Mississippi State Falls In Series Finale

BATON ROUGE, La. – Mississippi State’s three-game battle with Southeastern Conference foe LSU came to an end Saturday afternoon with a 4-0 loss at Alex Box Stadium.

With the loss, State dropped to 14-15 (2-7 SEC). LSU improved to 18-11 (5-4 SEC).

LSU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Austin Bain doubled and scored Nick Webre.

Good pitching for both teams kept the game at 1-0 through six frames.

In the seventh inning LSU’s Daniel Cabrera hit a two-run home run to make it a 3-0 ball game. The Tigers homered again in the eighth inning, this time from Zach Watson to push the lead to a game-ending score of 4-0.

Despite being blanked, the Diamond Dawgs had two great opportunities to score, stranding two runners in the first inning and leaving the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

Hits were 7-4 in LSU’s favor. Jake Mangum, Hunter Stovall, Josh Hatcher and Justin Foscue each had a hit apiece.

Although he was charged with a loss, MSU got a strong outing from starting pitcher Jacob Billingsley (2-2). He pitched 6.1 innings, allowing three hits and two runs, both earned, with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Zach Neff and J.P. France pitched in relief for the Diamond Dawgs.

Ma’Khail Hilliard (6-1) earned the win, as he pitched 6.0 innings, allowing no runs on three hits. He struck out nine batters and walked two.

State will now return home for a four-game homestand, beginning Wednesday with a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch at Dudy Noble Field. A crawfish boil will be held for MSU students in right field while supplies last and will begin shortly after first pitch.