MSU Takes Series to Aggies, Splits Doubleheader

COLLEGE STATION, Tx. (MSU Athletics) – After dropping the first game of the doubleheader, 1-0, the No. 6 Mississippi State baseball program took the series finale, 4-3, to win its third SEC road series of the season at No. 15 Texas A&M on Saturday (May 4) afternoon on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

 

Senior Peyton Plumlee (4-3) was solid for the third-straight start against a ranked opponent in the series finale, working six innings and allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out one and didn’t issue a walk to pick up his second-straight win over a top-15 opponent.

 

The Diamond Dawgs (38-10, 15-9 SEC) scored single runs in the first, second and fourth innings, getting RBIs from sophomore Justin Foscue and Tanner Allen, along with senior Jake Mangum. Texas A&M’s (32-17-1, 12-11-1 SEC) first run came on a Bryce Blaum solo home run in the sixth. Foscue added his 13th home run of the season in the seventh, a solo shot to left field, which would account for the game-winning run.

 

Texas A&M made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, as Plumlee allowed a double and triple to start the inning, the second hit scoring a run. Senior Jared Liebelt entered and got two outs, the second of the sacrifice fly variety, before stranding two runners on base to seal the win and earn his fourth save of the season.

 

The first game was also a pitchers dual between MSU freshman JT Ginn and Texas A&M sophomore Asa Lacy. Ginn (8-3) threw six innings and surrendered the lone run of the game on a two-out double in the sixth. He allowed just three hits, struck out seven and walked two in the loss.

 

Sophomores Allen and Rowdey Jordan each chipped in one hit. Mangum accounted for the third hit of game one and also walked. Junior Dustin Skelton walked twice in the first game of the day, while junior Gunner Halter also reached via base on balls.

 

 

Quotable

Head Coach Chris Lemonis

On getting the series win

“It is huge for our [postseason] resume and what we are trying to do. To come in [to Texas A&M] and play good baseball [on the road was good for our team]. The first game was a tough one, we just faced a really good arm, but we bounced back and played really well in the second one. This is a really good team that we played today.”

 

 

Quick Hitters

Mississippi State

Jake Mangum – Moved into a tie for No. 9 on the NCAA’s all-time hits list with his 360th career hit as part of a two-hit series finale. Scored a run and drove in one RBI in the series-clinching win. Also had one hit in the first game of the day, waling twice on the afternoon.

Peyton Plumlee – Picked up the win with six innings of one-run work in the series finale. Allowed three hits, struck out one and didn’t walk a batter.

JT Ginn – Allowed a sixth-inning run in his six-inning complete game effort. Struck out seven and walked two.

Justin Foscue – Foscue delivered two hits and drove in two runs in the series finale. Hit a seventh-inning solo home run that ended up being the game-winning run in the second game of the day.

 

Texas A&M

Asa Lacy – Threw a complete game in the first seven-inning contest of the day. Allowed three hits, walked four and struck out eight.

Zach DeLoach – Delivered the game-winning RBI in the first game, with a sixth-inning double.

Bryce Blaum – Hit a solo home run in the series finale.

 

 

Game One Scoring Recap

Bottom Sixth

Texas A&M got the only run of the game with two outs in the sixth. After Braden Shewmake walked with one out, Zach DeLoach delivered a two-out RBI double down the right-field line.

Texas A&M 1, Mississippi State 0

 

 

Game Two Scoring Recap

Top First

Jake Mangum singled to lead off the inning, before an Elijah MacNamee single with two outs put runners on the corners. Justin Foscue singled to score the first run of the game.

Mississippi State 1, Texas A&M 0

 

Top Second

Mangum played a role in State’s second run of the game, as Luke Hancock walked and moved to third on a Marshall Gilbert double. Mangum then singled to right field to knock in the second run of the game.

Mississippi State 2, Texas A&M 0

 

Top Fourth

Gunner Halter doubled with one out, before a Gilbert flyout moved him to third. Following an intentional walk to Mangum, Jordan Westburg walked to load the bases. Tanner Allen them drew a four-pitch walk to push the third run of the game across.

Mississippi State 3, Texas A&M 0

 

Bottom Sixth

A solo home run from Bryce Blaum got Texas A&M on the scoreboard.

Mississippi State 3, Texas A&M 1

 

Top Seventh

Foscue hit his 13th home run of the season to left field to give MSU an insurance run.

Mississippi State 4, Texas A&M 1

 

Bottom Seventh

The Aggies started the inning with a double, followed by an RBI triple to end the outing for Peyton Plumlee after six solid innings. Jared Liebelt entered and got a strikeout, followed by a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game. A pair of two-out singles put runners on the corners, before Braden Shewmake flew out to left field.

Mississippi State 4, Texas A&M 3

 

 

Up Next

Mississippi State returns home for a midweek tilt with Memphis on Wednesday, May 8. The Diamond Dawgs and Tigers will throw the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. It is another $2 midweek game, with tickets for just $2 and fan focused concession pricing.