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PEARL, Miss. — The No. 9 Mississippi State baseball program claimed its fourth straight Governor’s Cup with an 8-1 win over rival Ole Miss Tuesday night at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi.
MSU (33-9, 10-8 SEC) trailed 1-0 in the third inning, but scored eight unanswered runs between the fifth and eighth innings to lift the Dawgs to an 8-1 victory. Ole Miss (27-15, 10-8 SEC) outhit MSU 8-7, but only managed one run and left 12 runners on base in the loss.
In the bottom of the third inning, sophomore Anthony Servideo hit a one-out single through the ride side to put a runner on for the Rebels. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch before coming around to score on an RBI double from junior Grae Kessinger.
After a scoreless fourth inning, State scored a run in the top of the fifth inning thanks to a solo home run from sophomore Rowdey Jordan.
The Dawgs then scored three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a commanding 7-1 lead. A flyout began the sixth inning before sophomore Jordan Westburg reached first on an Ole Miss fielding error. Sophomore Tanner Allen and senior Elijah MacNamee followed with a walk and a single to load the bases. Two Runs came across to score on sophomore Justin Foscue’s double down the right field line. A sacrifice fly from junior Dustin Skelton scored the third run of the sixth. Back-to-back singles from seniors Marshall Gilbert and Jake Mangum began the seventh inning before a fielder’s choice to third base scored Gilbert. Allen’s single up the middle scored Mangum, while a fielding error on the play scored Westburg to give MSU the 7-1 lead.
The Diamond Dawgs added a run to their lead in the eighth inning when sophomore Josh Hatcher reached on a fielder’s choice and came around to score after a balk sent him to second, a wild pitch moved him to third and a sacrifice fly plated him.
Seven MSU starters collected a hit to total seven as a team. Foscue earned Most Valuable Player honors for the 2019 Governor’s Cup for his go-ahead RBI. Mangum, Skelton, Allen and Westburg each plated one RBI.
Senior Peyton Plumlee worked the first four innings and allowed one run on three hits. He struck out three batters and walked one. Redshirt-junior Keegan James was the first relief pitcher as he threw for two-thirds of an inning. Redshirt-junior Trysten Barlow (3-1) earned the win after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out two batters. Junior Colby White then struck out two batters in a scoreless seventh. Senior Jared Liebelt worked the final two innings and struck out two batters.
Junior southpaw Zack Phillips (4-2) was charged with the Ole Miss loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit in 5 1⁄3 innings. He fanned five batters and walked two.
Up next for the Diamond Dawgs, MSU will host No. 4 Georgia in a three-game Southeastern Conference series starting at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday at Dudy Noble Field. The middle game in the series will begin at Noon on Saturday, and air on SEC Network. The series finale is slated to start at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday.