Mississippi State Battles Back, Finishes off JSU Early
When Mississippi State went down 5-0 to Jackson State after the second inning on Tuesday night, the air had been nearly sucked out of Dudy Noble Field.
Pindrops could have been heard as the team took to the batter’s box in the next half inning. Slowly, though, energy began to reenter The Dude. Mississippi State responded with a 13-run third inning and never looked back.
Those efforts led to a run rule victory for the Diamond Dawgs in seven innings via a 19-6 final score. David Mershon, Dakota Jordan and Hunter Hines combined for 13 RBI’s on the way to the win, which even surprised head coach Chris Lemonis postame. However, Lemonis noted that everyone ate on Tuesday.
“That’s nice,” said Lemonis. “Mershon had a big double. I thought his and Powell’s were huge in the game. Dakota gets the big homer late. We’re early in the year…but some of those guys still have to get going. We’re still trying to get Hunter Hines going. Their averages are fine, but finding their swing and their comfort level is important right now.”
Despite Colby Holcombe’s slow start, which bumped his ERA on the season up to 15.43, Lemonis is still adamant that Holcombe is a player Mississippi State can and will use at some point this season, and they have to “get him right.”
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“(Colby) is one of our better guys,” said Lemonis. “He just hasn’t been good these last two weeks.”
“(Colby has) got to get back mechanically. I think he’s just a little of mechanically,” Lemonis added. “You know, I don’t think he walked a guy this fall…His stuff dropped of some, too. He’s warming up at 94-96, the second inning it’s all 92. He’s a guy that, if he’s pitching good, he’s 96 all the way through the sixth.”
Two pitchers also saw their first action for Mississippi State on the season in the mid-week affair in Bradley Loftin and Logan Forsythe. Loftin’s final stat line was 2.0 IP, 2H, 1R, 2SO, 9BF on 45 total pitches. One of those at bats did go on for 8 pitches, but who’s counting?
Logan Forsythe relieved Loftin to toss the seventh inning and struck out the side on an efficient 12 pitches. Nolan Stevens earned the win on the game with 2.2 IP and four strikeouts in 10 batters faced. His ERA dropped to a 3.6 on the season.
Mississippi State will turn its eyes towards Mount St. Mary’s this weekend for a Thursday-Saturday three game series, starting with game one at 3 p.m. That game will be aired on the SEC Network+.
