Mississippi State looks to take the series from Ole Miss tonight with game two being played at Swayze Field.
Steve Robertson
Mississippi State (22-12, 7-6 SEC) is a win away from taking the series from Ole Miss (18-16, 3-10) for the eighth straight time. The Bulldogs got eight shutout innings from starter Khal Stephen on Friday as part of an 8-0 victory over the Rebels. A seven run 6th inning proved to be the big inning that propeled State to the lopsided victory.
The Bulldogs got a home run from Dakota Jordan, his 15th on the season, to gain some separation before the flood gates opened. State will need to bring the lumber again tonight if they hope to replicate what they did a night ago.
Mississippi State plans to send BHP Jurrangelo Cijntje (5-1, 3.45 ERA) to the bump this evening in pursuit of the series clinching victory. On the season, Cijntje has worked 44.1 innings allowing 17 runs on 32 hits. He has walked 19 and struck out 61.
Ole Miss announced that they will send LHP Liam Doyle (2-2, 7.01 ERA) to the mound to counter. Doyle has made nine appearances on the season with five starts. In 25.2 innings of work, Doyle has allowed 21 runs on 23 hits. He has struck out 43 and walked 13. Opponents are hitting .240 against him.
Mississippi State has won 22 of the last 28 games against Ole Miss and has taken every weekend series from the Rebels dating back to 2016. Bulldog fans are certainly hoping for a win tonight to set up a potential sweep of their arch-rivals on Sunday. Ole Miss plans to send Mason Nichols to the mound then, while the Bulldogs have not announced their pitching plans.
Mississippi State line-up:
1. Amani Larry 2B
2. David Mershon SS
3. Dakota Jordan RF
4. Hunter Hines 1B
5. Connor Hujsak CF
6. Bryce Chance LF
7. Steven Spalitta DH
8. Logan Kohler 3B
9. Johnny Long C
Ole Miss line-up:
1. Luke Hill 2B
2. Ethan Groff CF
3. Andrew Fischer 3B
4. Ethan Lege LF
5. Will Furniss DH
6. Jackson Ross 1B
7. Campbell Smithwick RF
8. Trenton Lyons C
9. Brayden Randle SS
1st Inning
Top 1st:
Larry ball up is called strike one 0-1, strike two called 0-2. breaking ball misses low and away 1-2, ball well up and out of the zone 2-2, fouled away, lined out to right field, one down.
Mershon strike one called, 0-1, ball up 1-1, fly out right, two down.
Jordan foul ball strike one, make it two 0-2 ball down and away 1-2, struck out swinging to retire the side.
0-0
Bottom 1st:
Hill takes ball one 1-0, fouled away strike one 1-1, ball down 2-1, fouled away strike two, grounded out to short, one down.
Groff takes strike one. fouled back strike two 0-2, fouled away, ball down and he won't chase. ball low 2-2, K swinging, two down.
Fischer foul ball strike one 0-1, ball away 1-1, ball up 2-1, ball in the dirt 3-1, strike swinging to run it full. fouled back, fouled away, K looking to end the inning.
0-0
2nd Inning
Top 2nd:
Hines ground ball and they can't make the play at first, low throw. Hines reaches on the E3
Hujsak ball down and in 1-0, strike one foul, 1-1, ball down and away 2-1, fly out to left, Hines tags from first and takes second, one down. lazy throw back in.
Chance fouled back strike one, ball one 1-1, singled into left, Hines takes third, runners on the corners
Spalitta takes strike one, strike two swinging 0-2, K looking, two down.
Kohler takes ball one 1-0, strike one called 1-1, grounded to shortwho is over on the right side in the shift and State strands a pair.
0-0
Bottom 2nd:
Lege grounds the first pitch to Kohler and plays it clean to first, one down
Furniss ball called, looked like a strike, but Long didn't hold it 1-0, strike one swinging 1-1, strike two looked up 1-2, ball well in 2-2, fouled away, grounded to short, throw is a little high, Hines tries to apply the tag. they call him safe, but will review. State has challenged. He is clearly out on the tag. It's a shame we have to review that. Terrible, two down.
Ross double to left
Smithwick takes ball one, strike one called 0-1, infield single to third, runner holds
Lyons RBI single right center, 1-0 OM
Randle strike one swinging 0-1, ball one called 1-1, ball up 2-1, lined to third to end the inning.
0-0
3rd Inning
Top 3rd:
Long hit well down the line, but foul called 0-1, takes ball one in 1-1, fouled away 1-2, ball down 2-2, ball up 3-2, K looking, one down.
Larry foul ball strike one, takes ball one 1-1, strike twoswinging 1-2, K looking, two down.
Mershon foul ball strike one 0-1, single into center.
Jordan strike one foul tip, 0-1, takes ball one 1-1, runner goes, strike two swinging 1-2, stolen base, ball thrown into center, Mershon takes third. K looking to retire the side.
1-0 OM
Bottom 3rd:
Hill takes strike one, takes ball one grounded out to SS, one down
Groff ball down and away, ball in, yanked foul 2-1, fouled back 2-2, swing and a miss K, two down
Fischer ball in 1-0, ball up 2-0, ball away 3-0 and it's a walk
Lege strike one called 0-1, ball down 1-1, two run HR 3-0 OM, hung that one and he paid for it.
Furniss strike one swinging 0-1, ball down 1-1, strike two called 1-2, fly out to left
3-0 OM
4th Inning
Top 4th:
Hines strike one called 0-1, ball up 1-1, ball in the dirt 2-1, fouled away 2-2, ball away to run it full, K swinging on the fastball, one down.
Hujsak strike one called, ball down 1-1, strike two called 1-2, solo HR 3-1 OM
Chance takes ball one, fly out to center,diving catch two down.
Spalitta ball one called 1-0, ball down 2-0, foul ball strike one 2-1, strike two called, 2-2, K swinging
3-1 OM
Bottom 4th:
Brooks Auger is the new Bulldog pitcher
Ross takes ball one 1-0, strike one swinging 1-1, ball down 2-1, strike two looking 2-2, K swinging, one down.
Smithwick ball down 1-1, called strike 1-1, ball up 2-1, doubled into left center
Lyons strike one called 0-1, ball one 1-1 pop up to third and it's an error, he drops it runner holds at second
Randle strike one swinging 0-1, strike two foul 0-2, tapped toward second, could have been interference by the runner, they rule him safe. Lemonis out to chat. bases loaded if the call stands and it does.
Hill strike one swinging 0-1, foul ball strike two 0-2, ball down and he won't chase 1-2, K swinging, big out, two down
Groff strike one 0-1, ball down 1-1, strike two 1-2, K swinging, and they leave them loaded
3-1 OM
5th inning
Top 5th:
Kohler strike one called, strike two called 0-2 and he's hit by the pitch. Have to make that matter now.
Long strike one foul 0-1 strike two called 0-2, fouled off, fouled off the right side, fouled back, ball down 1-2, ball up 2-2, ball down and in it gets away, Kohler takes second, walk. Great AB
Larry probably in a bunting situation. bunt is down and they throw it away, everyone safe, bases loaded
Mershon singles to center, run scores 3-2 OM
Jordan ball down 1-0, ball away 2-0, passed ball run scores 3-3, strike called 2-1, fouled away, K swinging, needed a ball put in play there
Hines called strike one 0-1, ball in 1-1 swing and a miss 1-2 foul, ball down 2-2, K looking two down. need our stars to shine in these moments. They haven't so far tonight
Hujsak will see Josh Mallitz takes strike one 0-1, ball in 1-1, ball down 2-1, ball down 3-1, and they just put him on to load the bases
Chance ball down 1- wild pitch run scores 4-3 State. Chance grounds out to third retire the side
4-3 State
Bottom 5th:
Fischer first pitch is a fly out to center. one down
Lege takes ball one and then strike one, grounds to Hines who flips to Auger who covers, two down.
Furniss takes ball one, takes strike one, grounds to Mershon and he throws him out at first.
4-3 State
6th Inning
Top 6th:
Spalitta ball away 1-0, fouled back 1-1, ball down 2-1, takes strike two 2-2, rolled to first and he plays it to the pitcher for the out, one down
Kohler strike one swinging 0-1, strike two looking 0-2, K swinging, two down
Long called strike one 0-1, strike two looking 0-2, popped up to short to retire the side
4-3 State
Bottom 6th:
Ross takes strike one 0-1, takes ball one 1-1, foul ball strike two 1-2, ball up 2-2, misses away to run it full. and it's a leadoff walk. nearly hit him.
Smithwick takes ball one 1-0, takes another 2-0, zone seems a little tight. popped out in foul ground and Kohler has it, one down.
Lyons takes ball one awat 1-0, and another in 2-0, and now it's 3-0 on a ball up. Auger missing something. zone has tightend up, but he's off. Parker out to chat. strike one called 3-1, fouled away to run it full. ball away and it's another walk.
Randle lined to Mershon and he doubles off the runner at first, double play to end the inning. They will review the play at first. He's out.
4-3 State
7th inning
Top 7th: Had a technical issue that wiped the slide clean
Larry walked
Mershon walked. Mallitz lifted. Mason Morris comes on
Jordan singles off the pitcher to load the bases.
Hines RBI sac fly makes it 5-3 State
Hujsak Ks swinging
Chance flies out to center.
5-3 State
Bottom 7th:
Cam Schuelke comes on
Hill ground out to short
Groff four pitch walk. not ideal
Fischer grounded back to Cam and he makes the play to first, runner holds at second.
Lege ball one down 1-0, ball down 2-0, strike one called 2-1, rolled out to first to end the inning.
5-3 State
8th inning
Top 8th:
PH O'Brien strike one, 0-1, foul ball down makes it 0-2, fouled, ball up 1-2, ball away 2-2, ball down 3-2 and now it's another leadoff walk on a pitch way outside. Need this run to get around.
Kohler strike one swinging 0-1, takes ball one in 1-1, strike two called and that ball was low, 1-2, ball in 2-2, fouled away, K swinging, one down.
Long runner goes singles to the hole at short, O'Brien takes third.
Larry takes strike one 0-1, ball down and away 1-1, ball in 2-1, takes strike two 2-2, ball in to run it full, fouled away and it's another walk to load the bases.
Mershon ball in 1-0, fouled away 1-1, ball down 2-1, RBI sac fly makes it 6-3 State, two down
Jordan ball down 1-0, ball down 2-0, RBI single 7-3. and that will be all for Morris
Hines will face Wes Mendes ball one down 1-0, strike oneswinging 1-1, ball down 2-1, strike two swinging and another swinging K to retire the side.
7-3 State
Bottom 8th:
Furniss first pitch singled back up the middle
Ross takes ball one low 1-0, takes strike one 1-1, takes strike two 1-2, double to left. Furniss takes third.
Smithwick singled and drive in a run, 7-4 State, runners on the corners.
Lyons takes ball one low, grounded back to the mound, out at first run scores 7-5. State
Randle hits it out toward right canter and Jordan can't make the diving catch, run scores 7-6 State
Hill takes ball one, strike one swinging 1-1, strike two called 1-2, fly out to center, runner holds, two down.
Groff will see Tyler Davis. Was hoping we could hold him to tomorrow, but with three runs in the inning, the only concern is now. takes ball one 1-0, doubled into left and we are tied as the run scores. State challenges the play saying he missed the plate. He didn't.
Fischer ball one down 1-0, rolled to first and Hines tosses to Davis to end the inning, finally
7-7
9th inning
Top 9th:
Hujsak will see Connor Spencer ball down 1-0, ball up 2-0, shows bunt takes a strike 2-1, fouled back 2-2, fouled away, fouled away, K swinging, one down.
Chance strike one foul 0-1, fly out left, two down
O'Brien takes strike one 0-1, grounded out to short to retire the side.
7-7
Bottom 9th:
Lege first pitch is a double down the right field line. winning run is in scoring position.
PH Gatlin shows bunt takes inside, bunt fouled back 1-1, shows bunt and takes strike two 1-2, ball gets inside and gets loose, throw to third is in time, but they say he missed the tag. Kohler can't believe it. State challenges the play. they review determines that he is out. he over slid the bag. huge play. one down, grounded out to second, two down.
Ross ball in 1-0 ball away 2-0 and it's another ball same spot 3-0 get me over strike is in 3-1, and he's walked.
Smithwick ball down nd away 1-0 and another ball down 2-0, strike one called 2-1, strike two called 2-2 and a ball away runs the count full and it's another walk.
PH Berch ball down 1-0 ground ball to short and Mershon forces the runner at second to end the inning
7-7
10th inning
Top 10th:
Kohler swinging strike one, takes strike two 0-2, K looking, one down.
Long strike one 0-1, strike two 0-2, grounded out to third, two down.
Larry takes strike one 0-1, strike two called 0-2 and he watches strike three to reture the side.
7-7
Bottom 10th:
Randle takes strike one 0-1, rolled foul for strike 0-2, fouled away, fouled back, grounded to third, one down.
Hill will see Karson Ligon ball one in 1-0, ball two down and away 2-0, and now it's 3-0, nearly hit him, get me over strike is called 3-1 and he walked him, great day, man. None of those pitches were competitive.
Groff takes strike one 0-1, ball one up 1-1, ball two down and away 2-1, fouled away 2-2 fouled back K swinging, two down.
Fischer grounded to Hines and he makes the play.
7-7
11th inning
Top 11th
Mershon strike one called it was low, 0-1, swing and a miss 0-2, ball down 1-2, grounds out to second, one down
Jordan ball down 1-0, strike one swinging 1-1, fouled back for strike two 1-2, ball up 2-2, pop out to short right, two down,
Hines strike one 0-1, solo HR 8-7 State, what a shot
Hujsak takes ball one 1-0, takes a breaker for strike one 1-1, ball down 2-1, ball in 3-1 and it's a two out walk on a bouncer
Chance strike one, ball up 1-1, runner goes, stolen base, pitch is a ball. grounded back to the pitcher to retire the side.
8-7 State
Bottom 11th:
Lege ball one down and away 1-0, ball in 2-0, strike one swinging over the breaker 2-1, ball down 3-1, check swing and a miss to run it full, single to left. Tying run on base.
Gatlin Parker out to chat, breaker lands for strike one, foul ball for strike two 0-2, ball down 1-2 and it gets loose and the runner takes second, ground out short, one down.
Ross ball down 1-0, strike one 1-1, strike two 1-2, fly out to right, runner takes third, two down.
Smithwick hard grounder to Larry and he boots it, run scores 8-8
Berch strike one swinging, ball one, ball two 2-1, takes strike two, 2-2, ball down and it's another walk.
Randle strike one swinging 0-1, ground out to Hines and he makes the play.
8-8
12th inning
Top 12th
O'Brien ball bounces wide 1-0, takes strike one, ball two, grounded out second, one down
Kohler takes ball one and then strike one, 1-1, ball down 2-1, fly out to left, two down.
Long takes ball one, strike one 1-1, solo HR makes it 9-8 State
Larry will see Brayden Jones takes ball one away and then another down 2-0, doubled down the left field line
Mershon takes ball one flied out to center field.
9-8 State
Bottom 12th:
Nolan Stevens into to try and close it out.
Hill ball one down 1-0, ball down 2-0, and he's hit by the pitch. Tying run on base again.
Groff ball down 1-0, tapped back to the mound, runner forced at second, one down. couldn't turn two
Fischer misses low 1-0, ball down 2-0, and now its 3-0, and it's a walk, runners at 1st and 2nd one down
Lege ball down 1-0, wild pitch moves everybody up a base, State puts him on to load the bases.
Gatlin ball down 1-0, and it's another ball 2-0, and it's another one, Unreal. takes strike one, swinging strike two, K swinging, two down
Ross strike one singled to left center and Ole Miss walks it off.
10-9 Ole Miss
