Following a 2-1 showing on the opening weekend of the 2012 season against Washington State, the Mississippi State Diamond Dogs took back to action this Friday in a round robin tournament against foes Kansas and Mississippi Valley State University. The Jayhawks came into this weekend's action 3-0 on the young season while the Delta Devils came in 0-3.
Game 1: MSU vs. Kansas (Friday)
The first matchup of the weekend for the Bulldogs pitted them against Big XII member Kansas. The game turned out to be a pitcher's duel, with no runs scored until the winning one in the bottom of the 9th. P Wes Benjamin was outstanding for the Jayhawks, going 6.1 innings while striking out 6 and only allowing 4 hits. For the Bulldogs, it was again the tandem of Ben Bracewell and Chris Stratton that held the opposing batters at bay. Bracewell pitched 3.0 innings of scoreless ball, but it was Chris Stratton who stole the show with 6 innings of 1 hit, 8 strikeout relief. The game went scoreless until the bottom of the ninth, when So. OF C.T. Bradford drew a walk. Fr. 1B Wes Rea then stepped up to the plate and stepped up he surely did, ripping the first pitch he saw to the base of the outfield wall, scoring Bradford and securing the Bulldog victory.
"They thought I was bunting so I expected fast ball," Rea said. "I just shortened my stroke and made an adjustment. Even though I walked it off, they gave me grief for it not going over the fence." (via HailState.com)
The win pushed the dogs to 3-1 on the young season, while Kansas saw its record fall to 3-1 as well.
MSU Player of the Game:
Chris Stratton / Jr. / RHP | 6.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 8K, 73TP
It was over when:
Fr. 1B Wes Rea ripped the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the 9th to the outfield wall, scoring C.T. Bradford to win the game.
Official Statistics:
Mississippi State vs. Kansas, Game 1
Video Highlights:
Game 2: MSU vs. MVSU (Saturday)
The Bulldogs entertained in-state opponent Saturday morning in the first of what would be two games for the dogs on the day. This game was quite different than the Friday night affair between State and Kansas, as the teams combined to score 18 runs in the game. State trailed 3-1 early as the Delta Devils got to Bulldog starter Kendall Graveman, but the lead wouldn't last for the visitors for long. State used a 5-run 4th and a 7-run 5th to pull out and away from MVSU, eventually securing a 13-5 win. The victory moved State to 4-1 on the season, while the Devils fell to 0-4. State gained RBI's from 8 Bulldogs, and again C.T. Bradford and 1B Wes Rea led the way.
MSU Player of the Game:
C.T. Bradford / So. / OF | 2 for 4, 3 RBI's, 1 run scored
It was over when:
State took the lead in the 4th with 5 runs, but they put the nail in the coffin by following with 7 runs in the 5th, all but sealing up the victory against the Devils.
Official Statistics:
Mississippi State vs. Mississippi Valley State, Game 2
Video Highlights:
Game 3: MSU vs. Kansas (Saturday)
Game 2 of the day saw State matched up against the Jayhawks again, and again it was a low scoring affair. Kansas took a 1-0 into the bottom of the 7th before State got on the scoreboard via an Adam Frazier single. Matthew Britton also scored in the inning of a Kansas error, and So. Darryl Norris would add the 3rd and final run in on an RBI single in the 8th to seal the 3-1 win for State. On the mound State was paced by the trio of Nick Routt, Evan Mitchell and closer Caleb Reed. Mitchell would get the win in the ball game, while All-American Reed would earn his first save of the season. The win would push State to 5-1 on the season while Kansas fell to 4-2 on the year.
"It's the quality of the competition," coach John Cohen said. "They know how to play in these types of environments. It is like another SEC game for us. Their starter did a great job, but we just battled back."
MSU Player of the Game:
Adam Frazier / So. / 2B | 2 for 5, 1 RBI
It was over when:
Adam Frazier drove home Taylor Stark to tie the game, and Matthew Britton scored on an error by Jawhawks 3B Zac Elgie.
Official Statistics:
Mississippi State vs. Kansas, Game 3
Video Highlights:
Game 4: MSU vs. MVSU (Sunday)
To wrap up a weekend of round robin play, State took on MVSU again for the second time this weekend on Sunday afternoon. In the finale of the weekend's action for the maroon and white, Fr. Will Cox, a RHP from Amory, Mississippi, paced the bulldogs to a 5-1 victory. The Freshman Cox was sensational, going 7 innings and striking out 8 while only allowing 3 hits. Fellow freshman Jonathan Holder came in to finish what Cox started and earned his first save of the season in relief. Offensively the dogs were paced by a 2-run double by Darryl Norris, as well as RBI's from, you guessed it, Adam Frazier, C.T. Bradford and Wes Rea.
The Bulldogs improved to 6-1 after the weekend's action had completed, while the Delta Devils remained winless on the campaign, falling to 0-6.
MSU Player of the Game:
Will Cox / Fr. / RHP | 7IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 8Ks, 83TP
It was over when:
Darryl Norris ripped a 2-run double in the first inning to pull the dogs out to a 2-0 lead.
Official Statistics:
Mississippi State vs. Mississippi Valley State, Game 4
Video Highlights:
State will return to action this upcoming Wednesday as they take on the Memphis Tigers at Dudy-Noble Field. First pitch is set for 4P.M.