Mississippi State Struggled in the Clutch Last Week, but Not Tonight

MSU makes big plays to take game one from Georgia.

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs responded tonight after a challenging past four games with a 6-1 win over Georgia. Khal Stephen drew the start for MSU, and once again, it was fabulous.

The Indiana native allowed one run in his 6.2 innings of work and stuck out seven. He struggled in his first SEC start against LSU, but since then, Stephen has looked dominant.

Mississippi State head coach Chris Lemonis said Stephen is still not a finished product.

"He is getting better," Lemonis said. "I thought he was sharp late and early."

Last week, the biggest struggles for the Bulldogs were closing out games and getting clutch base hits. Their inability to perform in clutch situations cost them a series sweep at Florida, but tonight, they flipped the script.

The game unfolded a lot, like last week, as MSU was holding on to a 2-1 lead, and Stephen exited with two outs at the top of the seventh. Tyler Davis faced one batter and walked him, then Lemonis opted to bring in Cam Schuelke.

Schuelke would have to face the top hitter in college baseball, Charlie Condon, with two runners on and got a groundout on the first pitch. Schuelke never looked back as he shut down UGA, but he got some insurance in the bottom of the eighth.

"That guy is special," Stephen said. "Grateful he is on our team."

MSU was in a slump on offense as 15 straight batters were retired until David Mershon laid down a bunt single. Dakota Jordan was then hit by the pitch, and it set the table for Hunter Hines, and he delivered with an RBI single.

"He is a really pure hitter, and we have been waiting for that swing for a while," Lemonis said.

Connor Hujsak stepped up to the plate with two runners on, and the centerfield smoked a three-run home run into the left field lounge. Hujsak is always right in the middle of things anytime MSU plays well offensively, and the former VCU transfer has stepped up in SEC play.

"He is confident in himself," Lemonis said. "Just comfortable being out there everyday."

Mississippi State needed this win after a 7-6 loss to Central Arkansas earlier this week, and they will go for the series tomorrow at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.