Mississippi State
13-2
San Diego
5-6
Baseball Drops Series Opener To San Diego
March 07, 2015 | Baseball
The Bulldogs almost snatched victory at the end when Gavin Collins had a potential game-winning two-run home run sail just left of the foul pole in the ninth inning. In the end, pinch runner Jake Vickerson was stranded at third base.
After winning 13-straight games to start the season, MSU (13-2) has been held to six hits each in consecutive losses to Arkansas-Pine Bluff and San Diego.
San Diego (5-6) scored in the second inning without the benefit of a base hit, thanks to a walk, hit batter, stolen base and wild pitch. The Toreros extended the lead in the fourth inning when another run trotted home on a wild pitch.
The tough Bulldog luck spoiled Preston Brown's sixth career quality start. In his third-straight quality start, Brown (3-1) allowed five hits and two runs (one earned), with five strikeouts. Brown did walk three and hit another. Ross Mitchell threw 2.2 innings of one-hit shutout relief.
MSU finally broke through in the eighth inning. Cody Brown drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and later scored on an RBI-single by Seth Heck.
In the ninth inning, Wes Rea started things with a leadoff single. A sacrifice bunt moved pinch runner Vickerson to second base before he was later stranded at third base.
Heck had his third straight two-hit game for the Bulldogs, while Brown also had multiple hits.
Ryan Kirby had two hits for San Diego.
David Hill (2-2) threw seven innings, allowing four hits and no runs to earn the win. Anthony McIver worker the Toreros out of a tight spot in the eighth inning and finished the game for his second save.
The series resumes at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: HILL, David (2-2)
L: Brown, Preston (3-1)
S: McIVER, Anthony (2)
Base Running:
RUNS: JENNER, Jesse 1 ; WALTNER, Colton 1
SB: JENNER, Jesse 1 ; MERCADO-HOOD, Hunter 1
HBP: JENNER, Jesse 1
Batting:
RBI: Heck, Seth 1
SH: Humphreys, Reid 1 ; Lovelady, Josh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, Cody 1
