Diamond Dawgs String Together Consecutive Midweek Wins

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Junior second baseman Hunter Stovall continued his hot week with three more hits as the Mississippi State baseball team beat Texas Southern, 11-6, Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs (12-10) completed a five-game homestand with another strong offensive night. After collecting 17 runs and 18 hits in a Tuesday night win over Alcorn State, MSU followed that up with 11 runs on 14 hits to defeat Texas Southern.

“It was good to have another good night of swinging the bats,” MSU head coach Gary Henderson said. “We had some quality at-bats up and down the lineup. We needed to finish this homestand up on a positive note and we were able to do that.”

Stovall had seven hits to lead the Diamond Dawgs in the two wins. Josh Hatcher followed a four-hit Tuesday night up with two more hits Wednesday.

Jake Mangum, Dustin Skelton and Jordan Westburg each had multiple hits for the Bulldogs.

MSU erased an early 1-0 deficit with two runs in the second inning. Skelton brought home one run, while Westburg brought home the go-ahead run on a ground ball out.

The Bulldogs then stretched the lead with one run in the third inning and two scores in the fourth inning. Westburg had an RBI-single and Luke Alexander added a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

The big inning was a five-run, five-hit fifth inning. Stovall had a double, while Elijah MacNamee and Mangum had singles in the frame. Three walks aided the cause.

The Bulldogs ran the lead to 11-1 in the sixth inning on an RBI-double by Westburg.

Cole Gordon (2-1) drew the start for the Bulldogs. He allowed one hit and one run (earned) in two innings of work. Keegan James and Jared Liebelt each threw two innings apiece in relief.

Denver McQuary worked the seventh inning. Trysten Barlow started the eighth inning but was lifted after facing four batters without any outs. Cole Marsh finished the eighth inning and recorded the first two outs of the ninth inning. Blake Smith recorded the final out.

State will return to SEC play this weekend with a trip to Columbia, Missouri for a three-game series with the Missouri Tigers (15-5, 1-2 SEC) that will commence Friday with a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch.