For the first time in a decade, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (27-12-1, 10-7 SEC) have come out triumphant in a series against the LSU Tigers (26-13, 9-8 SEC). Today's 2-1 had significantly fewer hits and runs than last night's 12-8 victory, but it was just as nerve wracking and full of suspense as it locked up the series victory.
Austin Sexton (4-2) performed admirably for 7.1 innings, striking out four and only giving up one run and five hits to the Tigers. Sexton was rolling right along through the LSU lineup up until the eight inning, where he hit a bit of a snag and was replaced by Daniel Brown. Brown faced four batters and threw an inning in his relief appearance before being relieved by Reid Humprheys who would earn his fifth save of the season.
Jack Kruger got things started for the Bulldogs with his one-out solo shot to left field in the first inning. It wasn't up until the sixth inning when the Bulldogs would strike again thanks to a one-out sacrifice fly from Humphreys which would bring Jake Mangum home and extend the lead to 2-0.
The eighth and ninth innings frightened us as the Tigers attempted to fight and claw their way back into the game. LSU would score a run in the bottom eighth on a ground out with two runners in scoring position, but could do little more than scare us in the ninth as they were then put away.
And, as usual after these big wins, we had fun:
We gave LSU the pic.twitter.com/uDSWUCxe6m
— Daniel Black (@dblack97) April 24, 2016
And Mississippi State takes the series from LSU for the first time in a decade pic.twitter.com/wCQgUwU2sb
— Ethan Lee (@leeethanj) April 24, 2016
— Bunt Murphy (@JDog5513) April 24, 2016
Hail Yea. @HailStateBB with the hard fought win. Takes the 1st two games & clinches the series. #HailState pic.twitter.com/3fmEMnBBRG
— The Large Dawg™ (@ktvanderlip) April 24, 2016
Mood#HailState pic.twitter.com/iffuhdkEcr
— MSU Baseball (@HailStateBB) April 24, 2016
WE WON A SERIES OVER LSU https://t.co/ImdWgqmi9K
— cristilmethod (@cristilmethod) April 24, 2016
Thanks to the win and the Texas A&M loss to Alabama, Mississippi State is currently one game out from being tied with the Aggies for first place in the SEC West. The Bulldogs will go for the sweep of LSU tomorrow at noon.