Kruger Goes Yard In 4-3 Maroon Victory
September 27, 2015 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Junior transfer Jack Kruger's first home run of the fall propelled Maroon to a 4-3 win against Gray Sunday afternoon in Mississippi State's eighth scrimmage of the fall. The six-inning exhibition took place at Dudy Noble Field.
Kruger finished the game 1 for 2 with two runs, an RBI, home run and a walk. Also collecting extra-base hits for Maroon were redshirt junior outfielder Jacob Robson (2 for 3, two doubles, RBI), sophomore transfer Jacob Barfield (1 for 2, 2 RBI) and redshirt freshman Cole Gordon (1 for 2, run).
Gray's three runs came on a two-RBI double by sophomore infielder Ryan Gridley and a sacrifice fly by junior outfielder Reid Humphreys.
On the mound, freshman left-hander Konnor Pilkington led the way for Maroon with five strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings, surrendering two runs on one hit and a walk. The right-handed combination of juniors Logan Elliot and Cole Barlow closed the door in the winning effort, tossing 2 2/3 shutout stanzas.
Gray jumped on the board in the bottom half of the opening frame when senior outfielder Mike Smith drew a leadoff walk. Smith reached third base after a failed pickoff attempt and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Humphreys.
Maroon took the lead in the fourth thanks to a bases-clearing two-RBI double by Barfield, which drove in Gordon (hit by pitch) and Kruger (walk).
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, junior transfer Nathaniel Lowe (1 for 2, run) and freshman Elih Marrero (1 for 1, run, walk, stolen base) were both hit by a pitch. Following a groundball out to put both in scoring position, Gridley hammered a double to the gap in right to give Gray a narrow 3-2 lead.
Maroon tied the game in the fifth after junior transfer Tanner Poole singled, stole second and scored on a RBI double to left by Robson.
Kruger won the game in the top of the sixth with a solo shot to left.
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2015 Mississippi State Fall Scrimmage Schedule
Scrimmage 1 - Gray 3, Maroon 1 (Reynolds 3 RBIs, Rooker HR)
Scrimmage 2 – Maroon 4, Gray 3 (Hudson 1 ER in 3.0 IP, Rooker 2 for 3 with 2 R)
Scrimmage 3 – Maroon 9, Gray 6 (HR by Barfield and Rooker)
Scrimmage 4 – Gray 8, Maroon 5 (James 1 ER in 3.0 IP, HR by Stovall)
Scrimmage 5 – Maroon 5, Gray 1 (Small/Hughes: 9 K in 7 IP, 1 ER)
Scrimmage 6 – Maroon 6, Gray 2 (HR by Alexander and Gordon)
Scrimmage 7 – Gray 3, Maroon 2 (Tatum 0 ER in 4.0 IP, M. Smith 3 for 3 with 3 SB)
Scrimmage 8 – Maroon 4, Gray 3 (Robson 2 for 3, 2 2B; Kruger HR)
Scrimmage 9 – Tuesday, Sept. 29 - OR - Wednesday Sept. 30
Scrimmage 10 – Sunday, Oct. 4
Scrimmage 11 – Monday, Oct. 5
Scrimmage 12 – Tuesday, Oct. 6
Scrimmage 13 – Friday, Oct. 9
Scrimmage 14 – Saturday, Oct. 10*
Scrimmage 15 – Sunday, Oct. 11
Scrimmage 16 – Wednesday, Oct. 14
Scrimmage 17 – Friday, Oct. 16 (Game 1 of Bulldog World Series)
Scrimmage 18 – Saturday, Oct. 17* (Game 2 of Bulldog World Series)
Scrimmage 19 – Sunday, Oct. 18 (Game 3 of Bulldog World Series)
* = Will take place before or after MSU football's home game
NOTES: All dates are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes and game times will be announced on Twitter at @HailStateBB. Admission to all scrimmages is free and open to the public.
