No. 11 Baseball clinch first SEC series victory with 5-3 win over Bulldogs

Sunday, March 16

Starkville, Miss.

1 p.m.

University of Texas

16-1, 2-0

Mississippi State

13-6, 0-2

Texas

Mississippi State

No. 11 Baseball clinch first SEC series victory with 5-3 win over Bulldogs

03.16.2025 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights

Belyeu delivers game-winning home run in final frame of seven-inning affair

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Junior Max Belyeu blasted a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh, as No. 11 Texas clinched its first-ever Southeastern Conference series with a 5-3 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.

"That's Max Belyeu," head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "He's an All-American for a reason. The guy left the pitch up and he got all of it."

While Belyeu's third home run of the year propelled the Longhorns (16-1, 2-0 SEC) ahead of the Bulldogs (13-6, 0-2 SEC), left fielder Tommy Farmer IV prevented Mississippi State from potentially tying the score.

Farmer IV laid out to make a highlight-reel worthy diving catch down the line to help freshman left-hander Dylan Volantis (3) record the final three outs.

"That saved the day," Schlossnagle said of Farmer IV's catch. "That changed the whole inning. [Ethan] Mendoza had a tough play in there too. The runner was going in front of him, and it was a weird backhand on a dirt field. The defense we've been playing is a better brand of defense than we have in the last couple of weeks."

Junior right-handed hurler Ruger Riojas (4-0) earned the win in relief, tossing two innings.

Mississippi State righty Nate Williams (0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering the decisive blow to Belyeu.

The Bulldogs jumped on the scoreboard first in the opening frame, but Texas answered right back.

Designated hitter Easton Winfield and first baseman Kimble Schuessler roped back-to-back doubles, plating a trio of tallies to take a 3-1 lead in the second.

Three innings later, Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese delivered a two-run double to level the score.

The Longhorns — who extended their winning streak to 16 games — will go for the sweep, with the second seven-inning leg of the doubleheader at 4:15 p.m.

Texas freshman right-hander Jason Flores (1-0, 1.00 ERA) will make his second career start opposite Mississippi State righty Karson Ligon (2-1, 3.21 ERA).