Mississippi State baseball is now down to its last life for the 2025 season. The Bulldogs were dominated 10-3 by Florida State in Saturday night's winners' bracket game in the Tallahassee Regional. The Seminoles took control early, and MSU didn't have the horses to keep up.
Pico Kohn simply didn't have it for Mississippi State on the mound
Mississippi State seemingly got good news when it was announced that ace Pico Kohn would draw the start on the bump against the 'Noles after his availability was in question. As it turns out, State may have been better suited going with another arm. Kohn lasted just 3.2 innings, giving up seven runs on six hits and four walks. A 2-out grand slam down 3-1 in the fourth inning was the breaking point.
There's a reality that this outcome was a bit predictable. FSU is one of the best power hitting teams in the entire country, and Pico Kohn has been prone to allowing extra-base hits this season, notably home runs. Then you add in that he didn't pitch as well in the final weeks of the regular season and wasn't 100% for the regional, and you get this result.
It can't all be put on Kohn, however. The bullpen allowed 10 walks (for a season-high 14), and a trio of ninth inning insurance runs ended any chance at a late rally for State. This was simply an ugly game for MSU on the mound.
Jamie Arnold overpowered Bulldog bats
FSU ace Jamie Arnold showed exactly why he's going to be one of the top players selected in the 2025 MLB Draft. The hard-throwing southpaw went 7.0 innings for the Seminoles, striking out a season-high 13 batters. Home runs by Noah Sullivan and Hunter Hines gave the Diamond Dawgs some life, but it wasn't even close to being enough.
Sullivan and Hines combined for State's only five hits of the game. Only twice was a runner stranded in scoring position, so it's not as though they were wasting great opportunities at runs. The Bulldogs' lineup simply could not get much going Saturday night.
Now facing elimination, Mississippi State will have to get things going offensively on Sunday. The Diamond Dawgs will rematch Northeastern at 11:00 AM CT with the season on the line.