Saturday, May 11
Oxford, Miss.
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
41-10, 17-9
8
at
5
#11 Ole Miss
32-19, 15-11
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Mississippi State
0
0
1
1
0
0
6
0
0
8
10
3
Ole Miss
2
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
5
8
1
Baseball Rallies for Series-Clinching Win at Ole Miss on Saturday
May 11, 2019 | Baseball
Gordon earns his 14th career save to move into a tie for No. 9 on the MSU career charts
OXFORD, Miss. – Perseverance was key in the No. 5 Mississippi State baseball program's series-clinching victory on Saturday (May 11) evening at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field, as the Diamond Dawgs were able to rally from an early deficit for an 8-5 victory over No. 11 Ole Miss to win the seventh SEC series in nine tries during the 2019 season.
Ole Miss (32-19, 15-11 SEC) scored twice in the first, before Mississippi State (41-10, 17-9 SEC) tallied one in the third and one in the fourth to knot the score at 2-2. The Rebels got one run in each the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but a six-run seventh inning for State was the difference in the game.
The come-from-behind win was the 18th of the season for Mississippi State, including six of those in SEC play. It was also the second time this season that State faced a deficit against Ole Miss and came back to win. The Rebels led 1-0 in the Governor's Cup before MSU scored eight unanswered runs for the win.
The victory gave MSU seven SEC series wins in nine tries. Four of those have come on the road (Florida, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M) and three have come at home (Alabama, Auburn and Georgia), with next weekend at home will wrap up the 10-week conference slate. Of those seven series wins, five of them have come against teams ranked at the time of the series.
The Diamond Dawgs got 4 2/3 innings out of freshman starting pitcher JT Ginn, as the rookie allowed three runs – two earned – on four hits. He walked three batters and struck out five in the no decision. Junior Riley Self (2-0) threw 1 1/3 innings of relief work to collect the win, as he allowed two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out two.
Junior Colby White threw a scoreless eighth inning. Graduate student Cole Gordon tossed a scoreless ninth inning to post his ninth save of the season and 14th of his career, moving him into a tie for No. 9 all-time on the career charts at Mississippi State with teammate Spencer Price (14; 2017-present) and Aaron Weatherford (14; 2006-08).
Senior Marshall Gilbert started at third base and recorded six field assists and no official at bats. The right-handed hitter walked twice, was hit-by-pitch twice and scored one run. Senior Jake Mangum, sophomore Justin Foscue and junior Gunner Halter all chipped in two hits. Sophomores Tanner Allen and Rowdey Jordan both drove in two RBIs in the game.
Quotable
Head Coach Chris Lemonis
On the consistency at the bottom of the lineup
"It's just a lot of depth and they're just grinding out at-bats. The at-bats are five or six pitches long. They were like that last weekend at Texas A&M too, Gunner [Halter] and Marshall [Gilbert]. Just a lot of really good at-bats. When you add that into the lineup, you're walking up there, and Jake Mangum has guys on base and that's a good thing for us."
On Marshall Gilbert's day on Saturday
"It was huge. I actually game him the [game] shirt. I didn't realize that as the game was going on, he was just out there. I thought he played unbelievable defense tonight for us…We're pushing him all over the infield. Three weeks ago, he was a catcher. We've been able to put him out there and he's made some really good plays and helped our defense."
Quick Hitters
Mississippi State
Staff Outing – Mississippi State used seven pitchers in the game, as JT Ginn (4 2/3), Trysten Barlow (1/3), Riley Self (1 1/3), Jack Eagan (1/3), Brandon Smith (1/3), Colby White (1) and Cole Gordon (1) all recorded outs in the game.
Riley Self – Improved to 2-0 with 1 1/3 innings of work and two strikeouts. He allowed two runs on two hits.
Trio with Two – Justin Foscue, Gunner Halter and Jake Mangum each collected two hits in the game and scored one run. Halter and Mangum both added one RBI.
Marshall Gilbert – Didn't record an official at bat, however reached base four times. Was hit-by-pitch twice, walked twice and scored a run.
Sophomore's Deliver – Tanner Allen and Rowdey Jordan each plated two RBIs in the game.
Ole Miss
Cole Zabowski – Posted a pair of hits and drove in two RBIs.
Thomas Dillard – Reached base three times with a single and two walks.
Tyler Keenan – Was on base three times, with a single, walk and fielder's choice, scoring three runs.
Scoring Recap
Bottom First
The Rebels scored two runs against MSU starting pitcher JT Ginn, using three hits and two walks – all with two outs – to take the early lead. After Ginn retired the first two batters via groundouts, the next five batters reached safely. Tyler Keenan singled, Thomas Dillard walked and Cole Zabowski's base hit scored the first run of the game. Cooper Johnson followed with an RBI single, before Ginn would eventually strand the bases loaded on a runners interference call that ended the inning.
Ole Miss 2, Mississippi State 0
Top Third
MSU put the first three batters on base, as Dustin Skelton walked, Gunner Halter singled and Marshall Gilbert was hit by a pitch. After a flyout, Jordan Westburg walked with the bases loaded to plate the first run of the game for MSU.
Ole Miss 2, Mississippi State 1
Top Fourth
Elijah MacNamee doubled to lead off the inning, before moving to third after the fourth ball to Justin Foscue was wild. Rowdey Jordan grounded into a double play to push the game-tying run across.
Mississippi State 2, Ole Miss 2
Bottom Fifth
Ginn retired the first three batters he faced, however the third batter struck out before reaching on a passed ball. After a single by Dillard put runners on the corners, Trysten Barlow entered for MSU and threw a wild pitch on a 2-2 pitch to allow Ole Miss to retake the lead.
Ole Miss 3, Mississippi State 2
Bottom Sixth
Riley Self came on to throw for Mississippi State and allowed an unearned run after a strikeout started the inning, Kevin Graham reached on an error, moved to third on a Jacob Adams single and scored on a Josh Hall fielder's choice.
Ole Miss 4, Mississippi State 2
Top Seventh
The Diamond Dawgs plated six runs in the seventh against a pair of Rebel pitchers to take their first lead of the game. Back-to-back doubles from Skelton and Halter plated the first run of the frame, before Gilbert walked to put two on base. Jake Mangum delivered the game-tying RBI with a base hit. A walk to Westburg loaded the bases, and Tanner Allen delivered the go-ahead RBIs with a two-run single to center field. After a strikeout, Foscue reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base in front of Jordan's two-RBI single to right field.
Mississippi State 8, Ole Miss 4
Bottom Seventh
Self came back out in the seventh and got the first out before walking a batter. Jake Eagan entered and walked a batter before a Cole Zabowski double down the right-field line drove in one. A great throw from MacNamee to Foscue to Skelton cut the second runner down at the plate. Brandon Smith came on and retired the final batter of the frame.
Mississippi State 8, Ole Miss 5
Up Next
Mississippi State and Ole Miss will wrap up the series on Sunday, May 12 at Noon on ESPN2. The game will also be available on the Mississippi State Radio Network and ESPN.com/Watch.
Ole Miss (32-19, 15-11 SEC) scored twice in the first, before Mississippi State (41-10, 17-9 SEC) tallied one in the third and one in the fourth to knot the score at 2-2. The Rebels got one run in each the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but a six-run seventh inning for State was the difference in the game.
The come-from-behind win was the 18th of the season for Mississippi State, including six of those in SEC play. It was also the second time this season that State faced a deficit against Ole Miss and came back to win. The Rebels led 1-0 in the Governor's Cup before MSU scored eight unanswered runs for the win.
The victory gave MSU seven SEC series wins in nine tries. Four of those have come on the road (Florida, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M) and three have come at home (Alabama, Auburn and Georgia), with next weekend at home will wrap up the 10-week conference slate. Of those seven series wins, five of them have come against teams ranked at the time of the series.
The Diamond Dawgs got 4 2/3 innings out of freshman starting pitcher JT Ginn, as the rookie allowed three runs – two earned – on four hits. He walked three batters and struck out five in the no decision. Junior Riley Self (2-0) threw 1 1/3 innings of relief work to collect the win, as he allowed two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out two.
Junior Colby White threw a scoreless eighth inning. Graduate student Cole Gordon tossed a scoreless ninth inning to post his ninth save of the season and 14th of his career, moving him into a tie for No. 9 all-time on the career charts at Mississippi State with teammate Spencer Price (14; 2017-present) and Aaron Weatherford (14; 2006-08).
Senior Marshall Gilbert started at third base and recorded six field assists and no official at bats. The right-handed hitter walked twice, was hit-by-pitch twice and scored one run. Senior Jake Mangum, sophomore Justin Foscue and junior Gunner Halter all chipped in two hits. Sophomores Tanner Allen and Rowdey Jordan both drove in two RBIs in the game.
Quotable
Head Coach Chris Lemonis
On the consistency at the bottom of the lineup
"It's just a lot of depth and they're just grinding out at-bats. The at-bats are five or six pitches long. They were like that last weekend at Texas A&M too, Gunner [Halter] and Marshall [Gilbert]. Just a lot of really good at-bats. When you add that into the lineup, you're walking up there, and Jake Mangum has guys on base and that's a good thing for us."
On Marshall Gilbert's day on Saturday
"It was huge. I actually game him the [game] shirt. I didn't realize that as the game was going on, he was just out there. I thought he played unbelievable defense tonight for us…We're pushing him all over the infield. Three weeks ago, he was a catcher. We've been able to put him out there and he's made some really good plays and helped our defense."
Quick Hitters
Mississippi State
Staff Outing – Mississippi State used seven pitchers in the game, as JT Ginn (4 2/3), Trysten Barlow (1/3), Riley Self (1 1/3), Jack Eagan (1/3), Brandon Smith (1/3), Colby White (1) and Cole Gordon (1) all recorded outs in the game.
Riley Self – Improved to 2-0 with 1 1/3 innings of work and two strikeouts. He allowed two runs on two hits.
Trio with Two – Justin Foscue, Gunner Halter and Jake Mangum each collected two hits in the game and scored one run. Halter and Mangum both added one RBI.
Marshall Gilbert – Didn't record an official at bat, however reached base four times. Was hit-by-pitch twice, walked twice and scored a run.
Sophomore's Deliver – Tanner Allen and Rowdey Jordan each plated two RBIs in the game.
Ole Miss
Cole Zabowski – Posted a pair of hits and drove in two RBIs.
Thomas Dillard – Reached base three times with a single and two walks.
Tyler Keenan – Was on base three times, with a single, walk and fielder's choice, scoring three runs.
Scoring Recap
Bottom First
The Rebels scored two runs against MSU starting pitcher JT Ginn, using three hits and two walks – all with two outs – to take the early lead. After Ginn retired the first two batters via groundouts, the next five batters reached safely. Tyler Keenan singled, Thomas Dillard walked and Cole Zabowski's base hit scored the first run of the game. Cooper Johnson followed with an RBI single, before Ginn would eventually strand the bases loaded on a runners interference call that ended the inning.
Ole Miss 2, Mississippi State 0
Top Third
MSU put the first three batters on base, as Dustin Skelton walked, Gunner Halter singled and Marshall Gilbert was hit by a pitch. After a flyout, Jordan Westburg walked with the bases loaded to plate the first run of the game for MSU.
Ole Miss 2, Mississippi State 1
Top Fourth
Elijah MacNamee doubled to lead off the inning, before moving to third after the fourth ball to Justin Foscue was wild. Rowdey Jordan grounded into a double play to push the game-tying run across.
Mississippi State 2, Ole Miss 2
Bottom Fifth
Ginn retired the first three batters he faced, however the third batter struck out before reaching on a passed ball. After a single by Dillard put runners on the corners, Trysten Barlow entered for MSU and threw a wild pitch on a 2-2 pitch to allow Ole Miss to retake the lead.
Ole Miss 3, Mississippi State 2
Bottom Sixth
Riley Self came on to throw for Mississippi State and allowed an unearned run after a strikeout started the inning, Kevin Graham reached on an error, moved to third on a Jacob Adams single and scored on a Josh Hall fielder's choice.
Ole Miss 4, Mississippi State 2
Top Seventh
The Diamond Dawgs plated six runs in the seventh against a pair of Rebel pitchers to take their first lead of the game. Back-to-back doubles from Skelton and Halter plated the first run of the frame, before Gilbert walked to put two on base. Jake Mangum delivered the game-tying RBI with a base hit. A walk to Westburg loaded the bases, and Tanner Allen delivered the go-ahead RBIs with a two-run single to center field. After a strikeout, Foscue reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base in front of Jordan's two-RBI single to right field.
Mississippi State 8, Ole Miss 4
Bottom Seventh
Self came back out in the seventh and got the first out before walking a batter. Jake Eagan entered and walked a batter before a Cole Zabowski double down the right-field line drove in one. A great throw from MacNamee to Foscue to Skelton cut the second runner down at the plate. Brandon Smith came on and retired the final batter of the frame.
Mississippi State 8, Ole Miss 5
Up Next
Mississippi State and Ole Miss will wrap up the series on Sunday, May 12 at Noon on ESPN2. The game will also be available on the Mississippi State Radio Network and ESPN.com/Watch.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Self, Riley (2-0)
L: Austin Miller (4-1)
S: Gordon, Cole (9)
Batting:
2B: MacNamee, Elijah 1 ; Skelton, Dustin 1 ; Halter, Gunner 1
RBI: Mangum, Jake 1 ; Westburg, Jordan 1 ; Allen, Tanner 2 ; Jordan, Rowdey 2 ; Halter, Gunner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mangum, Jake 1 ; Westburg, Jordan 1 ; MacNamee, Elijah 1 ; Foscue, Justin 1 ; Skelton, Dustin 2 ; Halter, Gunner 1 ; Gilbert, Marshall 1
SB: Foscue, Justin 1
CS: Foscue, Justin 1
HBP: Gilbert, Marshall 2
PO: Foscue, Justin 1
Batting:
2B: Cole Zabowski 1
RBI: Cole Zabowski 2 ; Cooper Johnson 1 ; Josh Hall 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tyler Keenan 3 ; Thomas Dillard 1 ; Kevin Graham 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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RBI
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4
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1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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