Live updates: Mississippi State looking to even series with Florida (2025)

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State will be looking to even their series against Florida on Saturday night after watching the Gators hold a track meet over the final three innings at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs were leading early in the series opener Friday night until Florida tied the game by the fifth inning, then scores six in the sixth and two in the seventh and eighth innings and came away with a 13-3 win.

Pregame

Game 2 of the SEC series is behind schedule getting started for some reason. We'll have recaps each inning as Mississippi State tries to even the series with the Gators as both teams have struggled at times this season. First-pitch is coming up soon.

Bulldogs Starting Lineup

Gehrig Frei, LF
Sawyer Reeves, SS
Ace Reese, 3B
Noah Sullivan, DH
Hunter Hines, 1B
JReed Stallman, RF
Ross Highfill, C
Nolan Stevens, CF
Gatlin Sanders, 2B

Gators Starting Lineup

Bobby Boser, 3B
Colby Shelton, SS
Brenda Lawson, 1B
Luke Heyman, C
Blake Cyr, LF
Brody Donay, DH
Hayden Yost, CF
Ashton Wilson, RF
Justin Nadeau, 2B

Pitching Matchup

RHP Evan Siary (0-1, 3.91 ERA, 23 IP, 27 SO, 8 BB, 10 ER) vs. RHP Aidan King (4-1, 2.68 ERA, 40.1 IP, 44 SO, 12 BB, 12 ER)

1st Inning

T1: Siary strikes out the first two Florida batters, then gives up a double to Brendan Lawson. A walk and a single scores Lawson and the Gators are on the board first. Gators 1, Bulldogs 0

B1: State shows they aren't mailing it in early. Gehrig Frey and Sawyer Reeves are retired to lead off. Ace Reese reaches on an infield hit to third base, then Noah Sullivan delivers a two-run bomb to center and the Bulldogs jump to an early lead. They did the same thing in Friday night's game, so don't start counting on anything yet. Bulldogs 2, Gators 1

2nd Inning

T2: Florida goes down in order quickly on a strikeout and two grounders handled with no problem. Bulldogs 2, Gators 1

B2: Bulldogs load the bases with Reed Stallman getting the only solid single, but can't manage to push across a run. If this game gets close later, this will be an inning to remember. Leaving a packed village on base tends to haunt teams later if things go wrong. Bulldogs 2, Gators 1

3rd Inning

T3: Gators get a lead-off walk and he ends up with the best seat in the house to watch the next three batters go down in order. State holds slim lead through three. Bulldogs 2, Gators 1

B3: Bulldogs can't get a baserunning, being retired in order. Bulldogs 2, Gators 1

4th Inning

T4: Brody Donay shoots a rocket into center field for a one-out double after his big opening game on Friday night. Ashton Wilson's line shot to right field brings Donay in to tie the game. Bulldogs 2, Gators 2.

B4: State goes quickly and quietly with a grounder to second and a strikeout around a line drive to center field. Bulldog 2, Gators 2

5th Inning

T5: Florida gets the lead, slowly climbing back into game getting Boser and Shelton on with a walk and single. Heyman's grounder to third pushes Boser across to give the Gators a lead as this looks an awful lot like the first game of the series. Gators 2, Bulldogs 2

B5: The Bulldogs get a spark on back-to-back singles by Sanders and Frei that turns into both being in scoring position when Frei's simple single to left field was booted. Reese shoots a line drive into right field bringing two runs across chasing starting pitcher Aidan King (4.1 innings, 7 hits, 4 ER, 6 K's) replaced by 6-foot-6 Alex Philpott. He loads the bases and drills Highfill between the 22 on his uniform to push across another run. A high-bounce on a round ball to shortstop is late to push another run across. Bulldogs 6, Gators 3

6th Inning

T6: Gators get a runner on and Bulldogs make pair of big defensive plays by Reeves at shortstop, including starting a double play. Bulldogs 6, Gators 3

B6: State can't do anything with Philpott, who was throwing the ball everywhere but over the plate for most of his first inning. The big right-hander for the Bators sets the Bulldogs down quietly. Bulldogs 6, Gators 3

7th Inning

T7: Florida tightens things up loading the bases against Nate Williams, who came to the mound after Ben Davis worked a pair of innings. Williams gave up a line drive into the left field corner by Brendan Lawson scoring a couple of runs. Then Williams walked the bases loaded again with no outs. The Gators went back into the lead on a ground-rule double by Blake Cyr and everybody is remembering what happened Friday night because this one is looking strangely similar. Before the Bulldogs could end it the Gators added another pair before State could get an out. Florida added another run in a wild pitch. Gators 9, Bulldogs 6

B7: Florida brings in Jake Clemente on the mound. State got Sullivan on with a single to lead off the inning and after a strikeout Reed Stallman launched a rocket to right field that had height and distance to make it a one-run game. Highfill, who reached when hit by a pitch and stole second, tried to score on a shallow single to left by Gatlin Sanders, but was easily thrown out at home with the tying run. Gators 9, Bulldogs 8

8th Inning

T8: State brings out Luke Dotson on the mound and a walk and single put runners at second and third. Dotson settles down and strikes out two before loading the bases with another walk. That brought in right-hander Ryan McPherson with the bases loaded. He got a fly to Sanders in short right to end the damage. Gators 9, Bulldogs 8

B8: Bulldogs retired in order without getting a baserunner. We head to the ninth and State is down to its last three outs. Gators 9, Bulldogs 8

9th Inning

T9: Florida adds a couple of runs bo put the pressure on State in the final inning. Donay and Hayden Yost led off the inning getting on base and coming around to score. Gators 11, Bulldogs 8

B9: Clmente strikes out Sullivan to lead off the inning, then Hunter Hines flied out to right and Stallman struck out to end the game. Now the Bulldogs will have to find a way to win Sunday to avoid getting swept. Final: Florida 11, Mississippi State 8

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