WATCH: LSU baseball pulls off improbable comeback over defending national champions

This season has been a frustrating one for Mississippi State baseball, just a year following their national championship victory. Those frustrations continued on Friday when the LSU Tigers pulled off a big comeback in the ninth inning to secure the series opening victory on Mississippi State’s home field.

Four runs. One inning. Game over.@LSUbaseball takes game one over Mississippi State 🐯 pic.twitter.com/MuQcbH3Jk0

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 9, 2022

Mississippi State scored two runs in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead over LSU. That score held up through eight innings. But in the top of the ninth, LSU turned it on and scored four runs to take a 5-2 lead, which ultimately finished as the final score.

The first two LSU batters were set down to begin the top of the ninth, putting Mississippi State just one out away from picking up the win. Bulldogs Pitcher Jackson Fristoe then worked the next LSU batter to a full count, before losing him on a walk. The next hitter was hit by pitch, and a wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third. That brought up LSU leadoff man and first baseman Tre’ Morgan, who ripped a two-run single up the middle, giving LSU the 3-2 lead.

Mississippi State then went to the bullpen, but LSU wasn’t done just yet. The next batter was LSU center fielder Dylan Crews, who smacked a two-run home run to right center, extending the Tigers lead to 5-2. LSU third baseman Jacob Berry then hit a ground rule double to continue the ninth inning pressure, but Mississippi State escaped with no further damage.

Paul Gervase entered on the mound for LSU in the bottom of the ninth, and he struck out two and shut things down in order, picking up his first save of the season.

LSU, Mississippi State play game two on Saturday

Starting pitcher Ma’Khail Hilliard went six innings for LSU on the mound, allowing ten hits and two earned runs while striking out five. Reliever Riley Cooper pitched a clean eighth inning and picked up his second win of the season.

LSU’s victory on Friday was its 21st win of the season. The Tigers enter game two on Saturday with an overall record of 21-9, including a 5-5 mark against SEC opponents. Mississippi State, meanwhile, sits at 18-13 overall and 4-6 against SEC opponents entering Saturday’s game. The loss on Friday night for Mississippi State was just its fifth loss at home on the year.

First pitch for Saturday’s game between Mississippi State and LSU is set for 3 p.m. ET, with Sunday’s first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET.