MSU wins 2021 College World Series

OMAHA, Nebraska – Plenty of Neshoba countians were on hand to see Mississippi State baseball win the team’s first-ever national title after dominating Vanderbilt in the winner-take-all game of the 2021 College World Series on Wednesday at TD Ameritrade Park.

Neshoba countians spotted in Omaha this week were: Stanley Salter, Lacie Wilkerson Murphy and Jenny Lynn Wilkerson; Abby, Steve and Miriam Seale; Alli Vick and Christa Cumbest; Bill and Jan Copeland; Cassidy and Brax Byars; Davis Cumberland, Hayes McDade and Grayson McDade; Frank Moore, Michelle Lyons, Kent Moore and Curtis Moore; John and Susan Burt; Kent and Mitzi Stribling; Tommy and Beth Jackson; Susan Bates, Austin McNair and Vikki McNair; Adrienne and Jim Sisson

The pitching duo of Will Bednar and Landon Sims combined to hold the Commodore offense to just one hit and allowed only five base runners to post the eighth shutout of the season for the pitching staff on college baseball's biggest stage.

Bednar (9-1), working on short rest, didn't allow a hit through six innings of work and scattered three walks to earn his second win of the College World Series. Sims (13) posted his third save at the event with one hit allowed and four strikeouts.

The offense did its part, as well, pounding out 12 hits and scoring nine times to deliver the championship hardware to Starkville. Four Diamond Dawgs posted multi-hit games, led by Rowdey Jordan's three-hit night. Tanner Allen, Luke Hancock and Logan Tanner all posted a pair of hits, as Hancock and Tanner each added two RBIs apiece. 

Kellum Clark hit his second home run of the CWS and ended the night with three RBIs. Jordan, Brayland Skinner and Scotty Dubrule all scored twice, with Lane Forsythe posting a hit, walk and RBI in the contest.

The defense shined in the final game of the season, as it did all weekend, and MSU completed its seven-game stay at the event without committing an error.

The College World Series all-tournament team included six Diamond Dawgs, including Bednar who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the CWS. Tanner, Hancock, Forsythe, Allen and Jordan all joined him on the all-tournament ledger.

Friday Parade in Starkville

Mississippi State announced Thursday morning it will celebrate its 2021 Baseball National Championship on Friday, July 2, with a parade through downtown Starkville that will culminate with an event inside Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium.

The parade will kick off at 5:30 p.m. CT. The route will begin at The Little Dooey on University Drive and end outside the home plate gate at Dudy Noble Field. The parade will include Diamond Dawg student-athletes and coaches, athletics and campus administrators, as well as other invited guests and honorees.

Fans are encouraged to tailgate along the parade route. 

The ceremony at Dudy Noble Field will begin approximately 45 minutes following the parade and will honor head coach Chris Lemonis and his 2021 National Champion Diamond Dawgs who bested Vanderbilt in the three-game championship series at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska this week.

Fans will hear from Lemonis, President Mark Keenum, Director of Athletics John Cohen, City of Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, student-athletes and other special guests.

Free parking will be available on campus.

To access open parking after 445pm, event traffic should:

For East Campus Parking use Hwy 182 to George Perry Blvd to Bailey Howell or East Lee Blvd to  Bailey Howell Blvd

For South Campus Parking use Hwy 12 to Bully Blvd, Stone Blvd or Spring Street/Blackjack Road

Gates at Dudy Noble Field will open at 2:30 p.m. CT. Admission to the event will be free and open to the public. Seating will be general admission on a first come first served basis. Fans are welcome to bring personal coolers, snacks and beverages inside the stadium. Overflow seating will be available at Humphrey Coliseum, which will open at 4 p.m. CT.

Restrooms will be available during the event. Concession stands will not be open.

Details will continue to be released throughout the week on HailState.com and on social media leading up to Friday's events.