STARKVILLE — Twice, Mississippi State outfielders played shallow when Ole Miss shortstop Errol Robinson came to the plate with runners in scoring position during the series opener between the arch-rivals Thursday night.
Twice, Robinson burned the Bulldogs for RBI doubles. And by doing so, the sophomore gave Ole Miss the runs needed to earn a 4-3 win.
The second big hit from Robinson provided the difference. Stepping to the plate in a 3-3 game with two outs in the bottom of the eight inning with pinch-runner Kyle Watson standing on second base, Robinson lifted a 2-0 pitch from MSU reliever Zac Houston deep into the left field corner, over the out-stretched arms of MSU left fielder Reid Humphreys. Watson scored easily, and Ole Miss had its second win over MSU this season.
“One pitch was the difference in the game,” said MSU coach John Cohen, who watched his team fall to 24-25 overall, 8-17 in Southeastern Conference play. “Zac was throwing 93, and he got a pitch up. Robinson put a good swing on and the ball was in the air forever. Reid couldn’t quite get there, and that was it. You look at the game, we he hit the ball hard 16 times, only got seven hits. When the breaks keep going against you, it’s natural for guys to wonder what it’s going to take to get this turned around. But we will keep competing.”
Houston took the loss, even though the double by Robinson was the only hit he allowed in the eighth. Watson pinch-ran for New Hope native Will Golsan, who reached on an error by Heck to open the eighth. Watson stole second base to set up Robinson’s game-winner.
The eighth-inning heroics gave Ole Miss separation from a tie game, one that was knotted due to a pair of three-run innings, one by each team.
MSU starting pitcher Lucas Laster cruised through the Ole Miss lineup once, retiring the first eight hitters he faced. He did not allow a hit until the bottom of the fourth when Ole Miss strung together three hits to take the 3-0 lead.
After a double by third baseman Colby Bortles and a walk to first baseman Sikes Orvis, Robinson delivered a two-out, two-run double that one-hopped the wall in center. Two batters later, Robinson trotted home on an RBI single by designated hitter Nic Perkins to push the lead to three runs.
It would not last long.
Trent, who entered the game at 6-5 with a 3.82 earned run average, ran into trouble in the top of the sixth. Heck started the rally by reaching on an error by Bortles, then he advanced to third on a double by No. 9 hitter Ryan Gridley.
Catcher Gavin Collins put the Bulldogs on the board, bouncing a double off the left field wall to score Heck and Gridley. First baseman Wes Rea followed with an RBI single, tying the game at 3-3.
“We battled tonight,” said Cohen. “We just came up short. It’s frustrating, but we won’t quit competing.”
Of Robinson’s two doubles, Cohen was asked if the outfielders were playing shallow by design.
“He had seven extra-base hits in 153 at-bats before tonight,” said Cohen. “You tell me.”
Sophomore closer Wyatt Short earned his eighth save, ending the game with a a weak groundout from Heck.
On the night, Rea and designated hitter Brent Rooker each had a pair of hits, combining for four of MSU’s seven base knocks. Laster gave up three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, while Houston allowed one run in 2 2/3.
“They made the plays and we didn’t,” said Collins. “It hurts bad. We know how much talent we have and we know how special we can be, so to keep losing like this, it’s not good.”
Trent earned his seventh win for the Rebels, who beat MSU 11-1 in the Governor’s Cup Game in Pearl two weeks ago. Now, Ole Miss owns a 1-0 series lead with two games to go.
Game two of the series is set for tonight at 6 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.