MSU’s Clark, Johnson Shine in 11-2 Win Over Princeton

Friday, March 11

Starkville

4:00 PM

Mississippi State

8-7

Princeton

0-9

Princeton

Mississippi State

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

MSU’s Clark, Johnson Shine in 11-2 Win Over Princeton

March 11, 2022 | Baseball

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Game two of the series has been postponed and will now be played as part of an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Sunday in Starkville

By: Anna Claire Thomas, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – No. 23 Mississippi State (8-7) scored runs in six separate innings and used a 10-strikeout performance by starter Preston Johnson to take the series opener over Princeton (0-9) by a score of 11-2 on Friday (March 11) at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville.

After Princeton led off the game with a solo home run, State's offense responded in the bottom half of the first thanks to a three-run home run by Kellum Clark, who would later drive in four more runs on a double and another three-run bomb. The Dawgs never looked back from there, scoring runs in the second, third, fifth, sixth and eighth innings for the nine-run victory. Clark finished the night 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs, a double, and seven runs batted in against the Tigers.

Game two of the series between MSU and Princeton has been postponed until Sunday due to inclement weather in the Starkville area. The Dawgs and Tigers will play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. with the two teams scheduled to play a nine-inning and seven-inning contest at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. The second game of the doubleheader will start approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the 11 a.m. contest. Tickets for both games originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will be valid all day Sunday.

Johnson (2-0) started on the mound for the Dawgs on Friday and earned the win after tossing six full innings while striking out a career-high 10 batters. Johnson allowed two runs on six hits and walked just two batters in the outing. Pico Kohn came on in relief and pitched two scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out three. Drew Talley closed out the game in the ninth, allowing two hits and striking out two.

At the plate, Mississippi State totaled 13 hits in the game compared to 10 by Princeton. In addition to Clark's performance at the dish, Brad Cumbest was 2-for-5 with a double and home run, while Luke Hancock and Kamren James each tallied two hits apiece in the win. Lane Forsythe drove in two runs on a double in the third, while Logan Tanner also had a hit and RBI for the Dawgs.

SCORING SUMMARY

Top First

Princeton struck first in the contest when centerfielder Brendan Cumming led off the game with a solo home run to left field to give the Tigers a one-run lead.

Mississippi State 0, Princeton 1

Bottom First

The Diamond Dawgs wasted no time responding in the bottom half, starting with a double by Luke Hancock and walk by Hunter Hines to give State runners on the corners. Kellum Clark then put MSU ahead with one swing of the bat, sending a three-run home run to right-center with an exit velocity of 109 mph and estimated distance of 434 feet.

Mississippi State 3, Princeton 1

Bottom Second

In the second, Luke Hancock and Kamren James had back-to-back one-out singles, following by a two-out RBI single by Logan Tanner to drive in State's fourth run of the ballgame and make it a three-run lead.

Mississippi State 4, Princeton 1

Bottom Third

State added two more runs in the third after Slate Alford drew a one-out walk, followed by a double by Tanner Leggett and a two-run single by Lane Forsythe to make it a five-run lead for the Dawgs.

Mississippi State 6, Princeton 1

Bottom Fifth

The Dawgs extended the lead to six runs in the fifth when Brad Cumbest led off the inning with a solo home run to right field on the first pitch.

Mississippi State 7, Princeton 1

Top Sixth

Princeton added a run in the sixth after a two-out walk by Matt Scannell and RBI double by Noah Granet.

Mississippi State 7, Princeton 2

Bottom Sixth

Kellum Clark made it a six-run game once again in the bottom half of the sixth after an RBI double drove in Hunter Hines, who walked earlier in the inning.

Mississippi State 8, Princeton 2

Bottom Eighth

MSU scored its final runs of the game in the eighth after Luke Hancock and Logan Tanner reached on a hit by pitch and walk, followed by Kellum Clark's second three-run home run of the game to put the Dawgs ahead by nine.

Mississippi State 11, Princeton 2

ON DECK

MSU will play Princeton in a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. with the two teams scheduled to play a nine-inning and seven-inning contest at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. The second game of the doubleheader will start approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the 11 a.m. contest.

Sunday's doubleheader between Mississippi State and Princeton will be streamed on SEC Network+, while both games will be carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by Learfield along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus. Click HERE for a full list of the 2022 MSU Baseball Radio Affiliates.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.