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AUBURN, Ala. — Everything was clicking for No. 6 Mississippi State baseball on Saturday evening as the Bulldogs topped Auburn 7-2 at Plainsman Park to claim a series win over the Tigers.
The Bulldogs (23-7, 7-4 SEC) collected 11 hits and benefited from three home runs in the game. Sophomore Kamren James accounted for two hits and three RBIs, while senior Tanner Allen recorded three RBIs on a home run. Senior Josh Hatcher, senior Rowdey Jordan, junior Luke Hancock and freshman Lane Forsythe all finished with two hits apiece.
Sophomore pitcher Will Bednar (2-0) allowed just four hits and a run in seven innings of work to earn the win. He fanned seven Auburn (12-15, 1-10 SEC) batters and walked zero.
Sophomore Stone Simmons, junior Cam Tullar and senior Chase Patrick each recorded one out in the eighth inning. Simmons allowed one run on three hits. Junior Parker Stinnett finished the job with two groundouts and a strikeout in the ninth.
Auburn senior pitcher Jack Owen (0-2) allowed six runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and a walk in 3 2⁄3 innings of work.
MSU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Jordan led off with a double down the left-field line, stole third and scored on James’ RBI single up the middle.
The Tigers knotted things up in the bottom of the second when freshman Cam Hill homered to left-center field.
Allen was hit by a pitch to begin the top of the third inning before James followed with a home run down the left-field line to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.
After a pair of groundouts began the top of the fourth inning, Forsythe drew a walk. Jordan then singled up the middle and Allen followed with a three-run home run to right-center to increase the MSU lead to 6-1.
Hatcher’s solo home run in the top of the sixth inning made it a 7-1 ballgame.
A trio of singles in the bottom of the eighth inning resulted in the Tigers’ second run and ended the game’s scoring at 7-2.
MSU will look for the series sweep Sunday at 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network.