
Late Game Heroics push Dawgs to Victory over No. 25 Southern Miss
February 28, 2023 | Baseball
State scores four in the bottom of the eighth to earn the victory
PEARL, Miss. – Trailing by three runs heading to the bottom of the eighth inning, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-3) used a four-run inning to earn a 10-9 victory over in-state foe Southern Miss (5-3) on Tuesday night at Trustmark Park. The Dawgs' Hunter Hines picked up the winning RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Luke Hancock.
At the plate, Colton Ledbetter and Lane Forsythe led the way for the Bulldogs. Forsythe went 2-for-3 on the afternoon, including a double leading off the eighth inning that led to the Dawgs gaining the lead. Ledbetter drove in three RBIs on the game with a bases-clearing triple in the second inning.
Bradley Loftin drew the start for State. He went four innings, accumulating five strikeouts. Nate Dohm earned his first victory of the year after throwing 2.1 innings in relief. He struck out four of his nine batters, allowing only one unearned run. Dohm struck out two in the ninth, including the game-ending strikeout of Slade Wilks.
Hunter Hines and Slate Alford drove in the game-tying and the ultimate game-winning run. Alford lined a ball through the right side to push Ledbetter across the plate, tying the game. Hines drove a fly ball to right to score Hancock, giving the Dawgs a 10-9 lead.
Mississippi State is back in action this weekend as they face Ohio State in the first game of the Frisco Baseball Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Top Second
An error on a fielder's choice with bases loaded scored Montenegro and Lynch.
Mississippi State 0, Southern Miss 2
Bottom Second
Amani Larry walked with bases loaded to push Clark across. Colton Ledbetter hit a bases-clearing triple, scoring Highfill, Forsythe, and Larry. Dakota Jordan singled to right to score Ledbetter.
Mississippi State 5, Southern Miss 2
Top Fourth
Dustin Dickerson doubled down the left field line, scoring Robertson and Johnson.
Mississippi State 5, Southern Miss 4
Bottom Fourth
Amani Larry hit a solo home run to left center.
Mississippi State 6, Southern Miss 4
Top Fifth
Montenegro doubled down the line, scoring Sargent. Montenegro scored via an error on a fielder's choice. Robertson doubled, scoring Lynch from first. Robertson came around to score on an error.
Mississippi State 6, Southern Miss 8
Top Eighth
Sargent hit a sac fly to left to score Dickerson.
Mississippi State 6, Southern Miss 9
Bottom Eighth
Lane Forsythe scored from third on a wild pitch. Dakota Jordan hit a sac-fly to center to score Larry. Slate Alford lined a ball through the right side to score Ledbetter. Hunter Hines hit a sac fly to right to score Hancock.
Mississippi State 10, Southern Miss 9
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dohm, Nate (1-1)
L: Middleton, JB (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Dickerson, Dustin 1 ; Montenegro, Rodrigo 1 ; Johnson, Blake 1 ; Robertson, Creek 1
RBI: Etzel, Matthew 1 ; Dickerson, Dustin 2 ; Sargent, Christopher 1 ; Montenegro, Rodrigo 1 ; Robertson, Creek 1
SF: Sargent, Christopher 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dickerson, Dustin 1 ; Sargent, Christopher 1 ; Montenegro, Rodrigo 2 ; Johnson, Blake 1 ; Lynch, Danny 2 ; Robertson, Creek 2
SB: Etzel, Matthew 1 ; Dickerson, Dustin 1 ; Paetow, Carson 1
HBP: Lynch, Danny 1

Batting:
2B: Forsythe, Lane 1
3B: Ledbetter, Colton 1
HR: Larry, Amani 1
RBI: Larry, Amani 2 ; Ledbetter, Colton 3 ; Jordan, Dakota 2 ; Alford, Slate 1 ; Hines, Hunter 1
SF: Jordan, Dakota 1 ; Hines, Hunter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Larry, Amani 3 ; Ledbetter, Colton 2 ; Hancock, Luke 1 ; Clark, Kellum 1 ; Highfill, Ross 1 ; Forsythe, Lane 2
CS: Jordan, Dakota 1
HBP: Larry, Amani 1 ; Hancock, Luke 2 ; Hines, Hunter 1 ; Highfill, Ross 1