Toughness Sunday delivers series win for No. 23 MSU over Georgia

Over the last couple of years, Mississippi State’s toughness within their baseball program has been questioned.

The Diamond Dawgs struggled to show it at times as they put together back-to-back nine-win seasons in SEC play. The game has challenged this year’s team and they’re responding.

After a brutal loss on Saturday evening complete with seven starters being suspended, MSU fell behind 5-0 on Sunday to Georgia. State never wavered and came through with some key at bats and some shutdown innings from the bullpen to take the series, 9-8.

“They’re tough. They’ll compete,” coach Chris Lemonis said. “There were so many times (Sunday) they could have folded and they just refused and it’s been like that all year long. This hasn’t been an easy year. It’s been a fulfilling year, but I feel like it’s the old Rocky movie. We keep getting hit in the nose and we keep getting back up. I think we can play with anybody in the country.”

Reinstated State players bring home win

When catcher Johnny Long’s extra-curriculars led to a stunning list of State starters being ejected from Saturday’s 2-2 ball game, MSU gave up a solo home run in the ninth and couldn’t combat UGA with a lineup full of freshmen and pitchers.

The SEC came back on Sunday and reinstated most of those ejected players with only Long and third baseman Logan Kohler out for the game. The reaction from Long and subsequent suspension had the catcher down on Saturday and Sunday, but his coach said his team was ready to pick him up.

“He was crushed. You have a kid that plays with a lot of edge and probably hasn’t played in this emotional environment as much and it got the best of him,” Lemonis said of the incident. “He is such a wonderful kid and such a great addition to our team; I hate it for him. It probably hurt him more that all the other players got pushed out and it weighed on him a lot, but he’s at the top of our clubhouse in terms of leadership. I’m sure he’ll be hanging out with the guys and having a good time here in a little bit.”

More adversity would still strike State as starting pitcher Nate Dohm returned the mound for the first time in SEC play and lasted just 12 pitches before telling Lemonis he didn’t feel comfortable throwing.

Relief pitcher Evan Siary pitched a couple of scoreless innings but ran into trouble in the third. The sophomore gave up five-straight baserunners with one out and one big hit was delivered off the bat of Kolby Branch as he hit a grand slam to open the game up at 5-0.

State would begin to throw their punches after that. The Bulldogs got a single from Dakota Jordan that would score two runs thanks to a misplay from Charlie Condon in center. With two outs, a dropped fly ball by the right fielder off the bat of Connor Hujsak scored another and Bryce Chance would single after that to cut the lead to 5-4.

“We didn’t know what was happening going into today so when we realized some of us were going to be able to play again, we were more energized,” Chance said. “It was an exciting morning to say the least. When that five spot was put up, we knew we were still in it. Especially on a Sunday in the SEC.”

Hujsak tied the game at 5-5 when he homered in the fifth frame, but UGA would get that run back in the sixth. MSU earned its first lead of the game as nine-hole hitter Joe Powell doubled down the third base line and Jordan would deliver a two-out single making it 7-6 in favor of State.

Trailing 7-6 in the seventh, MSU missed a big opportunity. The first three players would walk but Hujsak was caught off of third base and delivered the first out of the inning. State had the first players on base with walks but couldn’t score a run.

Hujsak got his redemption in the eighth inning, however, as he hit a ground ball up the middle that was booted by former State player Slate Alford that tied the game. Chance came through with a sac fly after that to give MSU a lead it wouldn’t lose.

Tyler Davis (3-0) was the hero in relief. The senior left hander threw 3.0 innings and gave up just one hit and no runs as he struck out three batters. He finished the game with a three-up-three-down ninth and struck out the final batter to seal it.

“It’s all about trusting (Justin Parker) and his pitch calling,” Davis said. “Joe (Powell) helped me out a ton. He’s a great catcher. Our offense gave me the momentum to go out there and finish it.”

Of the nine hits in the game, MSU got two each from Jordan and Chance with Chance leading the team with two RBI. Nate Chester had two walks and a hit in place of the suspended Kohler.

Up Next

No. 23 MSU (21-12, 6-6 SEC) will have Long and Kohler back starting Tuesday when the Bulldogs host UAB at 6 p.m. That will be followed up by a weekend series against Ole Miss starting Friday night at 7 p.m. Lemonis is just happy that his crew continued to show fight and found a way to win a series.

“It’s huge. All the emotion that went through this and what you need in the league to get two out of three at home. We felt good about it all weekend and obviously everything went upside down, but to get this one today gives you a lot of momentum going into next week. It’s rivalry week and it’s a big week for us.”