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Diamond Dawg bats explode in 14-4 run rule to start Kentucky series

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•05/03/25•

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joe powell
Mississippi State C Joe Powell

A delayed start to Mississippi State’s series against Kentucky thanks to weather was followed by sunshine and an offensive explosion by the Bulldogs.

Friday’s game was a total wash and Saturday’s game one of a doubleheader was delayed an hour before the teams got going. The Wildcats would jump out to a 3-0 lead in the game but State’s bats answered in a big way with 14 runs in the final five innings of a 14-4 run rule in seven innings.

After Chris Lemonis’ firing earlier this week, the Diamond Dawgs have responded with 32 runs in two games and two run rule wins.

This one happened after State fell behind 3-0 in the second inning. Pico Kohn’s defense let him down that inning with two outfield miscues delivering base runners. Gehrig Frei misjudged a flyball to the first batter then fell down in the outfield. With one out, a double down the line in right turned into two runs and a triple as Reed Stallman slipped. A fielder’s choice grounder scored the third run of the inning.

State answered with a run in the second inning and, despite leaving two runners on base, the Bulldogs were setting the stage against UK pitching. Starter Nate Harris only surrendered one run but the freshman had to throw 76 pitches in just 3.0 innings thanks to three hits, three walks and a hit batter.

When Harris left the game, the Bulldogs feasted. The Bulldogs scored four runs in the fourth to get the lead with three of those coming with two outs. UK got a run back in the fifth, but Joe Powell delivered a solo home run in the fifth and then State had eight runs on six hits in the sixth to get the run rule.

MSU had 13 runs, 12 hits and three walks against five bullpen pitchers from the Wildcats. Five different Bulldogs had multiple hits with three hits each from Bryce Chance and Powell. Chance was 3-for-4 with two RBI and Powell went 3-for-3 with three RBI on a double and a home run.

Sawyer Reeves and Gatlin Sanders finished with two hits and two RBI each. Gehrig Frei had a 2-for-4 day and Noah Sulivan drove in two runs on a double.

On the mound, the Bulldogs preserved their bullpen about as well as they could. Pico Kohn gutted through 5.2 innings and gave up five hits, three earned runs, three walks, three hit batters and four strikeouts. Ben Davis came in for the final 1.1 innings to earn the save when he surrendered just one hit and struck out two strikeouts.

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