Unpacking Mississippi State baseball’s shaky opening weekend series win against VMI

STARKVILLE — If the opening weekend at Dudy Noble Subject was indicative of the yr forward for Mississippi State baseball, preseason expectations may very well be spot-on. The MSU offense is constructed for explosive outings, however pitching might create some agonizing afternoons.

Mississippi State took two of three in opposition to Virginia Navy Institute, capped by a 9-3 win Sunday − although a tightly contested sequence in opposition to a group with an all-time successful share under .400 isn’t the signal of a program lower than two years faraway from a nationwide title.

The season opener on Friday noticed Mississippi State (2-1) safe an 11-2 win behind large nights from second baseman Amani Larry and designated hitter Bryce Likelihood of their debuts. It appeared MSU was on its approach towards one other straightforward victory Saturday with a 10-1 lead, however VMI (1-2) pulled off a shocking 14-13 comeback win behind 12 walks and 7 hits.

The Bulldogs took the finale behind a pair of house runs from outfielder Kellum Clark and a productive outing from starter Landon Gartman.

“Everyone on the group understands what we’re about and what we undergo on daily basis,” Clark mentioned of MSU responding after the loss. “Everyone on the group has put in loads of work for this season. Everyone on the group is aware of what we need to do right this moment, tomorrow and thru the remainder of the entire yr. We need to win.”

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Amani Larry: Welcome to Starkville

For the second consecutive season, Mississippi State entered the yr with a switch beginning at second base. Nonetheless, if Larry has a season near what RJ Yeager supplied final yr, it’ll be a promising pattern.

Larry, a New Orleans switch, acquired off to begin with 4 hits in his debut Friday and a pair of hits Saturday. He capped his weekend with two-run house run and two-run single on Sunday − the latter coming within the eighth inning to open the sport up.

KC Hunt’s begin spirals

KC Hunt earned a gap weekend begin for the second straight weekend, and it went poorly. He threw two innings on Saturday, permitting 5 runs on one hit and 6 walks.

The arms behind him supplied little assist in slowing down VMI’s comeback hopes. Parker Stinnett allowed a run in 1⅔ innings, Tyler Davis allowed two runs in 2⅓ innings and Colby Holcombe allowed three runs whereas solely retiring one hitter.

Mississippi State pitchers allowed as many walks as they recorded strikeouts.

Jurrangelo Cijntje highlights Sunday debuts

For the considerations Saturday’s pitching introduced, Sunday’s rotation supplied some hope.

Gartman, a Memphis switch, allowed three runs in 5 innings of labor. Nonetheless, the 2 runs he allowed within the third inning had been aided by two infield hits and a failed fielder’s alternative.

“He is simply calm and funky,” MSU coach Chris Lemonis mentioned. “He is the outdated man. He is one in every of our older veterans − shoot, he is married. He is simply pitched and gained loads of video games.”

Gartman was adopted by the pitcher MSU followers have been ready to see all weekend. Change-pitching freshman Jurrangelo Cijntje made his debut within the sixth inning, although he solely threw from the precise aspect after sleeping on his left wrist. He pitched a scoreless body − putting out the primary batter he confronted and dealing round two hits.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Bradley Loftin labored a scoreless seventh inning by which he picked-off a runner to assist overcome a leadoff stroll.

What’s subsequent?

Mississippi State’s pitching shall be put to the check with 5 video games this week. It begins with a pair of midweek video games in opposition to Louisiana-Monroe earlier than a weekend sequence in opposition to Arizona State.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat author for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or observe him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.