Shutout pitching from Ligon, Simmons leads State to first SEC series win, 6-0

As the first pitch from Karson Ligon found the outfield grass for a  base hit on Sunday, it looked like a repeat of last week’s game three was on the way.

Ligon surrendered seven hits and eight runs as he recorded just two outs against the LSU Tigers. The senior starter would turn the tide on this day, however, as he delivered his best start as a Mississippi State Bulldog.

“Really pleased. Going to have a cold beer. That’s how pleased I am after the weekend and really the week that we’ve had to see the kids respond,” head coach Chris Lemonis said of the series win. “We know we can play. We’ve shown that and played in the toughest places. We need some confidence and hopefully this will give them some confidence to let them enjoy playing baseball. I think that’s a big part of it – have fun.”

Ligon brings best Bulldog performance to the mound

6.0 scoreless innings set the stage for a dominant pitching performance for State as the Bulldogs used one big offensive inning to take down South Carolina 6-0. It was the first SEC series win for State this season after starting the schedule 1-9.

Ligon dazzled just a week after lasting only two outs against the Tigers. The Miami transfer pitched his MSU-best 6.0 innings, gave up the one hit with one walk and a hit batter while striking out eight.

“This week I had all four pitches going at some point in the game,” Ligon said. “Last week was probably the craziest start I’ve ever had to a game. I felt like I just couldn’t get anything by them and (Sunday) I was getting everything by them.

“It’s definitely not easy putting that behind you, but you’ve got to keep working because every week is a new week. I had to focus on my work all week and get prepared for (Sunday).”

Stone Simmons came behind Ligon and was nearly perfect in relief as he threw 3.0 scoreless innings and struck out four batters.

The only batter to reach came on a single from Blake Jackson with two outs in the ninth but he was thrown out trying to extend it to two. State didn’t surrender a hit after the first pitch of the game until that play and had only three more base runners the rest of the game.

The offense was solid for the second-straight game as well. State had 11 hits in the contest with a 3-for-4 day from Noah Sullivan leading the way. Sullivan had a solo home run and scored twice in the game.

That solo shot broke the ice in what was a huge fourth inning for the Bulldogs. State had six hits that frame and scored five runs to jump out to a 5-0 advantage and chase starter Brandon Stone.

Though MSU got one more run  in the fifth inning, reliever Matthew Becker was strong behind Stone. Becker pitched 4.2 innings and surrendered three hits, one run, no walks and had seven strikeouts. Only one player reached in the final three innings against Becker.

Also notching multiple hits for State in the win would be Bryce Chance, Gatlin Sanders and Dylan Cupp. Chance doubled twice and all three drove in a run in the win. MSU did not walk in the game and struck out eight times offensively.

Up Next

The series win got State to 19-13 on the year and 3-9 in SEC play as the Bulldogs try to claw their way back into a postseason conversation. MSU will travel to UAB on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. and then to No. 8 Alabama (27-6, 7-5 SEC) this weekend to take on a Crimson Tide team that is coming off a series loss to Auburn.

After Sunday, State was happy to get back on the winning track.

“We always talk about the next one. The reality is that hopefully it allows us to play freer and more confident. Believe in ourselves more now that they’ve seen the way,” Lemonis said. “They know that they can play with anybody. Sometimes when you lose, you’re not good enough. Ours has been really frustrating because we feel like we are (good enough) and I believe we are. We’ve given some games away.”