Friday, April 26
Starkville
6:30 PM
Mississippi State
34-9, 11-8
19
vs
3
#4 Georgia
33-10, 13-6
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9
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Georgia
1
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1
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Mississippi State
0
4
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1
4
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3
2
X
19
19
2
Baseball Storms Past Georgia in Series Opener
April 26, 2019 | Baseball
Small fans 11 batters in six innings, five MSU hitters post multi-hit games
STARKVILLE – Redshirt-junior Ethan Small was brilliant and the No. 9 Mississippi State baseball team piled up 19 runs and put 33 runners on base on its way to a 19-3 victory over No. 3 Georgia on Friday (April 26) night at Dudy Noble Field.
Small (5-1) threw six innings and allowed two runs – one earned – on two hits in his 11th start of the season. The left-hander struck out 11 batters, walked one and hit one in his fourth-straight quality start. A first inning unearned run and a sixth inning home run was all Georgia (33-10, 13-6 SEC) could muster against Mississippi State's (34-9, 11-8 SEC) ace.
The 11 strikeouts give Small 114 on the season, which lead the SEC and are No. 2 nationally, while moving him up six spots on MSU's single season charts. His 114 strikeouts move him one shy of reaching the top 10 and tying Dakota Hudson (215; 2016) and Jeff Brantley (215; 1984).
The offense pounded out 19 hits – eight for extra bases – walked 13 times and reached via hit-by-pitch once, giving MSU 33 base runners in the game. Senior Jake Mangum, and sophomores Tanner Allen and Justin Foscue, each posted three hits in the game. Junior Gunner Halter and sophomore Jordan Westburg each posted a pair of hits on the night.
Mangum's three hits move him just one hit shy of tying the Southeastern Conference's career hits record, currently held by LSU's Eddie Furniss (352; 1995-98). The Pearl, Mississippi native ends Friday with 351 career hits.
Foscue doubled three times in the game and walked once, scoring three runs. Westburg drove in three RBIs with a fifth-inning double, while Allen posted a three-RBI night. Junior Dustin Skelton's one hit was a big one, as he hit his ninth home run of the season in the sixth inning.
Quotable
Head Coach Chris Lemonis
On what he thinks led to the offensive outburst
"The guys have been putting in a ton of work, trying to get back to our approach. I think you saw that a lot tonight. Not so much in the hits, but the walks…long at-bats. He had a couple nine-pitch at-bats, just guys grinding it out. And that's what we do. We've been talking about it all week. Do what we do. All year long, we've been a gritty offense with some length to it and I thought we were very good tonight in that aspect."
Justin Foscue
On how it feels to have the offense clicking again
"It's awesome. It's just a total team effort. When you get everybody to contribute together as a team, I think it's a big confidence booster for everybody and it lets the pitchers relax."
Gunner Halter
On the day-to-day mindset he carries
"I'm just doing whatever I can to help the team win. Whenever I get my chance, I'm taking full [advantage] of it. Hopefully, I'll be in there more, daily."
Quick Hitters
Mississippi State
Ethan Small – Earned his fifth win of the season with six innings of two-hit work on the mound. Allowed two runs – one earned. Fanned 11 for his eighth double-digit strikeout game of the year and moved into No. 11 on the single-season strikeout list (114).
Jake Mangum – Moved within one hit of tying the SEC career hits record with a three-hit night. Has 351 career hits and needs two in order to pass LSU's Eddie Furniss for the SEC's career hits crown. Also walked twice and scored three runs.
Dustin Skelton – Hit his ninth home run of the season and drove in three RBIs.
Tanner Allen – Plated four RBIs, went 3-for-4 with a pair of walks.
Gunner Halter – Posted a pair of hits, scored twice, walked and drove in one RBI.
On Base in Bunches – Mississippi State piled up 19 hits, walked 13 times and was hit-by-pitch once to account for 33 base runners.
The Reached Base Club – Tanner Allen, Rowdey Jordan and Justin Westburg all moved their reached base streaks to 11games on Friday night.
Walking in Starkville – Mississippi State walked 13 times in the game, marking its most walks since 2011 at Lipscomb. On March 16, 2011, Lipscomb walked 13 MSU batters.
Georgia
LJ Talley – Hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.
Chaney Rogers – Collected a pair of hits and plated one RBI.
Aaron Schunk – Drove in the first run of the game with an RBI double.
Scoring Recap
Top First
An error landed Riley King on third with one out and Aaron Schunk followed with a double to score the first run of the game.
Georgia 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom Second
Seven Bulldogs reached in the inning, including five-straight batters with two outs. A Justin Foscue double with one out started the rally and Rowdey Jordan singled to plate the first run of the frame. After a batters interference accounted for the second out, Marshall Gilbert walked. Gunner Halter followed with a single to center field, scoring Jordan, and runners were at second and third following an error on the throw from center field. After Jake Mangum was intentionally walked to load the bases, before a wild pitch moved each base runner up, scoring Gilbert. Following a walk to Jordan Westburg, Tanner Allen worked a bases loaded walk to score the fourth run of the frame.
Mississippi State 4, Georgia 1
Bottom Fourth
After Mangum reached on a fielder's choice, Westburg single to put runners on first and second with one out. Allen followed with an RBI base hit up the middle.
Mississippi State 5, Georgia 1
Bottom Fifth
Mississippi State added four runs on one hit in the fifth, with Westburg delivering a bases-clearing double. Three walks loaded the bases with two outs, as Rowdey Jordan led off the inning with a base on balls. After two outs, Halter and Mangum walked – the second of the intentional variety – and Westburg. followed with a three-RBI double down the left-field line. Westburg came in to score the fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Mississippi State 9, Georgia 1
Top Sixth
LJ Talley hit a solo home run with two outs for Georgia's second run of the game.
Mississippi State 9, Georgia 2
Bottom Sixth
The first four batters of the inning reached, as MSU was able to stack up five more runs in the inning. A Foscue walk started the inning and Rowdey Jordan was hit by a pitch, before Dustin Skelton hit his ninth home run of the season to right field. Gilbert followed with a single, before the first out of the inning was recorded. Mangum singled and an error on the right fielder put the runners on second and third. Allen delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to cap the scoring in the inning.
Mississippi State 14, Georgia 2
Bottom Seventh
Three more runs came across, as the first three hitters reached base safely and all three runs were driven in by pinch hitters in the inning. Foscue doubled and Rowdey Jordan walked in front of pinch hitter Luke Hancock's RBI double. Josh Hatcher followed with an RBI groundout and Landon Jordan singled to score the third run of the frame.
Mississippi State 17, Georgia 2
Bottom Eighth
Allen and Brad Cumbest started the innings with back-to-back doubles, as Allen scored on Cumbest's two-bagger down the left-field line. A pair of walks followed to load the bases, before Cumbest scored on a double play.
Mississippi State 19, Georgia 2
Top Ninth
A leadoff double by Cole Tate eventually came around to score on a two-out base hit from Chaney Rogers against MSU reliever Spencer Price.
Mississippi State 19, Georgia 3
Up Next
The series continues on Saturday, April 27, as the Noon start will be shown on the SEC Network with Mike Morgan and Mike Rooney calling the game. The Sunday, April 28 finale will begin at 1 p.m. and is available via the Mississippi State Radio Network and SEC Network+.
Small (5-1) threw six innings and allowed two runs – one earned – on two hits in his 11th start of the season. The left-hander struck out 11 batters, walked one and hit one in his fourth-straight quality start. A first inning unearned run and a sixth inning home run was all Georgia (33-10, 13-6 SEC) could muster against Mississippi State's (34-9, 11-8 SEC) ace.
The 11 strikeouts give Small 114 on the season, which lead the SEC and are No. 2 nationally, while moving him up six spots on MSU's single season charts. His 114 strikeouts move him one shy of reaching the top 10 and tying Dakota Hudson (215; 2016) and Jeff Brantley (215; 1984).
The offense pounded out 19 hits – eight for extra bases – walked 13 times and reached via hit-by-pitch once, giving MSU 33 base runners in the game. Senior Jake Mangum, and sophomores Tanner Allen and Justin Foscue, each posted three hits in the game. Junior Gunner Halter and sophomore Jordan Westburg each posted a pair of hits on the night.
Mangum's three hits move him just one hit shy of tying the Southeastern Conference's career hits record, currently held by LSU's Eddie Furniss (352; 1995-98). The Pearl, Mississippi native ends Friday with 351 career hits.
Foscue doubled three times in the game and walked once, scoring three runs. Westburg drove in three RBIs with a fifth-inning double, while Allen posted a three-RBI night. Junior Dustin Skelton's one hit was a big one, as he hit his ninth home run of the season in the sixth inning.
Quotable
Head Coach Chris Lemonis
On what he thinks led to the offensive outburst
"The guys have been putting in a ton of work, trying to get back to our approach. I think you saw that a lot tonight. Not so much in the hits, but the walks…long at-bats. He had a couple nine-pitch at-bats, just guys grinding it out. And that's what we do. We've been talking about it all week. Do what we do. All year long, we've been a gritty offense with some length to it and I thought we were very good tonight in that aspect."
Justin Foscue
On how it feels to have the offense clicking again
"It's awesome. It's just a total team effort. When you get everybody to contribute together as a team, I think it's a big confidence booster for everybody and it lets the pitchers relax."
Gunner Halter
On the day-to-day mindset he carries
"I'm just doing whatever I can to help the team win. Whenever I get my chance, I'm taking full [advantage] of it. Hopefully, I'll be in there more, daily."
Quick Hitters
Mississippi State
Ethan Small – Earned his fifth win of the season with six innings of two-hit work on the mound. Allowed two runs – one earned. Fanned 11 for his eighth double-digit strikeout game of the year and moved into No. 11 on the single-season strikeout list (114).
Jake Mangum – Moved within one hit of tying the SEC career hits record with a three-hit night. Has 351 career hits and needs two in order to pass LSU's Eddie Furniss for the SEC's career hits crown. Also walked twice and scored three runs.
Dustin Skelton – Hit his ninth home run of the season and drove in three RBIs.
Tanner Allen – Plated four RBIs, went 3-for-4 with a pair of walks.
Gunner Halter – Posted a pair of hits, scored twice, walked and drove in one RBI.
On Base in Bunches – Mississippi State piled up 19 hits, walked 13 times and was hit-by-pitch once to account for 33 base runners.
The Reached Base Club – Tanner Allen, Rowdey Jordan and Justin Westburg all moved their reached base streaks to 11games on Friday night.
Walking in Starkville – Mississippi State walked 13 times in the game, marking its most walks since 2011 at Lipscomb. On March 16, 2011, Lipscomb walked 13 MSU batters.
Georgia
LJ Talley – Hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.
Chaney Rogers – Collected a pair of hits and plated one RBI.
Aaron Schunk – Drove in the first run of the game with an RBI double.
Scoring Recap
Top First
An error landed Riley King on third with one out and Aaron Schunk followed with a double to score the first run of the game.
Georgia 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom Second
Seven Bulldogs reached in the inning, including five-straight batters with two outs. A Justin Foscue double with one out started the rally and Rowdey Jordan singled to plate the first run of the frame. After a batters interference accounted for the second out, Marshall Gilbert walked. Gunner Halter followed with a single to center field, scoring Jordan, and runners were at second and third following an error on the throw from center field. After Jake Mangum was intentionally walked to load the bases, before a wild pitch moved each base runner up, scoring Gilbert. Following a walk to Jordan Westburg, Tanner Allen worked a bases loaded walk to score the fourth run of the frame.
Mississippi State 4, Georgia 1
Bottom Fourth
After Mangum reached on a fielder's choice, Westburg single to put runners on first and second with one out. Allen followed with an RBI base hit up the middle.
Mississippi State 5, Georgia 1
Bottom Fifth
Mississippi State added four runs on one hit in the fifth, with Westburg delivering a bases-clearing double. Three walks loaded the bases with two outs, as Rowdey Jordan led off the inning with a base on balls. After two outs, Halter and Mangum walked – the second of the intentional variety – and Westburg. followed with a three-RBI double down the left-field line. Westburg came in to score the fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Mississippi State 9, Georgia 1
Top Sixth
LJ Talley hit a solo home run with two outs for Georgia's second run of the game.
Mississippi State 9, Georgia 2
Bottom Sixth
The first four batters of the inning reached, as MSU was able to stack up five more runs in the inning. A Foscue walk started the inning and Rowdey Jordan was hit by a pitch, before Dustin Skelton hit his ninth home run of the season to right field. Gilbert followed with a single, before the first out of the inning was recorded. Mangum singled and an error on the right fielder put the runners on second and third. Allen delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to cap the scoring in the inning.
Mississippi State 14, Georgia 2
Bottom Seventh
Three more runs came across, as the first three hitters reached base safely and all three runs were driven in by pinch hitters in the inning. Foscue doubled and Rowdey Jordan walked in front of pinch hitter Luke Hancock's RBI double. Josh Hatcher followed with an RBI groundout and Landon Jordan singled to score the third run of the frame.
Mississippi State 17, Georgia 2
Bottom Eighth
Allen and Brad Cumbest started the innings with back-to-back doubles, as Allen scored on Cumbest's two-bagger down the left-field line. A pair of walks followed to load the bases, before Cumbest scored on a double play.
Mississippi State 19, Georgia 2
Top Ninth
A leadoff double by Cole Tate eventually came around to score on a two-out base hit from Chaney Rogers against MSU reliever Spencer Price.
Mississippi State 19, Georgia 3
Up Next
The series continues on Saturday, April 27, as the Noon start will be shown on the SEC Network with Mike Morgan and Mike Rooney calling the game. The Sunday, April 28 finale will begin at 1 p.m. and is available via the Mississippi State Radio Network and SEC Network+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Small, Ethan (5-1)
L: C.J. Smith (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Aaron Schunk 1 ; Cole Tate 1
HR: LJ Talley 1
RBI: Aaron Schunk 1 ; LJ Talley 1 ; Chaney Rogers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Riley King 1 ; LJ Talley 1 ; Cole Tate 1
HBP: Mason Meadows 1
Batting:
2B: Westburg, Jordan 1 ; Allen, Tanner 1 ; Cumbest, Brad 1 ; Foscue, Justin 3 ; Hancock, Luke 1
HR: Skelton, Dustin 1
RBI: Westburg, Jordan 3 ; Allen, Tanner 4 ; Cumbest, Brad 1 ; Jordan, Rowdey 1 ; Skelton, Dustin 3 ; Jordan, Landon 1 ; Hancock, Luke 1 ; Hatcher, Josh 1 ; Halter, Gunner 1
SH: Skelton, Dustin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mangum, Jake 3 ; Westburg, Jordan 1 ; Allen, Tanner 1 ; Cumbest, Brad 1 ; Foscue, Justin 3 ; Jordan, Rowdey 4 ; Skelton, Dustin 1 ; Hancock, Luke 1 ; Gilbert, Marshall 2 ; Halter, Gunner 2
CS: Mangum, Jake 1
HBP: Jordan, Rowdey 1
Game Leaders
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Players Mentioned
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