Fireman Joe Powell, MSU bullpen come through to take series in 6-5 win over Kentucky

Early returns in Saturday’s game two of the doubleheader suggested Mississippi State was carrying its offensive explosion over against Kentucky.

After rolling the Wildcats 14-4 in a seven-inning ball game, the Bulldogs scored five runs in the first three frames. After that, however, State’s offensive production slowed to a crawl.

All it took was one inning to bring it back for the Bulldogs as it hit extra innings. Bryce Chance’s leadoff double in the 11^th inning set the stage for catcher Joe Powell to come through with a one-out RBI single to send State home with a doubleheader sweep on Super Bulldog Weekend, 6-5.

“I was seeing it really well and getting the pitches I wanted to hit in the first game and they were falling,” Powell said. “The second game, I was seeing it really well but (starter Nic McCay) had a really good fastball that was slipping underneath the top of my barrel. I just stayed with the formula to do whatever I can to help my team and it played off late.”

Bulldog bullpen reverses misfortunes from previous week with stellar day

Along with Powell, State’s bullpen were the heroes. Stone Simmons, Ryan McPherson, Nate Williams and Luke Dotson threw the final 7.2 innings and allowed just one hit, and three walks with no runs with 10 strikeouts.

McPherson and Williams especially came through big as they each threw over 3.0 scoreless innings and struck out nine batters. Dotson came in during the 11^th inning with two runners on base and one out but got back-to-back groundouts to give State the chance to walk it off.  

After two-straight weeks of some tough outings from the Bulldog pitchers, Interim head coach Justin Parker was happy to see his team getting back to what they have been this year.

“I think it’s just back to the basics – commanding the ball, controlling counts,” Parker said. “We talked lately about elevating the fastball but also pitching to the bottom of the zone. You’ve got to be able to pitch at both height levels and Nate (Williams) did that today, Ryan (McPherson) did that today, Luke (Dotson) always does it. Just one of those things that we needed a little bit of a refresh and it was nice to see those guys get into a rhythm.”

The two offenses sent the action back and forth early in the ball game. Hunter Hines delivered a home run to break the ice on the scoring with a 2-0 lead in the second. In the third, UK leadoff man Tyler Bell returned the favor with his two-run shot with two strikes and two outs.

State answered back in the third when Gehrig Frei and Sawyer Reeves hit back-to-back home runs, and Bryce Chance reached on an error with two outs to score another and make it 5-2. The Wildcats came right back in the third and had two triples start a three-run frame to tie the game at 5-5.  

Both squads combined for just two hits from the fourth inning into the 10^th when Hunter Hines was able to connect on a base hit to right field with two outs. As the fielder fell down, Hines kept running before finally being thrown out at third.

Dotson getting the Bulldogs out of the jam in the 11^th set up a chance for the Bulldogs to walk it off.

“Whenever we went to (Dotson) in the 11^th, Ross (Highfill) and Gehrig was next to me and I said if we get out of this, there’s no way we don’t finish it in the next half inning,” Chance said. “You could kind of feel the momentum change. The doubleheader caught up to both teams, but it was great to be able to be in that spot.”

Chance got it started when he delivered a ball all the way to the wall in left field and defender Cole Hage crashed into it. The ball would hit the turf and give Chance a leadoff double. Following a Ross Highfill strikeout, Powell stepped to the plate and would deliver a hit into the outfield as Chance scored easily to get the Diamond Dawgs a series victory.

Despite the cold run by the offense in the middle to late innings, State had nine hits in the contest. Hines was 2-fo-3 with two RBI, two walks and his 65^th home run of his career. The long ball now has Hines just two shy of the school record.

Frei delivered two base knocks with an RBI on that solo home run.

Up Next

The series win is big for the Bulldogs (28-19, 9-14 SEC), but every win is critical at this point and that means State now needs to get greedy. The first potential sweep of the SEC season is there for the Bulldogs on Sunday as Karson Ligon toes the rubber against Ben Cleaver. Game time is set for Noon.

“We’re playing good in all three phases,” Parker said. “I’m pleased with how we’re swinging the bats and how we’re defending. Our bullpen has been really good the last couple of days. Our guys are flying around and playing well together.”