Video: Mississippi State Drops Midweek Game vs. Oral Roberts

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – After playing a slugfest Tuesday night, No. 15 Mississippi State returned to the diamond Wednesday night, but suffered a 3-1 loss to Oral Roberts at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs (12-5-1) lost the final two games of a six-game homestand. Southeastern Conference play begins for MSU this weekend at No. 2 Vanderbilt. Oral Roberts improved to 8-8.

“Midweek games are won or lost based on who walks the most and hits the most,” MSU head coach John Cohen said. “We did a better job of finding the strike zone but in the end, we still walked too many and hit too many.

“Opposing teams come in excited about playing at Dudy Noble Field. We have to do a better job with our offense.”

Oral Roberts built a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run from Noah Cummings.

MSU tied the contest in the third inning when Jack Kruger had a two-out RBI-single. The Bulldogs could not tally again as three double plays hurt the cause.

(Photo Courtesy: Kelly Price, MSU Athletics)

Things remained tied until the Eagles plated the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and an insurance score in the eighth inning. Pinch-hitter Sam Grellner had an RBI-double in the sixth inning. Brent Williams had an RBI-single in the eighth inning.

The Bulldogs threw eight pitchers. Jared Padgett (0-1) faced one batter and took the loss.

Cale Tims (1-0) threw five innings of four-hit baseball to earn the win. Brady Womacks struck out the side for his fourth save of the season.

MSU collected six hits, including a multi-hit night by Kruger.

MSU and Vanderbilt play at 7 p.m. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. The Friday game will be part of the SEC Network’s “Bases Loaded” feature, while the Saturday game will be a national broadcast on the network. Sunday’s series finale will be on SEC Network +.