Mississippi State Crushes Austin Peay in Midweek Matchup

Bulldogs extend lead in dominant performance ahead of key weekend series

Feb. 25, 2026 at 2:50am

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Mississippi State baseball dominated Austin Peay 16-3 in a seven-inning game on Tuesday night. Head coach Brian O'Connor was pleased with how his team handled the game, especially after the Governors had beaten the Bulldogs in midweek matchups the past two seasons. O'Connor praised the depth and balance of his lineup, as well as the team's aggressiveness on the basepaths, though he noted they need to be a bit smarter in certain situations.

Why it matters

This game was seen as a potential test for the Bulldogs ahead of a big weekend series, but they responded with one of their most dominant performances of the season so far. The win showcases the quality of this Mississippi State team and their ability to put away an opponent when they have the chance, which O'Connor says will be an important trait moving forward in SEC play.

The details

Mississippi State jumped out to an early lead and kept pouring it on, eventually winning 16-3 in just seven innings. Pitcher Chris Billingsley bounced back from a previous poor outing with a strong performance. The Bulldogs were aggressive on the basepaths, though O'Connor said they need to be a bit smarter in certain situations. An injury to pitcher William Kirk is also being evaluated.

  • The Governors had beaten Mississippi State in midweek games the past two seasons.
  • Austin Peay won 45 games last year.

The players

Brian O'Connor

The head baseball coach for Mississippi State University.

William Kirk

A pitcher for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team.

Chris Billingsley

A pitcher for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team who had a strong outing in this game.

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What they’re saying

“That's a great quality for a team to have. When you have a chance to put somebody away, you need to do it because who knows when your opportunity is going to come.”

— Brian O'Connor, Head Coach

“I challenged our guys yesterday after an off day – which always scares you. You don't get a chance to look them in the eye and you don't get a chance to practice; how are they going to show up? They showed some maturity today by being ready to go from start to finish. That's a great sign.”

— Brian O'Connor, Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the depth and balance of the Mississippi State lineup, as well as their ability to put away an opponent when they have the chance - a trait that will be important as they enter SEC play. The dominant performance also shows the Bulldogs are ready to take on a tough weekend series ahead.