Khal Stephen silences Ole Miss bats as Mississippi State takes opener

OXFORD — Mississippi State scored seven runs in the sixth inning Friday night against Ole Miss, and the Bulldogs took the opener against the Rebels 8-0 at Swayze Field. The Rebels have now lost eight games in a row.

Mississippi State junior starter Khal Stephen pitched eight shutout innings, striking out nine batters with no walks and three hits allowed.

Junior Riley Maddox took the mound for the Rebels (18-16, 3-10 SEC) against Stephen. Maddox retired the side in order in the first but found himself in trouble in the top of the second, as Bulldogs put runners on the corners with one out. A ground ball from Mississippi State’s (22-12, 7-6) Aaron Downs to sophomore shortstop Luke Hill started an inning-ending double play.

Maddox pitched four scoreless innings to start the game but gave up an unearned run in the fifth following a throwing error by sophomore third baseman Andrew Fischer that put Mississippi State sophomore left fielder Bryce Chance on second before eventually scoring on a groundout. The Bulldogs then scored seven runs in the sixth, the first two coming on a two-run home run from sophomore right fielder Dakota Jordan. The Bulldogs had six hits in the inning.

Maddox went 5.1 innings and surrendered four earned runs with two strikeouts and three walks.

Ole Miss and Mississippi State will play their second of three games Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.