Jake Mangum, the former Mississippi State baseball star and two-time All-American, made his long-awaited MLB debut on Sunday with the Tampa Bay Rays.

MSU (16-9) defeated Samford 6-1 at Dudy Noble Field. Catcher Joe Powell had the first clutch hit in the fourth inning, lacing a single with the bases loaded and two outs to give Mississippi State a 3-1 lead. Then in the seventh inning, first baseman Hunter Hines doubled off the wall in right-center field to drive in two runs for a 6-1 lead.

LSU improved to 26-3 overall, 7-2 in the SEC, while Mississippi State dropped to 16-12 overall and 1-8 in conference play. Saturday’s game was scheduled to being at 6 p.m. CT, but inclement weather delayed the start until 9:36 p.