Mississippi State Baseball Gets a Walkoff Win Over New Orleans
The Mississippi State Bulldogs bounced back tonight with a 2-1 walk-off win over New Orleans. The Bulldogs desperately needed to get back on track after a tough 6-5 loss to South Alabama last night.
Most of the game was a day to forget for the Bulldogs on offense, as they struggled mightily. MSU finished with eight hits and walks, but the struggles for the Bulldogs were the same as they had been all season, which was hitting with runners in scoring position.
Hunter Hines continued to struggle today, and he had a chance to break the game open in the bottom of the third as he stepped into the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out. However, the powerful lefty rolled right into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Nolan Stevens produced the only run in MSU's first nine innings, launching a solo home run into right field. In the 11th, the Bulldogs once again had the bases loaded with one out, and Aaron Down pinch-hit for Johnny Long.
Downs smashed the 0-1 pitch up the middle to win it for MSU. The pitching was once again fabulous as they allowed no earned runs, but Colby Holcombe is who stood out the most.
Holcombe came into the season with great expectations but has failed to meet them, and he is an arm MSU desperately needs. The righty figured it all out tonight as he tossed three scoreless innings and struck out seven.
It was not a pretty win for MSU, but the Bulldogs can ill-afford to be picky right now. LSU comes to Dudy Noble Field this weekend, and if MSU continues to play like this, it will be a long weekend at the ballpark.
Mississippi State is back in action Friday at 6 p.m. CT against LSU on SEC Network+.
Here is how it happened
Bottom of the 11th
Hujsak reaches on an infield single.
Chance lines a single into center field. Runner on first and second with no outs.
Kohler lays down a bunt. Bases are loaded with no outs.
Aaron Downs will pinch-hit for Long. Downs lines a walk-off single up the middle.
MSU wins 2-1.
Top of the 11th
Cupp fields it cleanly and makes the throw for the first out.
UNO gets an infield single.
MSU picks the runner off at first base, two down.
Schuelke fields it cleanly and makes the throw to end the inning.
Bottom of the 10th
Larry draws a leadoff walk.
Mershon grounds out to the first baseman for the first out. Runner on second.
Jordan is intentionally walked.
Hines lines out and they throw the runner out at second who got too far off the bag. Disaster.
Top of the 10th
Cam Schuelke will take over on the mound.
UNO gets a double, but the runner is thrown out trying to get third, one down.
UNO gets a single up the middle.
Schuelke fields it cleanly and makes the throw. Runner on second with two outs.
MSU intentionally walk the batter. Runner on first and second with two outs.
Schuelke gets a strikeout looking to end the inning.
Bottom of the 9th
Bryce Chance will pinch-hit for Stevens. Chance grounds out to the first baseman, one down.
Kohler strikes out for the second out.
Long works a two-out walk. Long takes second on a wild pitch.
Cupp strikes out to end the inning.
The score is tied at one.
Top of the 9th
Holcombe gets a strikeout for the first out.
Another strikeout for Holcombe, two down.
Holcombe issues a two-out walk.
Holcombe strikes out the side. A chance to walk it off for MSU.
Bottom of the 8th
Jordan grounds out to the shortstop for the first out.
Hines grounds a single into right field.
Hujsak grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
The score is tied at one.
Top of the 8th
Hines makes a nice play, and steps on the bag for the first out.
Stevens makes the grab on the edge of the warning track, two down.
Cupp can not field it cleanly, and UNO has a two-out runner at first.
The UNO runner swipes second.
Holcombe gets a swinging strikeout to end the inning.
Bottom of the 7th
Long flies out to right field for the first out.
Cupp works a one-out walk.
Larry strikes out for the second out.
Mershon flies out to right field to end the inning. The Bulldog bags have gone completely silent.
The score is tied at one.
Top of the 7th
Mershon fields it cleanly and makes the throw to Hines for the first out.
Holcombe gets a strikeout, two down.
Another strikeout for Holcombe to end the inning. Really impressive outing thus far.
Bottom of the 6th
Hujsak flies out to the centerfield on the first pitch.
Stevens strikes out looking, two down.
Kohler grounds out to the second baseman to end the inning. A very quick inning for MSU.
The score is tied at one.
Top of the 6th
Colby Holcombe will take over on the mound for MSU.
Stevens catches the line drive for the first out.
Jordan catches the hard-hit ball in medium right field, two down.
Holcombe issues a four-pitch walk.
Holcombe gets a strikeout to end the inning.
Bottom of the 5th
Larry hits it well, but a running catch is made in center field for the first out.
Mershon grounds out to the second baseman, two down.
Jordan drives a two-out single up the middle.
Hines pops out to the second baseman to end the inning.
The score is tied at 1.
Top of the 5th
Kohler makes the grab for the first out.
Hines makes a nice play, and makes the toss to Ligon for the second out.
UNO drops a two-out double into left field.
Cupp can not make the throw, and a run scores. Runner on first with two outs.
Ligon gets a strikeout to end the inning.
Bottom of the 4th
Hujsak lines out to left field, one down.
Stevens hits a solo home run to right field.
Kohler works a walk.
Long flies out to left field, two down.
Cupp grounds out to the shortstop to end the inning.
MSU leads 1-0.
Top of the 4th
Kohler makes the grab in foul ground, one down.
Ligon gets a strikeout for the second out.
Ligon issues a two-out walk.
UNO runner steals second.
Stevens catches the line drive to end the inning.
Bottom of the 3rd
Cupp flies out to the right fielder for the first out.
Larry grounds a one-out single into left field.
Mershon works a walk. Runners on first and second with one out.
Jordan walks to load the bases.
Hines grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Brutal.
The score is tied at zero.
Top of the 3rd
Karson Ligon is in for MSU.
Ligon issues a leadoff walk.
Ligon gets a strikeout looking for the first out.
Long fields a swinging bunt, and makes the throw. Runner on second with two outs.
Cupp fields it cleanly, and makes the throw to end the inning
Bottom of the 2nd
Stevens grounds out to the pitcher for the first out.
Kohler flies out to center field. Nice running grab by UNO.
Long bunts, and is throw out to end the inning.
The score is tied at zero.
Top of the 2nd
Stevens makes the grab on the warning track for the first out.
Hardin gets a strikeout, two down.
Jordan makes the grab in deep right field to end the inning.
Bottom of the 1st
Larry is hit by the pitch to leadoff the inning.
Mershon hits it right, but right at the center fielder, who makes the grab.
Jordan flies out to center field, two down.
Hines works a walk. Runners on first and second with two outs.
Hujsak grounds out to the third baseman to end the inning. A very nice play on the hot corner.
The score is tied at zero.
Top of the 1st
The first pitch from Hardin is outside for ball one.
Stevens makes the catch in left field for the first out.
Jordan cannot make the grab, and it is a one-out triple for New Orleans.
Hardin gets a big strikeout looking for the second out.
Kohler catches the pop-up to end the inning.
Mississippi State Starters
New Orleans Starters
What: Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-5) versus New Orleans Privateers (8-7)
When: Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT.
Where: Shucker Park, Biloxi, Mississippi
TV: SEC Network+
Series: The Bulldogs have a 40-21 advantage in the series. The first meeting came on March 26th, 1970.
Last Meeting: The Bulldogs won the previous matchup 8-4 on March 23rd, 2005.
Last time out, Privateers: New Orleans lost their previous game 8-0 in their series finale against Florida State in Tallahassee. It was a tough weekend for the Privateers, as the 15-0 Seminoles swept them.
Last time out, Bulldogs: MSU lost their previous matchup 6-5 to South Alabama. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth but did not score another run, and errors and clutch hits led the Jaguars to victory.
