Amid 19 walks and 6 hit batsmen, State claims 10-9 win over USM

PEARL — You may name Mississippi State’s 10-9 baseball victory over Southern Mississippi many issues. “Crisp” shouldn’t be one.

Let’s put it this fashion: State pitchers walked 11 batters and hit one other. State fielders dedicated three errors, main to a few unearned runs. All that – and State nonetheless gained.

The Bulldogs, down 9-6, plated 4 runs within the backside of the eighth inning to beat their down-state rivals earlier than an introduced crowd of 6,542 at Trustmark Park.

State had loads of assist from the Golden Eagles, who walked eight batters and hit 5 extra. Mixed, that’s 19 walks and 6 hit batters. Little marvel the sport lasted almost three and a half hours. Casey Stengel, the Baseball Corridor of Fame supervisor, as soon as mentioned of his 1962 New York Mets, the worst workforce in Main League historical past: “Can’t anyone right here play this sport?”

The rather more pertinent query on a splendidly balmy February Tuesday night time: “Can’t anyone right here throw a strike?”

Afterward, back-slapping, high-fiving State gamers didn’t appear to thoughts the circumstances. They had been happy with the victory, their third straight, and coach Chris Lemonis maybe advised us why in his opening assertion of the postgame press convention.

“You’ve acquired a very good opponent over there, and it’s rivalry,” Lemonis mentioned. “Individuals say there’s no rivalry in baseball, however there may be. We’ve acquired actually good baseball groups in our state and that’s a well-coached workforce over there. This was thrilling.”

Some perspective: State, which gained a Nationwide Championship in 2021, misplaced 30 of 56 video games final 12 months. The Bulldogs misplaced three of their first six video games this season, however have now gained three straight towards sturdy competitors. This was no time to be picky.

“We’re not excellent, however we’re competing,” is the way in which Lemonis put it. “This provides us some momentum.”

Two portal transfers proceed to provide the Bulldogs a lot cause for hope of a bounce-back season. Second baseman Amani Larry, who performed final 12 months at New Orleans, slugged a two-run dwelling run and scored thrice himself. Samford switch Colton Ledbetter contributed a triple, two runs scored and three runs knocked in. Granted, it’s a small pattern dimension simply six video games in, however Ledbetter leads the workforce with a .400 batting common, three dwelling runs and 19 RBI, whereas Larry has contributed two homers, 13 RBI and is hitting a strong .371. Stated Lemonis: “These two guys are particular.”

These two guys knocked in 5 runs and scored 5 in a one-run victory. In addition to particular, they had been completely important.

Nationally ranked Southern Miss, which acquired off to a formidable 4-0 begin, has now misplaced three of its final 4. Walks are an enormous cause. Southern Miss led the nation in strikeouts/walks ratio final 12 months and walked fewer than three batters per 9 innings. This season, Eagle pitchers have walked 40 batters in simply 73 innings. Huge distinction.

The Eagles misplaced 5 pitchers who might have returned this season within the 2022 Main League draft. One other, Chandler Finest, suffered an damage that required Tommy John surgical procedure. Of the 5 pitchers USM despatched to the mound Tuesday night time, three had been freshmen. Children similar to Nick Monistere and J.B. Middleton throw within the mid-90s and have a world of potential. However there’s a studying curve at work right here.

Say this for each State and USM. If going through actually good competitors makes you higher, these two groups ought to enhance shortly. State goes to Frisco, Texas, this weekend to face Ohio State, Oklahoma and Cal within the Frisco Faculty Baseball Traditional. Southern Miss will host all the time sturdy Dallas Baptist for a three-game set. DBU, which swept the Golden Eagles final season, are 7-1, having misplaced solely to No. 10 TCU. Sure, and after that sequence, the Golden Eagles go to defending nationwide champ Ole Miss for a mid-week sport.

Each the Bulldogs and Eagles higher buckle up. Much more importantly, they should throw strikes.