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State leaves opportunities on the bases, drops series vs. No. 8 LSU 2-1

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•03/29/25•

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Pico Kohn (Photo by Mississippi State Athletics)

Another frustrating loss and subsequent series defeat came Mississippi State’s way on Friday night.

The Diamond Dawgs lived on the basepaths against the No. 8 LSU Tigers but never came through with a big hit. It wasted a strong pitching performance from Pico Kohn and Stone Simmons and handed State the series loss, 2-1.

It was yet another loss that was plagued by missed opportunities for the Bulldogs. State finished the game an abysmal 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position while the Tigers had just two at bats in that situation. The Bulldogs were a combined 4-of-20 with runners on base and left 12 stranded to LSU’s four.

“I think we left a lot of opportunities out there,” head coach Chris Lemonis said. “You’ve got to get the run in from third with less than two outs. That’s how you win ball games. We’re not taking care of business when they’re out there.”

Bulldogs waste opportunities on the bases

The biggest missed chance of the game came in the fourth inning as the Bulldogs loaded up the bases with no outs thanks to two singles and a walk. A passed ball would score a run and State was in business.

Instead of unloading on the starter Anthony Eyanson, Reed Stallman, Nolan Stevens and Dylan Cupp all struck out. That would become a theme for the rest of the ball game.

State got two more on base with one out in the fifth and couldn’t score. In the sixth, there were runners at the corners with two outs and the Bulldogs got nothing. Relief pitcher Cason Evans would take over from there.

Evans loaded up the bases in the eighth with State getting a single and two walks but Ross Highfill struck out to end that threat.

LSU needed just two runs to win the game and they both came on solo homers off of Pico Kohn. Ethan Frey hit a homer to left field in the second and Luis Hernandez drove one out of the park in the fifth to get the final lead of the game.

It was a disappointing loss for Kohn who pitched another quality start. The SEC Pitcher of the Week threw 5.0 innings, gave up five hits, two runs and no walks and struck out eight batters. Eyanson walked three batters and gave up five hits, but he consistently got out of it with strikeouts as he fanned 12 Bulldog hitters.

Evans followed him up with a dominant relief effort, throwing 3.0 innings with just two hits, no runs and two walks surrendered. He struck out six more as State totaled 18 strikeouts as an offense.


“It’s just too many punchouts,” Lemonis said. “I don’t care who’s pitching, you can’t punch out that many times in a game.”

Stone Simmons came out of the bullpen for State and 3.0 scoreless innings with just two hits, no walks and three strikeouts.  

Of the seven hits by the State offense, Cupp led the team in the eight hole at 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Noah Sullivan and Hunter Hines both walked twice in the game as State had five walks and seven hits but had just one run out of it.

The Bulldogs have now lost three-straight series to start the SEC schedule for the second time in the last three years. State (16-11, 1-7 SEC) has dug itself a major hole and is in danger of being swept once again.

The Diamond Dawgs will try to salvage game three of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. with RHP Karson Ligon on the mound against RHP Chase Shores. Rain is likely to impact the game at some point.

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