MSU is Swept by Vandy

Game 1: Vanderbilt 3, MSU 1 - Luis Pollorena gave an excellent performance, arguably his best of the year going 7.1 inning allowing three runs but it wasn't enough as he was saddled with his second loss of the year (6-2). MSU's offense only mustered six hits, four of them off one of Vandy's aces, Kevin Ziomek. State mounted a 9th inning rally getting the first two men on base but they were unable to break though.

Game 2: Vanderbilt 5, MSU 2 - This game was delayed about four hours before the first pitch was thrown. Both Graveman and Tyler Beede were off their game. Both offenses left a bunch of men on base including multiple bases loaded opportunities, but in the end State missed more times than Vandy did. Perhaps the play of the game was Brett Pirtle's 2nd inning error on a play that could have been an inning-ending double play but instead led to a 3-run inning for the 'Dores.

Game 3: Vanderbilt 8, MSU 3 - This one was over from the start as Jacob Lindgren couldn't get out of the first inning. Ross Mitchell had to be brought in but it was 5-0 before you could blink. Not much to say here other than damn we got swept.

State now sits at 10-11 in the SEC - the exact same record 21 games in as we were last season. Alabama comes to Starkville next weekend. As I write this the Tide are in a rain delay but up 4-0 and well on their way to a sweep of Texas A&M - that would make them 12-9 on the year if they can finish that game off.

Not winning at least one game in this series stings pretty bad. If the SEC is going to get four hosting locations as per the usual, State is behind the 8-ball as South Carolina and Arkansas are heating up and we know about Vandy and LSU. Bottom line - the final three series of the year vs. Alabama, at Ole Miss and vs. USC are critical and the Bulldogs may need to pull out 6 or 7 wins to get that coveted hosting spot.