Go DJ! That’s My DJ!
May 31, 2024 | Baseball, Joel Coleman
Dakota Jordan puts slump in the past and plays hero for State.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – It was the calm before the NCAA Tournament storm.
Mississippi State's Dakota Jordan stood patiently in the Bulldog dugout ahead of Friday's Charlottesville Regional matchup against St. John's. Cool as a cucumber, you'd never have guessed State's superstar right fielder entered this postseason in the midst of a much-publicized slump.
MSU director of creative video Brady Kiker had the camera rolling on Jordan and threw out a simple question.
"How we feeling about today?" Kiker asked.
Jordan's response revealed his maturity. It displayed the determination and still-confident mindset of one of college baseball's best.
"New season," Jordan started before trying out a little stand-up comedy routine. "I've just been playing around with y'all. I think I got my swagger back."
Turns out Jordan wasn't joking at all.
Only a few hours later, Jordan was leaping around the bases following a walk-off, three-run, opposite field home run in the bottom of the 10th. Jordan entered the at-bat with just one hit in his previous 26 at-bats.
Yet with one mighty swing, Jordan's personal narrative quickly changed from hurting to hero. Dawgs win again, 5-2 over St. John's. And for the five-tool-talent Jordan, it really was just a matter of time and it felt oh, so good.
Speak it into existence #HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/B6V9lvk36w
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) June 1, 2024
"I can't do anything but smile," Jordan said. "It takes so much pressure off of me."
Upcoming foes, beware. A newly-relieved Jordan that has shaken off his slump might be just what these Dawgs need to turn an already-exciting postseason start up a notch. We'll soon see what he can do for an encore when State takes on Virginia in a winner's bracket matchup on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT with a spot in the regional final on the line.
First things first though. Let's appreciate the magic mash of Friday.
For nine innings, it was a textbook playoff pitcher's duel. MSU's Logan Kohler smacked a two-run shot in the bottom of the second to give the Diamond Dawgs an early 2-0 lead and State starting hurler Khal Stephen limited St. John's to just two runs while striking out 10 over eight innings. Ultimately, extra baseball was needed to decide it.
"What a great college baseball game," MSU head coach Chris Lemonis said. "Tip your hat to St.John's. That game could have gone any way. Their guy pitched a heck of a game, and so did ours."
To the 10th it went with both the Dawgs and the Red Storm looking for the night's knockout blow. St. John's got a runner in scoring position, but MSU reliever Tyler Davis continued his stellar season by stranding the man at second.
Up came the Dawgs in the home half. Aaron Downs slapped a ball down the third base line and ended up with a leadoff single. The rally was on.
After pinch runner Michael O'Brien was sacrificed to second by Joe Powell and then moved to third on a Bryce Chance ground out, it was time for the decision that decided the game. The Bulldogs had David Mershon coming up with a chance to get a hit and win the contest, but St. John's head coach Mike Hampton rolled the dice.
He intentionally walked Mershon to pitch to the scuffling Jordan, who was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts entering the frame. Statistically, perhaps it was the right decision. But in reality, turns out for St. John's…
"It was the wrong decision," Hampton admitted.
Explained Jordan of watching Mershon get intentionally walked in front of him: "I took it very personally, but I tried not to show it. I just wanted to go up there and be myself and get the job done."
Get the job done, he did, by providing a moment that'll live on Bulldog highlight reels for years to come. It was so deserved for a young man that, through the last few tumultuous games never folded.
"It's been a rough couple of weeks," Jordan said. "But you can sit back and take it or go to work every day. I wanted to go to work every day. I was going up to hit [Friday night] even after three strikeouts [earlier]."
He knew magic was possible.
"We always preach in the dugout [that] it could happen at any moment," Jordan said.
Then, the moment arrived. Now everyone in Maroon and White is hoping it's just the first of many 2024 postseason memories to be made.
"This game makes you fight so hard," Lemonis said. "[Jordan is] trying to stay in the moment instead of putting too much pressure on himself. It's tough what they have to go through. It's like having a monkey on your back a little bit. Hopefully, he jumped off tonight."
DJ with the walk off!!#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/YF1Fv64vVU
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) June 1, 2024
