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State pitching takes pounding as No. 11 Auburn gets series, 14-8

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•04/27/25•

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karson ligon
RHP Karson Ligon (Photo by Mississippi State Athletics)

In a crucial game three of an SEC series, Mississippi State and No. 11 Auburn both felt the pressure to get a win.

Auburn came out and was the aggressor as the No. 11 Tigers dominated the Diamond Dawg pitchers and took advantage of defensive miscues. State’s offense tried to keep pace but couldn’t avoid the big innings from the Tiger bats in a 14-8 loss.

With a short bullpen already in place for State in game three, the Diamond Dawgs couldn’t get a lengthy outing from starter Karson Ligon. The senior RHP lasted just 1.1 innings and gave up seven hits, eight runs and three walks.

“We didn’t make pitches, but we didn’t defend well early either. That’s a bad combination,” coach Chris Lemonis said on postgame radio. “They’re too good of a ball club to come out on the last day and give them a lead. Our offense this weekend was good. You’re a play away and you’ve just got to be able to make those plays.”

Those first two innings were rough for Ligon but the State defense didn’t help him out. Ligon got ground balls to Ace Reese and Dylan Cupp that couldn’t be converted into outs and the Tigers made them pay with two runs in the first and another six in the second inning.

It would be two big innings that would doom State as the Bulldogs gave up another three runs in the fourth and three in the eighth. MSU’s offense was consistent and scored at least a run in six innings, but the big inning would escape them.

Auburn outhit the Bulldogs 14-9 and did damage with runners on the bases. While the Bulldogs were just 4-fo-13 with runners on, the Tigers finished the game 10-of-21 with 6-of-14 when runners were in scoring position.

The bullpen did slow things down for the Tiger offense. After Ligon gave up the eight runs, Ben Davis surrendered three in 2.0 frames, but Dane Burns, Kevin Mannell, Robert Fortenberry throwing 4.1 innings without giving up a run.

“I think that was the brightest spot of today because we need a couple of guys,” Lemonis said. “Hopefully Dane Burns can continue to do what he did today.”

Ryan McPherson ended that stretch by surrendering three runs and three hits to the next four batters he faced to see the lead extended in the eighth.

Offensively, State had five or more runs for the third time in the series but left with a loss. Reese led State with a 2-for-4 game and hit two homers. Bryce Chance was 2-for-3 in the final game and drove in three runs. Hunter Hines was 2-for-4 with his 64th home run of the season drawing him just three away from the school record.

MSU (25-19, 7-14 SEC) are now 14th in the SEC standings with three weeks to go in the regular season and opportunity is running out for the Bulldogs to make postseason. To get there, State will have to at least win six of the final nine games with seven more wins the magic number for SEC teams most seasons.

A return home comes on Tuesday when the Bulldogs take on Memphis on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Super Bulldog Weekend takes place next weekend with Kentucky coming to Starkville for a three-game set beginning Friday night at 6 p.m.

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