Mississippi State Stays Perfect, Routs Austin Peay

Bulldogs erase any lingering doubts with dominant 16-6 win ahead of critical weekend series.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 1:04am

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The No. 4 Mississippi State Bulldogs erased any lingering doubts from a 2024 upset loss to Austin Peay with a dominant 16-6 rout of the Governors in seven innings on Tuesday. The win keeps Mississippi State perfect at 9-0 heading into a critical weekend series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Why it matters

After being stunned by Austin Peay in 2024, the Bulldogs left no doubt this time, flexing their offensive muscle and getting strong pitching to cruise to victory. The win sets up a huge weekend for Mississippi State, which will face No. 1 UCLA and other top opponents in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.

The details

Mississippi State's offense erupted for 16 runs, including a grand slam from Aidan Teel and a three-run homer from Ace Reese. James Nunnallee also hit a three-run pinch-hit home run. On the mound, the Bulldogs used seven pitchers, allowing just three runs on four hits and six walks while striking out 10.

  • The win keeps Mississippi State perfect at 9-0 heading into the weekend.
  • The Bulldogs will face No. 1 UCLA, Arizona State, and Virginia Tech in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series starting on Friday.

The players

Aidan Teel

Hit a grand slam home run in the third inning to give Mississippi State a 7-3 lead.

Ace Reese

Drove in four runs, including a three-run home run in the sixth inning.

James Nunnallee

Hit a pinch-hit three-run home run in the fifth inning to put the game into run-rule territory.

William Kirk

The Bulldogs' starting pitcher, who exited the game after 1.2 innings due to injury.

Jack Bauer

Freshman pitcher who allowed two hits and had two strikeouts in 0.2 innings of work.

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What’s next

The Bulldogs will head to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas for the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series. Their three-game series will start at 11 a.m. Friday against Arizona State and Virginia Tech at 3 p.m. Saturday. Then comes one of the biggest games of the young season, No. 4 Mississippi State vs. No. 1 UCLA, on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

The takeaway

Mississippi State's dominant win over Austin Peay erases any lingering doubts from a 2024 upset loss and sets the stage for a critical weekend series against top-ranked opponents. The Bulldogs' potent offense and strong pitching staff have them poised for a big season as they look to make a statement against the nation's elite teams.