78.40 percent probability to win. The Bulldogs were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 4½.