MSU Falls to (1-5) Away from Dudy Noble in Loss at Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – Mississippi State still couldn’t break away from the midweek doldrums Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs lost their third straight midweek contest, falling 7-1 to Memphis in a contest played at AutoZone Park.

Memphis (21-8) got all the separation in needed in the contest with back-to-back home runs during a three-run third inning.

MSU (21-14) was held to six total hits in the defeat.

“Austin pitched well but we had trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark,” MSU head coach John Cohen said. “If you take that part away from his game, he’s had a great year. The first couple of times through the lineup, we didn’t take good at-bats. After that, I thought we did.

“On the mound, we walked four and struck out four. We just can’t get that punch out often enough and we need to have that to be successful.”

Memphis scored first in the opening inning thanks to a walk, wild pitch, ground ball out and sacrifice fly.

In the third inning, the Tigers stretched that lead when Kane Barrow doubled and Tucker Tubbs slapped his fifth home run of the year. Chris Carrier followed with his fourth home run of the year – a solo shot to left.

That would be the only damage done off the MSU starter Austin Sexton. Sexton (3-3) worked 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (four earned), with three walks and two strikeouts. Trevor Fitts worked the Bulldog out of a tight spot in the seventh inning before being touched for a two-run triple by Brandon Montgomery in the eighth inning with another score coming on an error.

Dakota Hudson finished the contest on the mound for the Bulldogs.

MSU’s lone tally came in the sixth inning. Jake Vickerson led off the inning with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Robinson.

John Holland, Seth Heck, Ryan Gridley, Robson, Vickerson and Cody Brown had a hit apiece for the Bulldogs.

Memphis starter Alex Gunn (3-0) worked seven innings, allowing three hits and one run (earned), with three walks and a strikeout. Blake Myers and Nolan Blackwood threw an inning apiece in relief for the Tigers.

Brandon Montgomery had three of the Tigers’ nine hits, while Tubbs also had multiple hits.

MSU remains on the road for a three-game series at Texas A&M. The Bulldogs and Aggies are scheduled to meet at 6:35 p.m. Friday, 2:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday. All three games are on SEC Network +.