STARKVILLE — A sweep of Ole Miss last week in Oxford helped the Mississippi State baseball team climb to the upper half of the Southeastern Conference standings and move into the Baseball America’s Top 25.
But MSU (19-11) cited a hangover effect from last week as a factor Tuesday in an 8-3 loss to Florida International (17-11).
“We didn’t do what we needed to do,” MSU first baseman Brent Rooker said. “We allowed ourselves to slip into a trap-game letdown after a really big road week. We’ve grown up a lot, but we’re not where we need to be. We need to keep maturing as individuals as a team.”
MSU coach Andy Cannizaro added he felt a “lack of energy” once the game started that he attributed to last week. Rooker said he had no inkling such a performance was coming, noting good preparation, pregame batting practice, and fielding warmups.
There was no indication of it coming in the first inning after starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft pitched a perfect first inning and Rooker hit his 10th home run, a two-run shot that just missed the batter’s eye in center field to the right.
In hindsight, Rooker realized his blast may have added to MSU’s lackluster vibe for the game.
“I’m never going to complain about a home run, and I don’t think anyone else is, either,” he said, “but after that happened we took our foots off the gas, our at-bats got a little worse and we lost a little bit of effort defensively.”
FIU answered with a two-run home run, a full-count blast that sailed over the batter’s eye, and MSU struggled to figure out starting pitcher Robert Garcia, who struck out nine and allowed three hits in six innings.
Cannizaro praised Garcia’s ability to throw his slider, curveball, and changeup for strikes.
Third baseman Luke Alexander gave MSU a shot of life with a leadoff, full-count home run in the sixth out of the No. 9 spot in the order, but FIU responded with a home run, three singles, and a walk to score four runs in the seventh.
“Tonight’s a big eye-opener,” Rooker said. “Maybe we’re not where we thought we were.”
Cannizaro displayed equal disappointment after the game, but he maintained faith the Bulldogs would play with renewed energy today in the rematch at 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network+).
“I expect us to show up and play much better,” Cannizaro said. “We’re going to meet as a staff (Tuesday night), meet as a staff (Wednesday), and see if there’s something we can do to give us a kickstart.”
n NOTES: Cannizaro said Ashcraft, who left the game after three innings and 57 pitches, has a groin injury. Ashcraft had allowed two hits and three walks in the 6 1/3 innings in three appearances before Tuesday. … Cannizaro said he didn’t know who would start today on the mound for MSU. Jacob Billingsley, who started the year as the team’s midweek starter, hasn’t pitched since March 13 due to an ankle injury. Denver McQuary hasn’t pitched since Friday and doesn’t have a defined role.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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