It was a spectacle in many forms on Saturday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field, as the largest crowd to witness an NCAA Super Regional was treated to a back-and-forth affair that #3 Mississippi State baseball eventually won 9-8 over #4 Notre Dame.
The 14,385 fans in attendance marked the largest on-campus postseason crowd in NCAA history and ranks 5th all-time in MSU laurels. The mark gives MSU the top 6 Super Regional crowns in NCAA history. Additionally, Dudy Noble Field now holds the top 7 on-campus crowds in NCAA history.
Notre Dame scored in each of the first 5 innings to build a 7-3 lead heading to the bottom of the 5th inning. However, Mississippi State closed the game with 6 of the final 7 runs to erase the 4-run deficit and earn the game one victory in the best-of-three NCAA Super Regional.
Mississippi State and Notre Dame will meet at 5 PM CT on Sunday, June 13 in the 2nd game of the best two out of three Super Regional. The game will air on either ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Mississippi State head baseball coach Chris Lemonis, centerfielder Rowdy Jordan, and pitchers Preston Johnson and Landon Sims talked about the victory after the game. Video is courtesy of Hail State Athletics.