2021 College World Series: Mississippi State mounts historic comeback in win over Virginia

(Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics)

Virginia right-hander Griff McGarry came within five outs of history at the College World Series.

Then Mississippi State made a historic comeback. 

Kellum Clark and Tanner Allen both blasted home runs as MSU turned a four-run deficit into 6-5 come-from-behind win, and move to within one game of the CWS Finals.

MSU tied the largest comeback in TD Ameritrade Park history. 

McGarry, who did not have a win on the mound this season, no-hit Mississippi State for 7 1/3 innings, before the Bulldogs knocked him out of the game in the six-run eighth inning.

Clark’s two-run home run was the first hit of the game and chased McGarry, who held MSU to two runs and one hit in seven-plus innings.

Pinch-hitter Logan Hatcher greeted reliever Zach Messinger with an infield hit and Rowdey Jordan followed with a double to center. 

UVa brought in right-hand, side-armer Steven Schoch to face the Allen.

Schoch, who had not pitched in two weeks, proved to be a bad matchup for the left-hand hitter. 

Allen, the 2021 Southeastern 14 SEC Player of the Year, smashed a 1-0 pitch was not the right field bullpen for the go-ahead three run homer. 

Scotty DuBrule added an insurance run with a two-out RBI single to push the lead to 6-4.

MSU tallied six runs on six hits off four Virginia pitchers in the eighth inning.

The depth of the MSU bullpen came into play, as the Bulldogs used seven relief pitchers in the win. The bullpen held UVa to one run in 7 2/3 innings. 

In all, State used eight pitchers to become first team in CWS history to win a game when using eight pitchers. 

Cade Smith (3-0) earned the win, while Landon Smith got the final four outs for his 12th save. 

Chris Newell hit a wind-aided, opposite filed home run in the bottom of the eighth to cut the MSU lead to 6-5.

Virginia chased MSU starter Christian MacLeod just four outs into the game. 

The Cavaliers came out aggressive and attacked the first pitch scoring one run in the first and three in the second.

Teel put the Hoos in the board with an RBI single in the first. Newell and Zack Gelof had RBI doubles in the second inning. Cotier added an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0. 

Virginia and Texas will play an elimination game on Thursday at 7 p.m. (ET). The winner of that game will face Miss. State on Friday at 7 p.m. (ET).