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Diamond Dawgs squander ball game against Arizona in Houston, 6-5

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•03/01/25•

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Photo by Mississippi State Athletics

A poor start to the game from Mississippi State couldn’t be overcome in Houston, Texas on Saturday night.

The No. 18 Diamond Dawgs got just 2.0 innings from Karson Ligon as the senior dug State into a hole. Though State clawed back into the game and had the winning run in scoring position, the team could never get over the hump as Arizona grabbed a 6-5 victory at the Astros Foundation Classic.

Ligon (1-1) pitched poorly in his start as he lasted just 2.0 frames and gave up four hits with five runs and a walk and struck out three batters. Ligon surrendered a two-run home run in the first inning and then gave up a bases loaded hit by pitch and a two-run single to push the lead to 5-1.

State battled back all game long with a run in four-consecutive innings from the fourth inning to the seventh. It would be the missed opportunities from the offense that would rear its ugly head yet again.

In the bottom of the ninth and trailing 6-5, State got a leadoff single from Nolan Stevens and a bunt single from Ross Highfill. With both players moved into scoring position from Dylan Cupp’s sacrifice bunt, State had the top of the order around with a chance to win the game.

Gehrig Frei grounded it back to the pitcher on a 3-2 count and pinch runner Michael O’Brien was tagged out in the run down. A flyout to left from Bryce Chance ended the game.

The Bulldog offense finished with nine hits in the game but the team was just 2-of-13 with runners on base and had six runners left stranded. Ace Reese led the team with a 3-for-4 night and three RBI as he hit a couple of solo home runs and had an RBI double. Highfill finished 2-for-4. MSU didn’t walk in the game and had 12 strikeouts.

On the mound, it was a dominant final 7.0 innings from the Bulldog bullpen. Ryan McPherson, Dane Burns, Mikhai Grant and Nate Williams combined to surrender just four hits and zero walks while striking out 15 batters. They gave State a chance to win the game but it was for naught.

It’s another stinging loss in non-conference play for the Diamond Dawgs as the team falls to 7-3 and has its second 6-5 loss of the week. State will try to take the final game of the Classic on Sunday when they play Oklahoma State at 2:05 p.m. The game can be seen on Astros.com or the Astros Youtube and X channels.

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