Mississippi State Wins In Late Inning Fashion

It took 12 innings, and over four hours of baseball for the Diamond Dawgs to get the win over the Houston Cougars.

Hunter Stovall’s sacrifice-fly in the 12th inning brought home Tanner Poole to secure MSU’s 3-2 win.

The Diamond Dawgs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the third inning after Stovall delivered a fielder’s choice RBI, which scored Poole.

The Cougars tied the score the next inning on a homer over the left field wall. Good pitching by both teams kept the score deadlocked through seven innings. The Cougars took a 2-1 lead after a single in the top of the eighth.

Hunter Vansau doubled off the wall in left center to score Justin Foscue and tie the ballgame up at two-a-piece.

The score remained the same until Stovall’s sac-fly won it for the Diamond Dawgs.

Ethan Small got the start on the mound for MSU. He pitched 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on three hits. He struck out seen batters, and walked three batters.

JP France followed in relief and allowed one run in 3.1 innings of work.

Riley Self, Zach Neff and Blake Smith combined for the next 4.1 innings of the game. They allowed just one hit.

Smith earned the win after pitching 3.2 innings. He allowed no hits, and struck out two batters.

Houston’s starter, Aaron Fletcher, pitched 6.1 innings. He allowed one run on seven hits. He struck out batters, and walked one.

Brayson Hurdsman was charged with the Cougar’s loss after allowing MSU’s 12th inning run in 0.2 innings pitched.

Mississippi State will conclude the Shriner’s College Classic today against Sam Houston State. First pitch is slated for 2:35 p.m.