Mississippi State Sweeps Vanderbilt for First Time Since 2000

Head coach Brian O'Connor praises his team's relentless offensive approach and strong pitching performance in the series win.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:26pm

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Mississippi State baseball head coach Brian O'Connor spoke to the media after his team completed a series sweep of Vanderbilt, the first time the Diamond Dawgs have accomplished that feat since 2000. O'Connor praised his team's offensive approach, which he described as "relentless" and "opportunistic," as well as the strong pitching performance that held down Vanderbilt's high-powered offense. The coach also highlighted the contributions of catcher Kevin Milewski and outfielder Reed Stallman, noting the team's overall maturity and ability to capitalize on their opportunities.

Why it matters

Sweeping Vanderbilt, one of the top programs in college baseball, is a significant accomplishment for Mississippi State. It demonstrates the team's growth and ability to compete with elite competition in the SEC, which will be crucial as they aim to make a deep postseason run.

The details

Mississippi State's offense was firing on all cylinders, scoring 17 runs in the series finale to complete the sweep. The team showed a balanced attack, with players like Noah Sullivan and Jacob Parker contributing key hits. The pitching staff also stepped up, limiting Vanderbilt's powerful lineup. Coach O'Connor was particularly impressed with the bullpen's performance, singling out Brendan Sweeney, Tyler Pitzer, and Maddox Webb for their contributions.

  • The series sweep was the first for Mississippi State over Vanderbilt since 2000.

The players

Brian O'Connor

The head coach of the Mississippi State baseball team, who led his squad to the series sweep over Vanderbilt.

Kevin Milewski

The Mississippi State catcher who caught all three games in the series and impressed O'Connor with his performance behind the plate.

Reed Stallman

A 23-year-old outfielder for Mississippi State who has shown maturity and consistency at the plate, according to O'Connor.

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What they’re saying

“Three huge wins. They were all a little bit different. Today, wind blowing out and hitters type day, our offensive approach was just relentless. Very opportunistic. A lot of two-strike RBI hits.”

— Brian O'Connor, Head Coach, Mississippi State Baseball

“I challenged the team last night, that are you satisfied? You have to learn as a team, in this conference when you have an opportunity to do something special on a weekend you need to capitalize on it. We certainly did that today.”

— Brian O'Connor, Head Coach, Mississippi State Baseball

What’s next

Mississippi State will face another tough opponent on Tuesday as they continue their season.

The takeaway

Mississippi State's series sweep of Vanderbilt demonstrates the team's growth and ability to compete with elite programs in the SEC. The balanced offensive attack and strong pitching performance highlight the team's maturity and potential for a deep postseason run.