
Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Diamond Dawgs Complete Sweep of Lipscomb
March 11, 2023 | Baseball
Dawgs extend winning streak to five after Saturday's sweep.
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State University baseball team came away with a doubleheader sweep of Lipscomb on Saturday. With the pair of wins, the Diamond Dawgs increased their winning streak to five. The Dawgs won game one on a walk-off from Kellum Clark in, while freshman Ross Highfill shined in game two to lead the Dawgs to a 12-4 victory.
Landon Gartman drew the start in game one, working six complete innings for the Dawgs (11-5). He struck six Bisons (5-11), allowing two earned runs. Nate Dohm earned his third victory of the season, as he threw the final three innings of the game. He allowed one earned run while striking out three.
In the sixth inning, Connor Hujsak pinch-hit and hit his first home run as a Dawg, putting State ahead 3-2. This was the first pinch-hit homer since Tanner Leggett did it in 2022.
Highlighting game one was Kellum Clark, who went 3-for-4 at the dish with his last at bat being the biggest. He won the game for the Dawgs with a walk-off home run, the first Mississippi State walk-off of the year.
Game two featured an offensive onslaught from the Bulldogs as they hit four homers. In the bottom of the sixth, Hunter Hines and Ross Highfill hit back-to-back home runs. That would not be the end of the day for Highfill, as he finished 3-for-5 with three homers. He became the first Bulldog to accomplish that feat since Brent Rooker hit three homers against Kentucky on April 8th, 2017.
Tyler Davis earned his first victory of the year after entering in relief in the sixth. Yntema earned the start, going 5.1 innings. He struck out five batters, giving up three total runs (one earned).
The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday in the Hancock Whitney Classic in Biloxi. First pitch against Nicholls is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Amani Larry lined a ball through the left side, scoring Mershon from third. With bases loaded, Luke Hancock drew a four pitch walk, pushing Larry across.
Mississippi State 2, Lipscomb 0
Top Fourth
Chaz Bertolani drew a bases loaded walk. Parks Bouck followed him up with a sac fly to right, scoring Willhoite from third.
Mississippi State 2, Lipscomb 2
Bottom Sixth
Connor Hujsak pinch-hit and drove a solo shot to left-center.
Mississippi State 3, Lipscomb 2
Top Ninth
Hetherington crossed the plate a double steal.
Mississippi State 3, Lipscomb 3
Bottom Ninth
Kellum Clark walked off the game with a solo home run.
Mississippi State 4, Lipscomb 3
Austin Kelly single through the left side, scoring Vergara from second.
Mississippi State 0, Lipscomb 1
Bottom First
With runners on second and third, Hancock grounded out to score Amani Larry.
Mississippi State 1, Lipscomb 1
Bottom Second
Ross Highfill led off the inning with a solo home run.
Mississippi State 2, Lipscomb 1
Bottom Fourth
With bases loaded, Bryce Chance drove Forsythe in with a sacrifice fly.
Mississippi State 3, Lipscomb 1
Top Sixth
Jake Berg hit a bases clearing double down the left field line, pushing the Bisons ahead.
Mississippi State 3, Lipscomb 4
Bottom Sixth
With bases loaded, Bryce Chance singled to left field score Forsythe, and tie the game. Luke Hancock cleared the bases with a double down the right field line. Hunter Hines drilled a two run homer down the right field line. Ross Highfill followed him up with a solo shot over the left field wall.
Mississippi State 10, Lipscomb 4
Bottom Eighth
Ross Highfill went yard for the third time in the game, a two-run shot.
Mississippi State 12, Lipscomb 4
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.
Landon Gartman drew the start in game one, working six complete innings for the Dawgs (11-5). He struck six Bisons (5-11), allowing two earned runs. Nate Dohm earned his third victory of the season, as he threw the final three innings of the game. He allowed one earned run while striking out three.
In the sixth inning, Connor Hujsak pinch-hit and hit his first home run as a Dawg, putting State ahead 3-2. This was the first pinch-hit homer since Tanner Leggett did it in 2022.
Highlighting game one was Kellum Clark, who went 3-for-4 at the dish with his last at bat being the biggest. He won the game for the Dawgs with a walk-off home run, the first Mississippi State walk-off of the year.
Game two featured an offensive onslaught from the Bulldogs as they hit four homers. In the bottom of the sixth, Hunter Hines and Ross Highfill hit back-to-back home runs. That would not be the end of the day for Highfill, as he finished 3-for-5 with three homers. He became the first Bulldog to accomplish that feat since Brent Rooker hit three homers against Kentucky on April 8th, 2017.
Tyler Davis earned his first victory of the year after entering in relief in the sixth. Yntema earned the start, going 5.1 innings. He struck out five batters, giving up three total runs (one earned).
The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday in the Hancock Whitney Classic in Biloxi. First pitch against Nicholls is scheduled for 6 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY - GAME ONE
Bottom ThirdAmani Larry lined a ball through the left side, scoring Mershon from third. With bases loaded, Luke Hancock drew a four pitch walk, pushing Larry across.
Mississippi State 2, Lipscomb 0
Top Fourth
Chaz Bertolani drew a bases loaded walk. Parks Bouck followed him up with a sac fly to right, scoring Willhoite from third.
Mississippi State 2, Lipscomb 2
Bottom Sixth
Connor Hujsak pinch-hit and drove a solo shot to left-center.
Mississippi State 3, Lipscomb 2
Top Ninth
Hetherington crossed the plate a double steal.
Mississippi State 3, Lipscomb 3
Bottom Ninth
Kellum Clark walked off the game with a solo home run.
Mississippi State 4, Lipscomb 3
SCORING SUMMARY - GAME TWO
Top FirstAustin Kelly single through the left side, scoring Vergara from second.
Mississippi State 0, Lipscomb 1
Bottom First
With runners on second and third, Hancock grounded out to score Amani Larry.
Mississippi State 1, Lipscomb 1
Bottom Second
Ross Highfill led off the inning with a solo home run.
Mississippi State 2, Lipscomb 1
Bottom Fourth
With bases loaded, Bryce Chance drove Forsythe in with a sacrifice fly.
Mississippi State 3, Lipscomb 1
Top Sixth
Jake Berg hit a bases clearing double down the left field line, pushing the Bisons ahead.
Mississippi State 3, Lipscomb 4
Bottom Sixth
With bases loaded, Bryce Chance singled to left field score Forsythe, and tie the game. Luke Hancock cleared the bases with a double down the right field line. Hunter Hines drilled a two run homer down the right field line. Ross Highfill followed him up with a solo shot over the left field wall.
Mississippi State 10, Lipscomb 4
Bottom Eighth
Ross Highfill went yard for the third time in the game, a two-run shot.
Mississippi State 12, Lipscomb 4
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dohm, Nate (3-1)
L: VAN TREECK, Logan (1-2)
Batting:
2B: WILLHOITE, Trace 1
RBI: BERTOLANI, Chaz 1 ; BOUCK, Parks 1
SF: BOUCK, Parks 1
Base Running:
RUNS: VERGARA, Alex 1 ; WILLHOITE, Trace 1 ; HETHERINGTON, Kyle 1
SB: HETHERINGTON, Kyle 1 ; SKIPPER, Hayden 1

Batting:
HR: Hujsak, Connor 1 ; Clark, Kellum 1
RBI: Larry, Amani 1 ; Hancock, Luke 1 ; Hujsak, Connor 1 ; Clark, Kellum 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Larry, Amani 1 ; Hujsak, Connor 1 ; Clark, Kellum 1 ; Mershon, David 1
SB: Larry, Amani 1 ; Ledbetter, Colton 1 ; Mershon, David 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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