Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Louisiana

Jordan Westburg was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI

Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics

Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Louisiana

October 05, 2019 | Baseball

Ragin’ Cajuns rally for game one win, while Diamond Dawgs score 13 runs in game two victory

by: Greg Campbell, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State baseball led for 12 of 14 innings in the fall doubleheader versus Louisiana on Saturday (Oct. 5) at Dudy Noble Field. However, the Diamond Dawgs were only able to come away with a spilt of the twin bill, falling in game one, 7-4, before taking a 13-2 decision in the nightcap.

In game one, Mississippi State built a 4-0 lead after three innings, with the top of the order providing all four RBIs and eight of the team's nine hits in the game. However, Louisiana rallied with one run in both the fourth and fifth innings, before erupting for five runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good.

In the first game, the quartet of Rowdey Jordan, Jordan Westburg, Tanner Allen and Justin Foscue contributed most of the offense. Westburg has three hits, two runs scored and one RBI. Allen and Jordan each chipped in two hits, with Jordan scoring twice and Allen driving in two RBIs. Foscue had one hit and a sacrifice fly.

State used seven pitchers in game one, with the staff allowing nine hits, walking four and hitting two batters. Christian MacLeod got the start on the mound and fired two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts. Carlisle Koestler threw a scoreless frame in the third inning, while Chase Patrick fired a scoreless seventh inning.

Game two saw MSU play 16 newcomers and just three returning student-athletes, but both the offense and pitching was clicking. The first five pitchers used allowed just two hits in five innings of work, striking out seven and walking four.

On offense, Noah Fondren was 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs scored, while Brandon Pimentel added two hits – both doubles – and drove in three RBIs to go along with one run scored. Bryce Brock produced a pair of RBIs, while Tanner Leggett drove in two RBIs as a part of a 3-for-4 night at the plate. Hayden Jones and Drew McGowan each drove in two RBIs, while Logan Tanner and Landon Jordan each registered one RBI.

Defensively, Mississippi State committed just one error – a dropped ball on a force out at second base in the first game – and MSU catchers threw out all three potential base stealers.

Game One – Scoring Recap
Bottom First
Rowdey Jordan started the inning with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch, before moving to third on a Jordan Westburg base hit. Tanner Allen drove in the first run with a base hit, before Justin Foscue added the second run with a sacrifice fly.
Mississippi State 2, Louisiana 0

Bottom Third
The third inning got started with four-straight hits, as Jordan singled to start things off and moved to second on a wild pitch. Westburg followed with a double into the left-center field gap, scoring Jordan, and Allen followed with an RBI single to left field.
Mississippi State 4, Louisiana 0

Top Fourth
A bases loaded RBI fielder's choice from Sebastian Toro got the Ragin' Cajuns on the scoreboard against MSU reliever Jared Shemper.
Mississippi State 4, Louisiana 1

Top Fifth
Logan Tanner entered on the mound for MSU and struck out the first batter of the inning, before Hayden Cantrelle worked a walk. Brennan Breaux followed with a double to right-center field to score the runner from first.
Mississippi State 4, Louisiana 2

Top Sixth
Louisiana loaded the bases against State reliever Jack Eagan, before Spencer Price entered on the mound with no outs. After Price coaxed a shallow fly out to start his appearance, the Ragin' Cajuns used a two-RBI double by Ben Fitzgerald. Cantrelle followed with a three-run home run to give ULL its first lead of the day and account for the eventual final score.
Louisiana 7, Mississippi State 4

Game Two – Scoring Recap
Bottom First
After the first two Diamond Dawgs were retired, Noah Fondren and Brandon Pimentel put together back-to-back doubles to produce the first run of the game.
Mississippi State 1, Louisiana 0

Bottom Fourth
A five run fourth inning stared with a double by Fondren and Logan Tanner plated the first run of the frame with a RBI single through the right side. Josh Hatcher reached on an error and Landon Jordan walked to load the bases, before Hayden Jones doubled to drive in a pair. Tanner Leggett then doubled down the left-field line to push across two more runs.
Mississippi State 6, Louisiana 0

Bottom Fifth
Another five-run inning pushed the advantage to double-digits. Pimentel drove in the first two runs with a double, before Landon Jordan added the third run with an RBI single. The last two runs of the frame came on a two-RBI infield single from Drew McGowan. With runners on second and third, McGowan sent a high chopper to shortstop. Xavier Lovett scored from third easily, while Landon Jordan hustled from second base and also scored on the play.
Mississippi State 11, Louisiana 0

Top Sixth
Will Moriarty got ULL on the board with an RBI double in the sixth.
Mississippi State 11, Louisiana 1

Bottom Sixth
Bryce Brock added the final two runs with a bases loaded, RBI double.
Mississippi State 13, Louisiana 1

Top Seventh
Justin Greene hit a solo home run to cap the scoring in the game.
Mississippi State 13, Louisiana 2

Up Next
The Diamond Dawgs will host the Maroon and White World Series with one game each day from October 10-12 at Dudy Noble Field. All games will be free and open to the public. Game times will be announced in the coming days.