Sunday, March 24
Starkville
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
22-3, 4-2
20
vs
15
#12 Auburn
20-4, 4-2
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5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Auburn
0
0
4
7
0
1
3
0
0
15
21
2
Mississippi State
1
1
3
1
4
3
2
5
X
20
21
3
Skelton posts career-high five RBIs and career-best four hits as State scores in every inning
Photo by: Trevor Birchett/MSU Athletics
Baseball Takes Sunday Slugfest Over Auburn
March 24, 2019 | Baseball
Skelton posts career-high five RBIs and career-best four hits as State scores in every inning
STARKVILLE – In its highest scoring SEC contest since 2000, the No. 2 Mississippi State baseball program secured a 20-15 victory over No. 16 Auburn to claim the series on Sunday (March 24) at Dudy Noble Field.
Mississippi State (22-3, 4-2 SEC) scored in each of the eight innings it went to the plate on its way to 20 runs on 21 hits against seven Auburn (20-4, 4-2 SEC) pitchers. The 20 runs are the most scored in an SEC game since May 5, 2000, when the Bulldogs scored 20 runs against Florida. The 35 combined runs were the most in a game since MSU and Kentucky scored 39 runs on April 19, 2009.
State took the early 2-0 lead after two innings, giving up four runs to Auburn in the third to trail, 4-2 entering the bottom of the inning. After State scored three in the bottom of the third to grab a 5-3 edge, AU responded with seven runs in the fourth. MSU got one back in the fourth and four in the fifth to pull within one run at 11-10. After Auburn scored one in the sixth to make it 12-10, State grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the sixth with three runs to make it 13-12.
Auburn jumped right back in front with three runs in the seventh, but two Diamond Dawg runs in the bottom of the inning sent the game to the eighth inning tied at 15. After graduate student Cole Gordon worked around a walk and a single in a scoreless top of the eighth inning, State piled up five more runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.
Gordon (3-0) closed out the game with the only perfect inning of the day for either squad in the ninth inning to give MSU its sixth-straight regular season series win dating back to 2018. In all, Gordon threw three innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out three in his 11th appearance of the year.
All nine starters collected hits in the game, led by a career-high four-hit day from Dustin Skelton, including his fifth home run of the season. The junior drove in a career-best five RBIs and scored a career-high four times in the game. Freshman Brad Cumbest collected three hits in the contest for his first career multi-hit game, while Rowdey Jordan belted out three hits, including two doubles on the afternoon.
Quotable
Head Coach Chris Lemonis
On what he saw from his team in the dugout on Sunday
"It's just that no quitting mentality. I've known it about this group, but even when we gave up those seven runs in the middle innings, they just came in and went to work. It's the special quality of this team. We're talented and have some really good players, but this is a tough, gritty group. And they play for each other. They just stay engaged. Sometimes you'll see a team back off and put their heads down. Our team doesn't have that about us. Maybe it's a little bit in the park. When you have an atmosphere out there like that, it keeps you going, too. Our fans were outstanding."
Quick Hitters
Mississippi State
Dustin Skelton – Drove in a career-high five RBIs with a career-best four hits in the game. Walked, stole a base and scored a career-high four runs.
Multi-Hit Mayhem – While all nine starters collected hits in the contest, eight of those posted multi-hit games. Led by Skelton's four hits, the Diamond Dawgs also got three hits from Brad Cumbest and Rowdey Jordan, and two hits from Tanner Allen, Justin Foscue, Elijah MacNamee, Jake Mangum and Jordan Westburg.
Rowdey Jordan – Drove in a career-high-tying four RBIs on three hits. Also scored twice.
Jordan Westburg – Scored a career-high four runs and drove in three RBIs. Doubled, homered, was hit by a pitch and reached on a fielder's choice.
Auburn
Multi-Hit Mayhem, Pt. 2 – Like MSU, all nine Auburn starters collected hits, with eight posting multi-hit games. The Tigers had four with three-hit games and four collect two hits each.
Judd Ward – Homered and drove in four RBIs.
Steven Williams – Had two hits, including his second home run of the weekend.
Scoring Recap
Bottom First
Jake Mangum started things off with an infield single, before moving to third on a Tanner Allen double with one out. Elijah MacNamee followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to give MSU the early lead.
Mississippi State 1, Auburn 0
Bottom Second
After Brad Cumbest singled, Rowdey Jordan grounded into a fielder's choice. After Jordan stole second, Mangum doubled down the left-field line to score State's second run of the game.
Mississippi State 2, Auburn 0
Top Third
Auburn sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning and scored four times against MSU starting pitcher Keegan James. Six of the first seven batters reached base via hit, including an RBI single from Edouard Julien, two-RBI double by Ryan Bliss and RBI base hit from Kason Howell.
Auburn 4, Mississippi State 2
Bottom Third
State answered back to retake the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on four hits, with three of those going for extra bases. MacNamee started the barrage with a one-out double and scored on a two-out single by Dustin Skelton. After Skelton stole second, Cumbest plated an RBI with a double, before coming around to score on Jordan's double down the left-field line.
Mississippi State 5, Auburn 4
Top Fourth
The first eight Tigers to come to the plate in the fourth inning reach base, with seven of them coming in to score. Steven Williams opened the scoring with a two-run home run, with Julien, Conor Davis and Judd Ward each collecting RBI hits in the frame. A Bulldog error allowed a run to score and an RBI ground out from Matt Scheffler capped the scoring.
Auburn 11, Mississippi State 5
Bottom Fourth
After Mangum walked to start the inning, Westburg grounded into a fielder's choice, before moving to second on a passed ball. Tanner Allen singled to right field to score Westburg.
Auburn 11, Mississippi State 6
Bottom Fifth
Four runs came across in the fifth inning, as State trimmed the Auburn lead to one run. Gunner Halter delivered a two-RBI single with one out and, following a flyout, Westburg delivered a two-run home run to straight-away center field.
Auburn 11, Mississippi State 10
Top Sixth
Trysten Barlow came on in relief of Riley Self, who threw two scoreless frames for MSU, and allowed one run on one hit. The run came across on a two-out throwing error by Westburg.
Auburn 12, Mississippi State 10
Bottom Sixth
Three more runs came across for State, as MacNamee singled to start the frame, Foscue walked and Skelton reached on a bunt single to load the bases. After a Cumbest flyout, Jordan delivered a bases clearing double to give MSU the lead.
Mississippi State 13, Auburn 12
Top Seventh
A three-run home run with one out in the inning gave Auburn the lead right back. After reliever Cole Gordon struck out the first batter he faced, Bliss and Howell singled, before Ward homered to right-center field.
Auburn 15, Mississippi State 13
Bottom Seventh
After Auburn took the lead back in the top of the inning, Mississippi State tied it up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to knot the score. Westburg was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a ground out. With two outs in the frame, Foscue doubled to score Westburg and Skelton singled to bring around Foscue from second.
Mississippi State 15, Auburn 15
Bottom Eighth
The Bulldogs took the lead for good with five runs in the eighth inning, capped by a Skelton three-run home run. Mangum singled with one out and came around to score on Westburg's double into the gap in right-center field. After Allen popped out for the second out of the frame, MacNamee walked and Foscue singled to bring up Skelton. On the first pitch he saw from Carson Skipper, Skelton turned it around 388 feet to left-center field for his fifth home run of the season.
Mississippi State 20, Auburn 15
Up Next
Mississippi State remains at home to continue its eight-game homestand, hosting Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday, March 26. First pitch between the Diamond Dawgs and Delta Devils is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday's game will pay homage to The Office, with "World's Best" coffee mugs handed out at the gates while supplies last.
Mississippi State (22-3, 4-2 SEC) scored in each of the eight innings it went to the plate on its way to 20 runs on 21 hits against seven Auburn (20-4, 4-2 SEC) pitchers. The 20 runs are the most scored in an SEC game since May 5, 2000, when the Bulldogs scored 20 runs against Florida. The 35 combined runs were the most in a game since MSU and Kentucky scored 39 runs on April 19, 2009.
State took the early 2-0 lead after two innings, giving up four runs to Auburn in the third to trail, 4-2 entering the bottom of the inning. After State scored three in the bottom of the third to grab a 5-3 edge, AU responded with seven runs in the fourth. MSU got one back in the fourth and four in the fifth to pull within one run at 11-10. After Auburn scored one in the sixth to make it 12-10, State grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the sixth with three runs to make it 13-12.
Auburn jumped right back in front with three runs in the seventh, but two Diamond Dawg runs in the bottom of the inning sent the game to the eighth inning tied at 15. After graduate student Cole Gordon worked around a walk and a single in a scoreless top of the eighth inning, State piled up five more runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.
Gordon (3-0) closed out the game with the only perfect inning of the day for either squad in the ninth inning to give MSU its sixth-straight regular season series win dating back to 2018. In all, Gordon threw three innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out three in his 11th appearance of the year.
All nine starters collected hits in the game, led by a career-high four-hit day from Dustin Skelton, including his fifth home run of the season. The junior drove in a career-best five RBIs and scored a career-high four times in the game. Freshman Brad Cumbest collected three hits in the contest for his first career multi-hit game, while Rowdey Jordan belted out three hits, including two doubles on the afternoon.
Quotable
Head Coach Chris Lemonis
On what he saw from his team in the dugout on Sunday
"It's just that no quitting mentality. I've known it about this group, but even when we gave up those seven runs in the middle innings, they just came in and went to work. It's the special quality of this team. We're talented and have some really good players, but this is a tough, gritty group. And they play for each other. They just stay engaged. Sometimes you'll see a team back off and put their heads down. Our team doesn't have that about us. Maybe it's a little bit in the park. When you have an atmosphere out there like that, it keeps you going, too. Our fans were outstanding."
Quick Hitters
Mississippi State
Dustin Skelton – Drove in a career-high five RBIs with a career-best four hits in the game. Walked, stole a base and scored a career-high four runs.
Multi-Hit Mayhem – While all nine starters collected hits in the contest, eight of those posted multi-hit games. Led by Skelton's four hits, the Diamond Dawgs also got three hits from Brad Cumbest and Rowdey Jordan, and two hits from Tanner Allen, Justin Foscue, Elijah MacNamee, Jake Mangum and Jordan Westburg.
Rowdey Jordan – Drove in a career-high-tying four RBIs on three hits. Also scored twice.
Jordan Westburg – Scored a career-high four runs and drove in three RBIs. Doubled, homered, was hit by a pitch and reached on a fielder's choice.
Auburn
Multi-Hit Mayhem, Pt. 2 – Like MSU, all nine Auburn starters collected hits, with eight posting multi-hit games. The Tigers had four with three-hit games and four collect two hits each.
Judd Ward – Homered and drove in four RBIs.
Steven Williams – Had two hits, including his second home run of the weekend.
Scoring Recap
Bottom First
Jake Mangum started things off with an infield single, before moving to third on a Tanner Allen double with one out. Elijah MacNamee followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to give MSU the early lead.
Mississippi State 1, Auburn 0
Bottom Second
After Brad Cumbest singled, Rowdey Jordan grounded into a fielder's choice. After Jordan stole second, Mangum doubled down the left-field line to score State's second run of the game.
Mississippi State 2, Auburn 0
Top Third
Auburn sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning and scored four times against MSU starting pitcher Keegan James. Six of the first seven batters reached base via hit, including an RBI single from Edouard Julien, two-RBI double by Ryan Bliss and RBI base hit from Kason Howell.
Auburn 4, Mississippi State 2
Bottom Third
State answered back to retake the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on four hits, with three of those going for extra bases. MacNamee started the barrage with a one-out double and scored on a two-out single by Dustin Skelton. After Skelton stole second, Cumbest plated an RBI with a double, before coming around to score on Jordan's double down the left-field line.
Mississippi State 5, Auburn 4
Top Fourth
The first eight Tigers to come to the plate in the fourth inning reach base, with seven of them coming in to score. Steven Williams opened the scoring with a two-run home run, with Julien, Conor Davis and Judd Ward each collecting RBI hits in the frame. A Bulldog error allowed a run to score and an RBI ground out from Matt Scheffler capped the scoring.
Auburn 11, Mississippi State 5
Bottom Fourth
After Mangum walked to start the inning, Westburg grounded into a fielder's choice, before moving to second on a passed ball. Tanner Allen singled to right field to score Westburg.
Auburn 11, Mississippi State 6
Bottom Fifth
Four runs came across in the fifth inning, as State trimmed the Auburn lead to one run. Gunner Halter delivered a two-RBI single with one out and, following a flyout, Westburg delivered a two-run home run to straight-away center field.
Auburn 11, Mississippi State 10
Top Sixth
Trysten Barlow came on in relief of Riley Self, who threw two scoreless frames for MSU, and allowed one run on one hit. The run came across on a two-out throwing error by Westburg.
Auburn 12, Mississippi State 10
Bottom Sixth
Three more runs came across for State, as MacNamee singled to start the frame, Foscue walked and Skelton reached on a bunt single to load the bases. After a Cumbest flyout, Jordan delivered a bases clearing double to give MSU the lead.
Mississippi State 13, Auburn 12
Top Seventh
A three-run home run with one out in the inning gave Auburn the lead right back. After reliever Cole Gordon struck out the first batter he faced, Bliss and Howell singled, before Ward homered to right-center field.
Auburn 15, Mississippi State 13
Bottom Seventh
After Auburn took the lead back in the top of the inning, Mississippi State tied it up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to knot the score. Westburg was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a ground out. With two outs in the frame, Foscue doubled to score Westburg and Skelton singled to bring around Foscue from second.
Mississippi State 15, Auburn 15
Bottom Eighth
The Bulldogs took the lead for good with five runs in the eighth inning, capped by a Skelton three-run home run. Mangum singled with one out and came around to score on Westburg's double into the gap in right-center field. After Allen popped out for the second out of the frame, MacNamee walked and Foscue singled to bring up Skelton. On the first pitch he saw from Carson Skipper, Skelton turned it around 388 feet to left-center field for his fifth home run of the season.
Mississippi State 20, Auburn 15
Up Next
Mississippi State remains at home to continue its eight-game homestand, hosting Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday, March 26. First pitch between the Diamond Dawgs and Delta Devils is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday's game will pay homage to The Office, with "World's Best" coffee mugs handed out at the gates while supplies last.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gordon, Cole (3-0)
L: Greenhill, Cody (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Julien, Edouard 1 ; Bliss, Ryan 1 ; Scheffler, Matt 1
HR: Williams, Steven 1 ; Ward, Judd 1
RBI: Williams, Steven 2 ; Julien, Edouard 2 ; Davis, Conor 1 ; Bliss, Ryan 2 ; Howell, Kason 1 ; Ward, Judd 4 ; Scheffler, Matt 1
SH: Ward, Judd 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Holland, Will 2 ; Williams, Steven 1 ; Woley, Rankin 2 ; Julien, Edouard 2 ; Davis, Conor 2 ; Bliss, Ryan 2 ; Howell, Kason 2 ; Ward, Judd 1 ; Scheffler, Matt 1
HBP: Holland, Will 1 ; Bliss, Ryan 1
Batting:
2B: Mangum, Jake 1 ; Westburg, Jordan 1 ; Allen, Tanner 1 ; MacNamee, Elijah 1 ; Foscue, Justin 1 ; Cumbest, Brad 1 ; Jordan, Rowdey 2
HR: Westburg, Jordan 1 ; Skelton, Dustin 1
RBI: Mangum, Jake 1 ; Westburg, Jordan 3 ; Allen, Tanner 1 ; MacNamee, Elijah 1 ; Foscue, Justin 2 ; Skelton, Dustin 5 ; Cumbest, Brad 1 ; Jordan, Rowdey 4 ; Halter, Gunner 2
SF: MacNamee, Elijah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mangum, Jake 2 ; Westburg, Jordan 4 ; MacNamee, Elijah 3 ; Foscue, Justin 3 ; Skelton, Dustin 4 ; Cumbest, Brad 1 ; Jordan, Rowdey 2 ; Halter, Gunner 1
SB: Skelton, Dustin 1 ; Jordan, Rowdey 1 ; Halter, Gunner 1
HBP: Westburg, Jordan 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
4
H
4
RBI
5
AB
6
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
IF/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP/DH
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF/OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
IF
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