Diamond Dawgs roll in run-ruled season opener, 17-3
As Opening Day arrived on Friday morning, Mississippi State fans were anxious about what they would see.
State had a new game one starter in Pico Kohn and a lineup that has billed to be more productive this season. At least for one game, there was a whole lot to be excited about for the maroon and white faithful.
The Diamond Dawgs scored three or more runs in each of the first four innings against Manhattan and got a dominant performance from Kohn. It was a game that was never in doubt with State winning 17-3 in just seven innings to start the year.
The offense was the most eye-opening part of the afternoon as the Bulldogs did what they couldn’t do often against lesser talent on the mound. State came out and dominated the Jaspers’ pitching with 15 hits and added another eight baserunners via walks and four hit batters.
12 different players had hits in the game with three of them earning multiple hits. Hunter Hines led the way going 2-for-4 with four RBI including a home run in the game. Ace Reese also hit a home run in the game and finished 2-for-3 in his first action as a Bulldog. Bryce Chance was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
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Aaron Downs hit his first home run as a Diamond Dawg hitter and drove in three runs on that blast via a pinch hit.
Noah Sullivan drove in three runs of his own as the USC-Upstate designated hitter came up in his first at bat as a Bulldog and had the bases loaded in the first inning. Sullivan found a gap in right center and cleared the bases with a double giving State and early lead it wouldn’t lose.
On the mound, Kohn was untouchable. He struck out the first three batters he faced and it was a sign of what was to come with 5.0 shutout innings including no walks and just one hit. Kohn struck out a career-high 11 batters. Freshman pitcher Charlie Foster followed that up with a shutout sixth inning with just one walk and two strikeouts.
Things got hairy for Indiana State transfer Jacob Pruitt in the seventh as he surrendered three runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter, but Pruitt ended the game with a strikeout and got the run-rule win.
State is set to play game two of the double-header at 3 p.m. on Friday.
