STARKVILLE — The feeling around the Mississippi State baseball team was noticeably more optimistic Sunday following a 5-4 victory against Columbia and an 8-6 victory against South Alabama at Dudy Noble Field.
The victories helped MSU (10-6) improve to 6-5 in games decided by three or fewer runs.
“A lot of stress,” MSU coach Andy Cannizaro said through a smile. “I think it’s a good thing for our team. We’re going to be battle-tested. We’ve played close games. We’ve lost a lot of one-run games. We’re starting to win some close games. It’s a process of learning to win with this group, and I think we’re getting better at it the more we play.”
Part of Cannizaro’s stress comes from continued struggles by his bullpen. Against Columbia, MSU watched a 4-1 lead disappear in the top of the eighth inning. After pitching three hitless innings, Jacob Barton allowed two hits to start the inning. Ryan Cyr came on in relief and allowed a RBI ground-rule double and a two-run single to tie the game. Spencer Price followed and recorded the final six outs. He allowed one hit and walked two.
Cody Brown and Brant Blaylock provided the fireworks on offense. Brown, who replaced Harrison Bragg at first base in the sixth for the second game in a row, tripled to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Brown’s exploits earned him a start in the next game.
“I’ve been working on my swing a lot lately, and I got to put it to use today being in a lot of big-time situations,” Brown said. “It’s always a grind to win games like this, and you need hits like that and guys like Brent Rooker, Brant Blaylock, and all them stepped up as well.”
Blaylock followed with a single to win the game. He said he saw three infielders on the left side of the field, got a fastball inside, and focused on getting his hands inside of it to push it to right field.
“Today was a day of perseverance,” Cannizaro said. “We had a lead, we gave up a lead, we were down, we come back. Just an outstanding 18 innings of effort out of our guys today.”
MSU faced a similar situation against South Alabama. Trysten Barlow, making his second relief appearance of the weekend, faced a season-high seven batters. But MSU, which has suffered a number of injuries to its pitching staff, needed more, so with the tying run on deck with one out in the ninth, MSU called on center fielder Jake Mangum to pitch. Mangum allowed two inherited runners to score — the runs were charged to Graham Ashcraft — but he recorded the final two outs to earn the save.
Mangum’s pitching prospects were discussed in the preseason. His first pitch was a 93 mph fastball. He also flashed off-speed pitches that dipped as low as 67 mph.
“It was one of those things where you’re into your 18th inning of baseball in the day, you’ve got a limited bullpen, a limited staff,” Cannizaro said. “He and I have been talking a lot in the last couple of weeks, ‘Hey, stay ready, stay ready, stay ready.’ We were talking from the seventh inning on, stay ready, and when the first two guys of that inning got on, there was no doubt in my mind.”
Rooker sparked a four-run eighth with a solo home run. Hunter Stovall added a two-run single and Luke Alexander had an RBI single. Mangum, Alexander, Rooker, and Dustin Skelton had two hits in the Bulldogs’ 10-hit attack.
MSU will return to action at 10 a.m. today against Columbia. It will play host to Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday prior to its first Southeastern Conference series of the season (Arkansas) on Friday.
“These four-game weekends are really hard,” Cannizaro said. “We’re already dealing with a limited staff any way, four games is really tough to get your bullpen lined up, to find roles for guys. I’m really proud of the way our guys have navigated these four-game weekends; I will really be excited for these three-game weekends that are coming shortly.”
NOTE: Former New Hope High School standout Wells Davis went 0-for-8 with an RBI for South Alabama on Sunday. South Alabama edged Columbia 4-3 in its other game.
n Ole Miss 1, Furman 0: At Oxford, the No. 21 Ole Miss baseball team completed a perfect weekend on the mound by shutting out Furman on Sunday afternoon at Swayze Field.
Michael Fitzsimmons delivered a pinch-hit single in the eighth to help the Rebels improve to 11-5. In the process, Ole Miss held Furman (8-7) without a run to earn its third three-game sweep of the season.
Ole Miss completed a five-game homestand with four shutouts. The Rebels posted a three-game series shutout for the first time since March 12-14, 2004 (vs. Nicholls).
Making the second start of his career, freshman Greer Holston threw seven scoreless innings and struck out six. He limited the Paladins to two hits and walked two. Sophomore Andy Pagnozzi (2-0) earned the win in relief, striking out all three hitters he faced in a perfect eighth. Classmate Dallas Woolfolk earned his fourth save.
Along with Fitzsimmons’ game-winning single off the bench, eight Rebels in the starting lineup had hits. Former New Hope High School standout Will Golsan was 1-for-4. Ole Miss was able to get a runner on base in seven of its eight innings at the plate, but five double plays helped Furman stay in the game.
Ole Miss will play Nicholls at 7 p.m. Tuesday at MGM Park in Biloxi.
n Alabama 3-12, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8-2: At Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Alabama baseball split its doubleheader with Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday, falling in Game 1 before rallying back for a victory in seven innings in Game 2.
The split lifts Alabama’s record to 9-6.
“It doesn’t matter where we’re at in the lineup, I feel like we have a chance to score,” Alabama coach Greg Goff said. “I’m glad our guys responded (after the game-one loss). That’s what I walked away with tonight — that our guys responded after we didn’t play well (in the first game). Arkansas-Pine Bluff just beat us. They hit two bombs, and (starting pitcher Nathan Sawrie) competed, mixed his pitches, and got us out. I don’t want to take it away from them that they got us game one, but overall I’m pleased with the way we competed this weekend.
Cody Henry paced the Crimson Tide in the doubleheader, going 3-for-6 with a double, a home run, an RBI, and two runs scored. Tanner DeVinny was 2-for-4 with a home run, a team-high four RBIs, and one run scored.
In Game 2, Hunter Alexander was 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. DeVinny had all four of his RBIs in a two-hit day, while Alex Webb had a three-run home run.
Dylan Duarte (1-0) struck out a career-high eight in six innings to get the win. The sophomore threw 72 pitches and facing the minimum number of batters by limiting the Golden Lions to one hit and a walk. Duarte retired the final 13 batters he faced.
Alabama will play Eastern Illinois at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Junior Colleges
n ICC sweeps Snead State: At Fulton, Tyreque Reed had seven hits Sunday afternoon in 7-6 and 14-10 victories against Snead State (Ala.) C.C.
The wins helped the Indians improve to 11-3.
Reed had four hits in the first game, while Austin Carpenter had three. Russ Payne and Drake Wallace had multiple hits, while Carpenter and Kaleb Barnes hit home runs.
In Game 2, former West Point High School standout Steffon Moore (2-1) earned the victory. Hagan Box had four hits, while Reed had three hits, including two home runs.
ICC will play host Southwest Tennessee C.C. at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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