STARKVILLE — Ryan Rigby stood in the bullpen and watched sparingly as Zac Houston loaded the bases Sunday.
The Mississippi State sophomore right-hander didn’t have time to fixate on Houston because he was locked into his warmup.
But Rigby knew he was about to enter in a tough spot.
Instead of being uptight or anxious coming on in relief of Houston, Rigby was relaxed. He showed he had the right mind-set by striking out two Louisiana Tech batters and retiring another on a fly out to leave three on base seventh inning. He pitched the final two innings to pick up his first save in a 4-0 victory that helped the MSU baseball team win the Starkville Regional.
“Not too much goes through my mind,” Rigby said. “I just ask how many outs it is and just come in and try to throw strikes and let my defense do work.”
Rigby and the rest of the bullpen will try to follow that game plan when No. 6 national seed and No. 4 MSU (44-16-1) takes on Arizona (42-21) at 5 p.m. today (ESPN2) in Game 1 of the best-of-three Starkville Super Regional. Game 2 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU). If needed, Game 3 will be at 5 p.m. Sunday (ESPN2 or ESPNU).
Neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the first game.
Rigby, Blake Smith, and Daniel Brown combined to allow one run in 11 1/3 innings last weekend in MSU’s 3-0 run through the Starkville Regional. Rigby allowed a run to Southeast Missouri State on Friday, but retired all nine Louisiana Tech batters he faced. He had six strikeouts in the two outings. Smith threw 2 2/3 innings against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday to pick up a save. He didn’t allow a hit, walked two, and struck out three. Brown struck out four and didn’t allow a hit in 3 1/3 innings to pick up the win against Southeast Missouri State.
Starter Austin Sexton, who saw Smith preserve his victory, said the bullpen rose to the challenge because it’s the postseason. Brown agreed.
“Knowing that any game can be your last, I think we have a little more edge coming out of the pen,” Brown said. “As bullpen guys, we love big situations because that’s where we get to shine.”
Rigby developed into a sidearm pitcher last season at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba. This season, the Kosciusko native is 5-1 with a 1.75 ERA in 19 appearances. He has allowed 33 hits and11 runs (nine earned). He has walked 13 and stuck out 41 in 46 1/3 innings.
MSU coach John Cohen said Rigby’s sidearm delivery is deceptive. A fastball from 87-90 mph makes Rigby even tougher to figure out.
“That’s why there so many foul tip into the mitt types swing,” Cohen said. “He can pitch off his fastball. Clubs know he’s going to throw a majority of fastballs and still not been able to take great swings. Even left-handed hitters, who traditionally can beat up a lower arm slot guy, are not taking good swings against him.”
Smith, a transfer from Shelton State (Ala.) C.C., has five saves in 19 appearances. The junior right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA. He has allowed eight runs on 15 hits. He has walked 13 and struck out 27.
The Fort Payne, Alabama, native’s breaking ball is a big reason for his success. Cohen said the pitch has so much depth and so much spin that it’s hard to hit. Smith said he has worked with pitching coach Wes Johnson to develop it.
“I just throw it,” Smith said. “When you throw it for strikes and you can extend it, it’s very effective.”
Brown, who is in his second season at MSU, began the season as a starter. He has thrived since moving to the bullpen in the middle of the season. The junior left-hander is 4-2 with a 3.81 ERA and two saves in 21 appearances (six starts). He has allowed 25 runs (22 earned) and 53 hits in 52 innings. The Mount Vernon, Texas, native has walked 18 and struck out 51.
Cohen said this pitching staff is more well rounded than the 2013 staff that helped MSU finish as the national runner-up to UCLA at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The 2013 staff included starter Kendall Graveman and relievers Jonathan Holder and Chad Girodo. Cohen said there are more power arms on this staff.
Cohen and Johnson leaned on starters Sexton and Dakota Hudson early. Junior right-hander Zac Houston has had two solid starts in the postseason and he has emerged as a third option to start games. But the bullpen’s emergence gives MSU more balance.
“It takes a lot of pressure off the starters knowing they don’t have to go nine strong,” Rigby said. “They can pitch through seven and we’ll help them get the last few outs.”
Sexton and Hudson have combined for five complete games, including three shutouts. Although he had confidence in his bullpen early on, Sexton’s confidence has sky rocketed the last two weeks.
Rigby, Smith, and Brown didn’t take much of the credit for their performances last weekend.
“With our defense behind us, it allows you to have a lot of confidence,” Smith said. “Zac, Dakota, and Austin had great starts, so when you feed off those guys’ energy and those guys’ starts, it’s really easy to come in there and have success.”
The bullpen is ready for the challenge of Arizona. Rigby might be faced with another bases-loaded jam, but he will implore the same attitude that has served him well before.
“I don’t think too much. I just throw,” Rigby said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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