BILOXI — Kyle Schimpf had a double, home run, and four RBIs Wednesdya night to help push the Southeastern Louisiana baseball team to an 11-5 victory against Mississippi State at MGM Park.
Southeastern Louisiana (13-6) used a four-run third inning to tie the game at 5. It added three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh — on a home run by Schimpf — to beat MSU (10-7).
“We did not put the pressure on them offensively,” MSU interim coach Gary Henderson said. “We talked about the things we did well. We talked about getting away from some of our strengths. We talked about the fact we’re going to have to be able to go on the road and play in a good environment.”
The Lions opened the scoring early with a ground rule RBI-double by Taylor Schwaner in the top of the first.
MSU answered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning. A bases-loaded walk to Luke Alexander tied the game. A Josh Hatcher sacrifice fly, a single by Elijah MacNamee, and a two-run single by Rowdey Jordan made it 5-1.
But a three-run triple and a RBI groundout in the third tied the game and set the stage for the Lions’ late-inning rally.
Cole Marsh started and allowed two hits and four runs in two innings. Denver McQuary surrendered one hit and one run in two innings. Riley Self pitched a scoreless innings before Keegan James allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in one-third of an inning. Cole Gordon allowed three runs in one inning. JP France and Jared Liebelt combined to pitch the final 2 2/3 innings.
MSU will play host to No. 14 Vanderbilt at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Game 1 of a three-game weekend series. The time for Game 2 Saturday has been moved up to 1 p.m. Game 3 will be at 1 p.m. Sunday.
n No. 11 Ole Miss 16, Georgia State 2: At Atlanta, Cole Zabowski and Tim Elko had home runs as part of Ole Miss’ 14-hit attack in its victory Wednesday afternoon.
The Rebels (17-1) scored a season-high 16 runs to sweep the midweek series against the Panthers. Freshman Jordan Fowler threw five innings of one-hit baseball, striking out three, to improve to 3-0.
The win helped Ole Miss tie the 2016 squad for one of the best starts in program history. The Rebels started 19-1 in 2013 and 18-1 in 2004.
Zabowski and Ryan Olenek paced the Rebels with three hits. Conner Green worked two innings in relief, striking out one. Pierce Smith, Austin Miller, and Colin Coates also saw action on the mound for the Rebels.
Former New Hope High School standout Will Golsan went 1-for-3 with a run scored and three walks. He is hitting .239 with four doubles and 15 RBIs.
Ole Miss will play host to Tennessee (12-6) at 7 p.m. Friday in the first game of a three-game weekend series.
n Southern Mississippi 12, Tulane 3: At New Orleans, Walker Powell threw six shutout innings and Mason Irby tied a career high with four hits to lead No. 15 Southern Miss past Tulane on Wednesday night at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.
The Golden Eagles (12-4) earned their fourth-straight victory, while the Green Wave fell to 8-10.
Powell (1-1) allowed four hits in the longest outing of his career. He struck out a career-best six.
Irby, who also drove in three runs, led the Golden Eagles’ 15-hit attack.
Southern Miss will play host to UTSA at 6 p.m. Friday in the first game of a three-game Conference USA weekend series at
Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field.
n Alabama 14, Alabama A&M 0: At Tuscaloosa, Alabama, A season-high five home runs and a strong pitching performance helped Alabama record its second-consecutive shutout Wednesday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Alabama improved to 15-3 on the season and 5-0 in mid-week matchups.
“It was great to see all the hard contact these past two days,” Alabama coach Brad Bohannon said. “I’m really happy for Connor Stutts, who hasn’t gotten a lot of opportunities, to be able to get in there for two games and hit two home runs. It’s just a great message for everybody to be ready when your name is called. I’m very pleased with the way all of our guys came to the ballpark and prepared these last two games.”
Eight of Alabama’s nine starters had at least one hit. All 10 Alabama batters reached base safely on one or more occasion. Hunter Alexander had two home runs as part of a 2-for-4 night. He had a team-high five RBIs. Juniors Chandler Taylor and Matt Malkin and redshirt sophomore Connor Stutts also homered.
Freshman Brady Greene (1-0) threw three innings of scoreless baseball. The right-hander allowed three hits and issued two walks. He struck out one. Greene combined with starter Davis Vainer, a sophomore, senior Tyler Adams and Dylan Duarte, a junior, for the shutout.
“I couldn’t have asked for us to be in a better place after 18 games,” Bohannon said. “I’m really happy to be 15-3, and I’m pleased with how we’re playing. It’s time for a new challenge, and we have a challenge this weekend with a really good Georgia team coming to town.”
Alabama will play host to Georgia at 6 p.m. Friday in the first game of a three-game SEC weekend series. The teams will play at 1 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. All three games will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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