MSU Tops South Alabama, Advances to Sunday

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI Sports) – Mississippi State is now nine innings away from advancing to an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2011.

State topped South Alabama 6-2 in front of a raucous crowd at Dudy Noble field. The Bulldogs will play the winner of the Jaguars and Central Arkansas Sunday at 7 p.m.

Ross Mitchell threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Luis Pollorena for Mississippi State to close out the game.

South Alabama scored first, plating a runner in the fourth inning. The Bulldogs countered with four runs in the fifth inning. Hunter Renfroe, Brett Pirtle and Wes Rea all drove in runs in the fifth as the Diamond Dogs took the lead for good.

State added two more insurance runs in the seventh. CT Bradford brought in two runs to extend the lead to 6-2.

South Alabama will play Central Arkansas at 2 p.m. Sunday with the winner advancing to play Mississippi State at 7 p.m. The winner of the losers bracket would need to beat the Bulldogs twice to advance. A game will be played Monday at 7 p.m. if necessary.