BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For one inning, Samford targeted second-ranked Mississippi State for an upset.
The Diamond Dawgs took charge after that.
After falling behind 4-0 in the opening inning, six Bulldog pitchers shut down Samford after that. Senior star Jake Mangum had three hits, including a run-scoring hit in a four-run seventh inning, and the MSU went on to win its 20th game by a 6-4 score.
With a 20-2 record, the Diamond Dawgs are off to their best start since 2006 when they won 21 of their first 22 games. MSU has won two straight since dropping the third game of a three-game series last Saturday at Florida.
“I give our bullpen a lot of credit,” MSU coach Chris Lemonis said. “In both games (Tuesday’s 15-4 win over Arkansas Little Rock, plus Wednesday’s win), they came in and held the opposition. Our kids just keep playing. They keep playing defense and they gave us some good at-bats.”
Starting pitcher Peyton Plumlee settled down and tossed two scoreless innings after the four-run first. Spencer Price, a redshirt junior, threw a scoreless fourth inning and Tyler Spring, also a redshirt junior, threw two scoreless innings to earn his first win of the year. He struck out three and allowed one hit.
After MSU scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, the Dawgs struck for four runs in the seventh. Landon Jordan, Rowdey Jordan, Mangum and Jordan Westburg delivered the RBIs. The Dawgs sent eight hitters to the plate. Four of them had hits.
Rowdey Jordan had two hits and drove in the game-tying run.
“It is great to see (Rowdey) enjoying playing the game,” Lemonis said. “When you are in the funk, the game is not a lot of fun. So it’s been hard on him. He is one of our better personalities, so to see him have success tonight and come up with that big hit was huge.”
Elijah MacNamee reached base four times, extending his on-base streak to 17 games.
Next up for the Bulldogs is an SEC showdown with Auburn, beginning Friday night at 6 at Dudy Noble Field. Game 2 is at 2 p.m. Saturday and Game 3 is at 1 p.m. Sunday.
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