Baseball Walks Off on Saturday versus Quinnipiac

Saturday, March 7

Starkville

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

9-4

Quinnipiac

1-10

Quinnipiac

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Baseball Walks Off on Saturday versus Quinnipiac

March 07, 2020 | Baseball

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Hatcher’s third hit of the game drives in game-winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning

by: Greg Campbell, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Baseball can be a bewildering game. For eight innings on Saturday (March 7), the Mississippi State baseball program couldn't seem to get anything going with runners on base. However, in the ninth inning, a bases loaded hit-by-pitch tied the game and Josh Hatcher's infield single with one out sent the Dudy Noble Field faithful home happy with a 5-4 victory over Quinnipiac.

Mississippi State (9-4) opened the scoring with a single run in the fourth, before Quinnipiac (1-10) scored four runs – three unearned – in the sixth. State chipped away with one run in the sixth and one in the seventh, before the two-run ninth produced the dramatic victory.

Freshman Will Bednar threw 5 1/3 innings in his first career start, allowing one run on two hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out eight in the no decision. Junior Jared Shemper faced one batter and allowed one run, while senior Riley Self allowed two unearned runs in one inning of work.

Working the final three innings scoreless, freshman Landon Sims (1-0) collected his first career victory on the mound. He allowed just one baserunner – an eighth inning walk – and saw one batter reach on an error, while striking out five.

The Diamond Dawgs out-hit the Bobcats, 8-4, and added three walks and three hit-by-pitch to their reached-base total. Hatcher had two singles and a double to lead the way, while freshman Kamren James, and juniors Justin Foscue, Rowdey Jordan and Jordan Westburg each reached twice in the game.

Foscue, Hatcher, James and Westburg all collected RBIs, with James hitting his first-career home run to lead off the seventh inning. Freshman Mason Land worked a full-count walk in the third at-bat of the ninth inning before coming in to score the game-winning run.

Quotable
Head Coach Chris Lemonis
On the coming away with the win
"[The game is] playing us pretty tough right now. We're probably trying too hard [and] pressing a little bit. I give them a lot of credit for [continuously] fighting. We got out of some jams late and we had a couple opportunities to score and couldn't make it happen. We just got the next guy to the plate in the ninth [inning], then [Josh] Hatcher was able to squeeze one through there."

Scoring Recap
Bottom Fourth
With one out in the frame, Josh Hatcher doubled and found himself on third following an errant throw from the left fielder. Justin Foscue grounded out to plate the first run of the game.
Mississippi State 1, Quinnipiac 0

Top Sixth
A one-out double ended the outing for MSU starting pitcher Will Bednar. After Jared Shemper allowed a single to the only batter he faced, MSU would allow four runs – only one earned – before getting out of the inning. A sacrifice fly pushed the first run of the inning across, before a throwing error on the backside of the play led to the second run. After an error and a hit batter put two runners on with two outs, Kyle Maves collected an RBI with a single, before another error ushered the fourth run of the inning home.
Quinnipiac 4, Mississippi State 1

Bottom Sixth
After Jordan Westburg was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Hatcher replaced him at first on a fielder's choice. Foscue singled to put runners on the corners with one out, before a wild pitch from relief pitcher Colin Donnelly allowed Hatcher to score.
Quinnipiac 4, Mississippi State 2

Bottom Seventh
Kamren James led off the inning with is first-career home run to left field.
Quinnipiac 4, Mississippi State 3

Bottom Ninth
After James popped out to start the inning, the next five batters reached base to give MSU its first walk-off win of the season. Tanner Leggett was hit by a pitch, and pinch hitter Mason Land and Rowdey Jordan walked to load the bases. Westburg was hit by a pitch to push the game-tying run across, before Hatcher's infield single gave MSU the walk-off victory.
Mississippi State 5, Quinnipiac 4

Up Next
Mississippi State will look for its second series sweep of the season on Sunday, March 7 versus Quinnipiac. First pitch on Kids Day at the Park is slated for 1 p.m.