Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Dawgs Get Back To Their Winning Ways
February 21, 2022 | Baseball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's final victory of 2021 fulfilled the lifelong dreams and aspirations of the entire Bulldog fan base.
And although there wasn't a dog pile or national championship trophy awarded after third-ranked MSU's victory over No. 24 Long Beach State on Sunday, the 12-4 Â win still held plenty of significance as to the brand of baseball Chris Lemonis' club plans to play as they turn the page to a new season.
"We had to get one today," Lemonis said. "I felt like that was a big one…Getting the one today showed a lot of toughness in our team because man when you open this park and all these people come and you don't play well, it can make you play a little tight. I thought our kids came out and played tough and relaxed for the most part."
After dropping the first two games of the series, Mississippi State showcased its resiliency at the plate in the finale. The Diamond Dogs erupted for 16 hits, including their first two homers of the spring by Matt Corder and Tanner Leggett.
Corder, who missed the entire fall due to shoulder surgery, belted a 428-foot two-run blast that cleared the famed Left Field Lounge and jump-started the offense in the second inning.
"I was sitting dead red on a fastball and he threw it in a place that I liked," Corder said. "It felt awesome. And to do it at home with our fans here, it was just incredible."
Leggett's long ball was also good for two more runs stemming from his pinch-hit appearance in the sixth inning. In fact, Mississippi State's bench showed its offensive prowess going 4 for 7 sparked by two singles and a pair of RBIs from Drew McGowan.
By the time Lemonis began emptying the bench, the Bulldogs had already blown the game open. MSU posted a seven spot in the fifth frame, including six runs before the Dirtbags had even recorded an out.
It was certainly a positive sign for an offense that only produced three runs and batted .159 during the first two games of the series.
"We're still figuring ourselves out," Lemonis said. "I almost drew the lineup out of a hat today. I'm really just trying to figure out our new guys and really our order."
That lineup features plenty of proven commodities that helped guide the Diamond Dawgs to their first national title last year. In fact, Kamren James, Luke Hancock, Logan Tanner, Brayland Skinner, Kellum Clark and Lane Forsythe were all in the starting lineup for that decisive Game 3 of the College World Series versus Vanderbilt in Omaha last June.
"Some guys played really well last year but it's a new year," Lemonis said. "You've got to play well now. We've got good players and they all kind of go up and down a little bit. We've got to get some going and keep some hot."
Mississippi State's offense wasn't the only impressive aspect of Sunday's win. Cade Smith provided the pitching staff with a solid 5 2/3 inning start, only allowing one run on one hit with one walk and six strikeouts.
Smith admits that he was a little tense making just his second career start but settled in after hitting Long Beach State's leadoff man with the first pitch of the game.
"My nerves were definitely up," Smith said. "I'd been trying to relax myself all morning. But when I finally got going down there, I locked in. (A win) was there in front of me so I might as well go get it."
The sophomore right-hander only logged 15 innings last year but five of his outings came during the postseason. Those high-leverage situations helped prepare him to play in front of the 10,751 on hand Sunday.
"That's the atmosphere you're going to get here every day as a Mississippi State Bulldog," Smith said. "All those fans are going to be here supporting you. I went out there today with a little bit of experience and that definitely helped."
A school synonymous with setting baseball attendance records, MSU broke yet another as 34,325 packed out Dudy Noble Field to establish a new benchmark for a three-game series on opening weekend.
And it seemed only fitting that weekend ended with the man who won more ballgames than any other in Southeastern Conference history, Ron Polk, raising a flag in right field to signify the Diamond Dogs latest victory.
The phrasing on that maroon flag with white lettering that now flies over the Carnegie Hall of College Baseball features a mantra that was uttered on 50 occasions during the Bulldogs' championship run last summer and has carried its way over into 2022 – "Dawgs Win Again!".
Â
And although there wasn't a dog pile or national championship trophy awarded after third-ranked MSU's victory over No. 24 Long Beach State on Sunday, the 12-4 Â win still held plenty of significance as to the brand of baseball Chris Lemonis' club plans to play as they turn the page to a new season.
"We had to get one today," Lemonis said. "I felt like that was a big one…Getting the one today showed a lot of toughness in our team because man when you open this park and all these people come and you don't play well, it can make you play a little tight. I thought our kids came out and played tough and relaxed for the most part."
After dropping the first two games of the series, Mississippi State showcased its resiliency at the plate in the finale. The Diamond Dogs erupted for 16 hits, including their first two homers of the spring by Matt Corder and Tanner Leggett.
Corder, who missed the entire fall due to shoulder surgery, belted a 428-foot two-run blast that cleared the famed Left Field Lounge and jump-started the offense in the second inning.
"I was sitting dead red on a fastball and he threw it in a place that I liked," Corder said. "It felt awesome. And to do it at home with our fans here, it was just incredible."
Leggett's long ball was also good for two more runs stemming from his pinch-hit appearance in the sixth inning. In fact, Mississippi State's bench showed its offensive prowess going 4 for 7 sparked by two singles and a pair of RBIs from Drew McGowan.
By the time Lemonis began emptying the bench, the Bulldogs had already blown the game open. MSU posted a seven spot in the fifth frame, including six runs before the Dirtbags had even recorded an out.
It was certainly a positive sign for an offense that only produced three runs and batted .159 during the first two games of the series.
"We're still figuring ourselves out," Lemonis said. "I almost drew the lineup out of a hat today. I'm really just trying to figure out our new guys and really our order."
That lineup features plenty of proven commodities that helped guide the Diamond Dawgs to their first national title last year. In fact, Kamren James, Luke Hancock, Logan Tanner, Brayland Skinner, Kellum Clark and Lane Forsythe were all in the starting lineup for that decisive Game 3 of the College World Series versus Vanderbilt in Omaha last June.
"Some guys played really well last year but it's a new year," Lemonis said. "You've got to play well now. We've got good players and they all kind of go up and down a little bit. We've got to get some going and keep some hot."
Mississippi State's offense wasn't the only impressive aspect of Sunday's win. Cade Smith provided the pitching staff with a solid 5 2/3 inning start, only allowing one run on one hit with one walk and six strikeouts.
Smith admits that he was a little tense making just his second career start but settled in after hitting Long Beach State's leadoff man with the first pitch of the game.
"My nerves were definitely up," Smith said. "I'd been trying to relax myself all morning. But when I finally got going down there, I locked in. (A win) was there in front of me so I might as well go get it."
The sophomore right-hander only logged 15 innings last year but five of his outings came during the postseason. Those high-leverage situations helped prepare him to play in front of the 10,751 on hand Sunday.
"That's the atmosphere you're going to get here every day as a Mississippi State Bulldog," Smith said. "All those fans are going to be here supporting you. I went out there today with a little bit of experience and that definitely helped."
A school synonymous with setting baseball attendance records, MSU broke yet another as 34,325 packed out Dudy Noble Field to establish a new benchmark for a three-game series on opening weekend.
And it seemed only fitting that weekend ended with the man who won more ballgames than any other in Southeastern Conference history, Ron Polk, raising a flag in right field to signify the Diamond Dogs latest victory.
The phrasing on that maroon flag with white lettering that now flies over the Carnegie Hall of College Baseball features a mantra that was uttered on 50 occasions during the Bulldogs' championship run last summer and has carried its way over into 2022 – "Dawgs Win Again!".
Â
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF/C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballBASEBALL | NCAA Starkville Highlights vs. Lipscomb - 5/29/26
Saturday, May 30
BASEBALL | Brian O'Connor, Duke Stone & Vytas Valincius Lipscomb Postgame Press Conference - 5/29/26
Friday, May 29
BASEBALL | Mississippi State NCAA Starkville Regional Press Conference - 5/28/26
Thursday, May 28
BASEBALL | Bryce Chance & Ben Davis NCAA Starkville Regional Selection Press Conference - 5/25/26
Monday, May 25