MSU Drops Midweek Matchup At Nicholls State

Tuesday, March 27

Thibodaux, La.

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

13-13

Nicholls

9-15

Mississippi State

Nicholls

State turned a pair of double plays on Tuesday and leads the SEC in the category with 25.

MSU Drops Midweek Matchup At Nicholls State

March 27, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

THIBODAUX, La. – A four-run rally In the eighth inning was not enough as Mississippi State dropped a 7-4 decision to Nicholls Tuesday night at Didier Field.

The Bulldogs (13-13) were held to two hits over the first seven innings before scoring four times in the eighth inning.

"We have to find a way to pitch better," MSU head coach Gary Henderson said. "Offensively, we struggled to put some things together. We had a couple of big two-out hits in the eighth inning but we struggled to hit consistently before that inning."

Luke Alexander and Tanner Allen drew back-to-back walks to start that frame. Josh Hatcher then singled to load the bases. After a strikeout and popout, Jordan Westburg followed with a two-run single. Marshall Gilbert followed with a two-run double.

A groundout ended that at-bat.

The Colonels (9-15) then got a critical two-run home run from Lee Clark before the Bulldogs were then retired in order in the ninth inning.

Nicholls (9-15) scored twice in the third inning on a base hit, walk and a couple of errors. The lead was then stretched with two runs in the sixth inning and another score in the seventh inning.

MSU finished with six hits. Westburg and Gilbert each had multiple hits.

Nicholls finished with nine hits. Chet Niehaus, Xane Washington and Gage Teer each had multiple hits for the Colonels.

Jacob Billingsley drew the start and pitched the first two innings. Denver McQuary (0-1) pitched the third inning and took the loss. Cole Marsh, Keegan James, Trysten Barlow and Riley Self also pitched for the Bulldogs.

Bryan Taylor (2-3) picked up the win.

State will return to SEC play on Thursday at No. 19 LSU (16-9) with a 7 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network. The series will continue on Friday at 7 p.m., before concluding at 2 p.m. on Saturday to also close out the Bulldogs' seven-game road swing.

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