HOUSTON — Mississippi State exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday, turning a close game into a 14-3 run-rule rout of Rice in the opening game of the Astros Foundation College Classic.

Mississippi State (7-2) finished with 16 hits, including three home runs in the seventh inning by Aaron Downs, Nolan Stevens and Ace Reese.

Stevens led the way going 3-for-4 with three RBIs while Gehrig Frei went 3-for-5 with a double and drove in a pair.

Reese and Sawyer Reeves were both 2-for-4 with Reese’s two-run blast walking things off in the bottom of the seventh. Ross Highfill added a two-run triple while Bryce Chance and Dylan Cupp each chipped in a double with Cupp collecting an RBI.

The Bulldogs led 4-3 entering the bottom of the sixth. Frei’s two-run single gave them a little bit of breathing room, and then the big seventh inning blew it open.

Downs led off the seventh inning with a solo home run. Chance followed with a double, then Stevens homered down the right field line to make it 9-3 in a flash. In all, the Bulldogs sent eight batters to the plate without recording an out.

MSU pitcher Pico Kohn improved to 2-0 after logging 6 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. He has struck out 28 batters and only surrendered two walks in 17 2/3 innings this season.

Mississippi State will play Arizona Saturday at 3 p.m. in its second of three games in the tournament. Its finale is Sunday at 2:05 p.m. against Oklahoma State. Saturday’s game will be streamed free on Astros.com.