STARKVILLE — The concern heading into the 2012 baseball campaign in Starkville was the new-look Mississippi State University hitters.
Those fears were quickly put a more of an ease during an opening night 6-2 victory over Washington State University in front of 3,449 at Dudy Noble Field Friday evening.
The four MSU hitters who had never had a Division 1 college at-bat before Friday (Trey Porter, Mitch Slauter, Wes Rea and Matthew Britton) were a combined 3-for-10 with two RBIs and two runs scored against six different Cougars pitchers. Each of the four position players, who MSU coaches expect to be a contributing factor all season, had a a hit or a walk in the victory.
“A whole bunch of guys got a bunch of first hits not just in the season but in their careers,” MSU coach John Cohen said. “We have a long way to go but we really believe in these young kids.”
MSU pitching coach Butch Thompson even managed to get in a new hurler in freshman right-hander Jonathan Holder for 2/3 of an inning in the middle of the contest. Holder, a freshman from Gulfport who already works with three-pitch arsenal that includes an 87-90 miles-per-hour fastball along with a curveball and a developing changeup, was able to get two outs fifth inning with MSU leading 5-2.
n Stratton dominate in relief effort: This script is nothing new for junior right-handed pitcher Chris Stratton.
The Tupelo native has gotten wins in the opening weekend before and even recorded 10 strikeouts in the second game of last season in a six-inning effort against Lamar University. However, the difference was in the consistency that Stratton was able to mow down Washington State hitters Friday by going four innings in just 39 pitches.
“I’ve really focused on being more efficient in the fall and early spring,” Stratton said. “I love striking people out but throwing less pitches in better for me and our team no doubt about that.”
Stratton, who was removed from the weekend rotation in Southeastern Conference play last season, struggled with command late in both seasons leading to earned run averages in the final two months of the last two seasons over 6.00.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander, who fashioned a 1-1 record with a 2.18 ERA pitching for the 2011 Cape Cod League champion Harwich (Mass.) Mariners. Stratton has worked in the summer and the fall at not elevating the fastball and getting first-pitch strikes.
“I think Stratton has really made some adjustments in the way that he’s matured,” Cohen said. “It’s still early and he’s super talented young man and we want him to do that every time.”
n Renfroe not in the lineup: Hunter Renfroe, who was tabbed by Perfect Game USA as the top pro prospect on his collegiate summer league baseball team – the Bethesda (Md.) Big Train, was not in the starting lineup Friday night’s victory.
MSU had freshman Wes Rea at first base, junior college transfer Trey Porter in the designated hitter spot and sophomore Taylor Stark in left field.
After the game Cohen said the power-hitting athlete from Copiah Academy has been struggling with his hitting in practice but will likely see starts in the near future.
“Hunter is going to be a factor for us because he’s just too talented not to be,” Cohen said. “He’s just trying to find his stroke right now but if he does, he could be a really good player.”
Renfroe hit .305 and hit a club-record and league-leading eight home runs in helping power Bethesda to a 36-9 record and its third consecutive Cal Ripken Collegiate League championship.
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