OMAHA, Neb. – Mississippi State was the first team to punch its ticket to the College World Series and on Sunday became the first to head home.

Louisville hit four home runs, including two that traveled well over 400 feet, and had 18 hits in battering the Bulldogs 12-4 in a CWS elimination game at Rosenblatt Stadium.

It’s only the second time in eight trips to the CWS – and first in six trips under longtime coach Ron Polk – that the Bulldogs have gone winless. The 1971 team, the first from Mississippi State to reach the CWS, also went 0-2.

Mississippi State lost its 2007 CWS opener to North Carolina on Friday and finished the season with 38 wins and 22 losses. State was making its first College World Series appearance since 1998, and was the first team eliminated.

&#8220Everybody’s going to lose except one,” Polk said. &#8220We came here to win a title and it just didn’t happen. We’ll head home and get these guys off to summer ball or pro ball, or camp or whatever.”

Despite the loss, it was a magical season for the Bulldogs. They were 31-12 after sweeping a series from Auburn the first weekend of May, then lost eight of their last 10 games and barely qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Once in, however, State won five in a row in the NCAA Regional and Super Regional rounds to get to Omaha. They led North Carolina 4-0 after two innings of Friday’s opening game, then scored only one run in the next 12 innings.

On Sunday, Louisville’s potent offense staked the team to an 8-0 lead after only four innings.

Freshman Brandon Turner hit a three-run homer for Mississippi State, and will be one of the key pieces for 2008 as the team tries to regroup and make another run at the CWS.

Mississippi State had four freshmen in the lineup Sunday, including Turner. Starting pitcher Chad Crosswhite is a sophomore. Justin Pigott, who started Friday night’s game, also will return for his senior season. Several relief pitchers who saw playing time in the CWS will also be back next season.

This year’s run gave them invaluable experience, as well as memories that will last a lifetime.

&#8220I never played for a closer team than I have this year, on or off the field,” Turner said. &#8220Freshman year, to be playing in the College World Series is a dream come true.”