Mississippi State Offense Explodes In Big Win

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Following a tough Southeastern Conference opener, Mississippi State bounced back in a big way in Tuesday’s contest against Alcorn State.

Mississippi State (11-10, 0-3 SEC) dominated Alcorn State (6-13) by a score of 17-1 Tuesday evening at Dudy Noble Field. In the win, State set a new season high for runs (17) and hits (18), and scored runs in six innings.

The Diamond Dawgs got things going early, and never looked back. They scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Jake Mangum got the offense going by hitting a lead-off triple, and Luke Alexander followed with a two-run home run. Josh Hatcher then followed with a double, Hunter Stovall singled, sending Hatcher to third base and wild pitch scored a run, while a double by Hunter Vansau scored the fourth run. A fielder’s choice RBI by Jordan Anderson scored the final run of the inning, giving MSU the 5-0 lead.

In the second inning, Stovall hit a sacrifice fly, which scored Tanner allen, and gave the Diamond Dawgs a 6-0 lead.

MSU pushed four across in the third inning to extend the lead even further to 10-0.

The Diamond Dawgs scored three more runs in the fifth inning, which was led by a two-run triple by Vansau and an RBI-single by Jordan Westburg.

Alcorn State ended the shutout in the top of the sixth inning by scoring its only run of the game.

A pair of walks and a Stovall single loaded the bases for MSU in the bottom of the seventh inning. Marsgall Gilbert then cleared the bases with a three-run double.

The Diamond Dawgs scored their final run of the game in the eighth inning from an RBI-single by Stovall, and giving them an impressive 17-1 win.

Several State batters had a multiple-hit game, including four hits apiece from Hatcher and Stovall. Alcorn State was held to just five hits.

Zach Neff (2-2) earned the win, while allowing no runs on four hits, in four innings of work. He struck out two batters. Riley Self, Kale Breaux and Hatcher also pitched for the Diamond Dawgs.

Regynold Johnson (0-1) was charged with the loss. He pitched two innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.

State will close out its five-game home stand on Wednesday against Texas Southern.