The Mississippi State Bulldogs rallied from a four run deficit in the eighth inning to tie their game with the Memphis Tigers Wednesday, but the Tigers took the lead for good in the ninth inning to walk out of Dudy-Noble Field with a 7-6 victory.
The winning run came in odd fashion for Memphis, when Eli Hynes scored on a catcher's interference call in the top of the ninth, handing the Tigers the final lead of the game.
Mississippi State took an early lead when Trey Porter doubled and drove in Adam Fraizer in the bottom of the first inning.
The Tigers took the lead back in the third, scoring three runs, but the Bulldogs chipped away at the lead in the fourth when Daryl Norris scored on a Brandon Woodruff single, giving Woodruff his first career RBI.
With the score 3-2, Memphis scored twice in the fifth and again in the seventh to take a 6-2 lead. The Bulldogs responded with a four-run eighth inning to tie the contest. The Tigers hit Mitch Slauter with a pitch and walked Porter, and both scored on a double by Norris. Wes Rea then sent a bomb over the left filed wall to tie the game at 6-6.
Luis Pollorena picked up the start for the Bulldogs, going two innings and giving up two runs on three hits. Chad Girodo struck out four for the Bulldogs in 2 1/3 innings of work. Caleb Reed (0-2) took the loss in relief. Jonathan Van Eaton (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Memphis.
The Bulldogs left eight men on base.
Mississippi State returns to action Friday night against UConn at 6:30 at Dudy Noble Field.
THE GOOD: The Bulldogs were able to rally from four runs down in the eighth inning. In fact, the inning has been the most productive frame for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have scored eleven runs in that inning this season.
THE BAD: Caleb Reed did not pitch like his usual self in the ninth inning. However, he looked like he might work his way out of a jam until the catcher's interference call.
THE UGLY: The Bulldogs left eight men on base, and five of them were in scoring position. Those kind of squandered opportunities will really hurt in SEC play.