Diamond Dawgs Fall In Season Opener

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Baseball is back for the Diamond Dawgs as they opened the season today in the first of three games against Southern Mississippi. The game didn’t go as planned for MSU as they fell 11-0. MSU is now on a three-game opening day losing streak.

The game was controlled by both pitchers through three innings as they kept the score 0-0 before Southern Miss. ended the scoreless game with an RBI double by Hunter Slater. The Golden Eagles added two more runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh and five in the eighth.

State sent preseason All-American lefty Konnor Pilkington (0-1) to the mound to face Golden Eagle’s right-hander Nick Sandlin (1-0).

Pilkington was charged with the loss for the Diamond Dawgs after surrendering two runs—all earned— on five hits. He struck out six batters and walked none.

Josh Hatcher, Keegan James and Jared Liebelt also pitched for MSU. The four pitchers allowed a combined 11 hits, five walks and four hit batters.

Sandlin pitched seven innings for Southern Miss., allowing no runs on four hits. He struck out nine batters and walked none.

MSU will look to rebound this afternoon against Southern Miss. The game is set for a 1 p.m. start time.