Mississippi State Baseball Falls to Vanderbilt

OMAHA, Neb. — The Mississippi State baseball team fell to the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second round of the NCAA College World Series by a score of 6-3 Wednesday at TD Ameritrade Park.

A big five-run fifth inning from the Commodores was just too much for State to overcome, as the Dawgs now find themselves in an elimination game against Louisville set for Thursday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

The Commodores (56-11) took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when senior Stephen Scott blasted a solo home run to right field.

Vanderbilt then struck for five runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead. After a strikeout began the inning, sophomore Austin Martin was hit by a pitch. An RBI double from junior JJ Bleday then scored Martin. Bleday would find himself at home after moving to third on a single from senior Ethan Paul and scoring on a fielder’s choice. Scott then hit his second home run to score three more runs for the Commodores.

MSU finally broke through in the sixth to make it a 6-1 game. Senior Elijah MacNamee led off with a single. He then moved to second on a pop up. A single through the left side from sophomore Rowdey Jordan plated him.

State got some life in the seventh inning when senior Marshall Gilbert sent a ball over the left-field fence to lead off the inning and make it a 6-2 ballgame. Senior Jake Mangum then followed with a double to left center. Sophomore Tanner Allen’s one-out double scored Mangum and made it a 6-3 game. MSU was held scoreless the remaining of the game.

Hits were even at 9-9 in the game, Mangum and Gilbert were responsible for two hits apiece.

Starting pitcher Peyton Plumlee (7-5) was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out five.

The Commodores then struck for a pair against left-handed reliever Trysten Barlow, who allowed two runs on a hit and walk without recording an out. Junior Riley Self was the next to pitch and surrendered a home run to go along with two walks in one-third of an inning. Junior Colby White got the final out of the fifth inning.

Redshirt-junior Keegan James tossed a scoreless 3 ²⁄₃ innings with one hit, two walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Eric Cerantola got the final out of the ninth via strikeout.

Freshman Kumar Rocker (11-5) earned the win for Vanderbilt after holding MSU to five hits and one run while walking one and striking out six in six innings.