Dudy Noble Field was a special place on Saturday as Mississippi State took a step toward the College World Series in Omaha with a 9-8 win over Notre Dame in the Starkville Super Regional.

But it was the announced record crowd of 14,385, the largest Super Regional crowd in NCAA history, that really left a lasting memory for the Mississippi State players and coaches.

Coach Chris Lemonis tweeted after the game: “This is what we call the “Dude Effect!” Thanks to everyone who sweated with us today. See you tomorrow.” Lemonis also noted how he chatted with fans at 8:30 a.m. ahead of the 1 p.m. first pitch.

Star reliever Landon Sims said he looked at Kamren James when he was running to the mound in the eighth and said, “This is unreal.”

Even Notre Dame coach Link Jarrett noticed the unique atmosphere: “National championship caliber game. Point blank … it doesn’t get any more exciting than that.”

The Bulldogs (44-15) allowed at least one run in each of the first five innings, but they battled back to top Notre Dame (33-12) with six runs over their last four innings, thanks in part to four Notre Dame errors.

Logan Tanner hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the seventh, and then Sims, came out of the bullpen to record the final six outs.

H/T Tyler Horka.