MSU Baseball Drops Rubber Match to San Diego

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Mississippi State saw a five-run lead slip away in a 9-6 loss to San Diego in college baseball action Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.

The Toreros were able to storm back to take the weekend series by scoring four runs in the eighth inning and three runs in the ninth inning.

MSU (14-3) scored four times in the first inning.

In that at-bat, Seth Heck started things with a leadoff single. After Luke Reynolds reached on a walk, Wes Rea beat out a bunt attempt for an infield single. Cody Brown followed with an RBI-single, while Reid Humphreys drove in a run on a groundout.

Matt Spruill capped the big inning with a two-run single.

MSU then extended the lead to 5-0 an inning later on hits by Michael Smith and Heck, coupled with an infield error.

USD (6-7) broke up the shutout with two runs in the third inning. An RBI-single by Kyle Holder got things going for the Toreros.

An RBI-single by Heck extended the Maroon and White advantage to 6-2 in the home half of the sixth inning.

MSU starting pitcher Vance Tatum was lifted after a leadoff single in the fifth inning. Tatum allowed seven hits and two runs (both earned), with a walk and strikeout. Ross Mitchell entered in relief and benefitted from double play balls in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings before running into trouble in the eighth inning.

For the contest, MSU matched a school record with five double plays.

San Diego started the big eighth inning with consecutive singles by Andrew Solomon, Jerod Smith and Holder. A bases-loaded walk brought home a run and ended the day for Mitchell.

In relief, Zac Houston gave up a sacrifice fly and walk to reload the bases. Trevor Fitts followed and walked in a run before allowing a game-tying sacrifice fly by Hunter Mercardo-Hood.

Fitts (0-1) completed the inning but was lifted after a leadoff single in the ninth inning.

Myles Gentry, Trent Waddell, Dakota Hudson and Levi Mintz combined to finish the USD ninth inning where the Toreros struck for three runs on four hits.

The big blow was a go-ahead two-run double by Colton Waltner off Hudson.

MSU finished with 10 hits. Heck had three hits, while Spruill had two hits.

USD finished with 16 hits – the most allowed by MSU pitching this season. Smith had four hits, while Holder had three hits and Solomon had two hits for the Toreros.

Jacob Hill (3-1) picked up the win in relief, while Anthony McIver had his third save.

MSU will host Western Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 5 p.m. Wednesday at Dudy Noble Field.