PEARL — Mississippi State and Ole Miss baseball have had a knack for delivering drama when dealing with off on the diamond. The 2024 rendition of the rivalry, notably the finale, was no exception.
Enjoying in a nonconference assembly at Trustmark Park on Wednesday, with the sport televised on ESPN2, the Bulldogs and Rebels delivered a pitchers’ duel that featured a 1-1 tie going into the eighth.
Nevertheless, by making the most of poor defensive play from Ole Miss, Mississippi State blew the sport open within the penultimate body to win 5-1.
With one out within the eighth, MSU outfielder Connor Hujsak was hit by a pitch. Shortly after, he superior from first to 3rd on a wild pitch. He scored what turned out to be the successful run when the Rebels (23-21) failed to show a possible inning-ending double play off the bat of Logan Kohler.
A bases-loaded stroll to Bryce Probability adopted by a two-run double from David Mershon later within the body gave MSU (30-15) its insurance coverage runs.
With the Governor’s Cup victory, the rivals cut up the common season collection. The Rebels took two of three in a mid-April collection at Swayze Discipline in Oxford.
Judd Utermark leaves lone blemish on beginning pitchers
Each starters within the midweek matchup offered sturdy outings. Pico Kohn received the nod for Mississippi State, permitting just one run whereas placing out 5 in 4 innings of labor.
He was opposed by Grayson Saunier who gave the Rebels 4 shutout innings. He struck out two whereas permitting 4 hits. The one bother he confronted got here within the first inning when the Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs, however Saunier escaped with a fly-out from MSU designated hitter Amani Larry.
The lone blemish in opposition to the starters got here within the second when Judd Utermark despatched a towering solo house run to left discipline to place the Rebels forward. It was solely the third house run of the season for the Ole Miss third baseman and the primary allowed by Kohn.
Ethan Lege exits for Ole Miss
Ole Miss outfielder Ethan Lege was hit by a pitch to steer off the sixth inning. Whereas he stayed within the sport to run the bases, he was eliminated earlier than taking the sphere to defend within the backside half of the body.
Because the Rebels look to maintain their postseason hopes alive within the house stretch of the common season, dropping Lege for an prolonged time frame could possibly be detrimental. He’s hitting a team-best .327 with 13 house runs and 38 runs batted in.
Treyson Hughes took Lege’s spot within the lineup after he exited the competition.
FUTURE OF THE GOVERNOR’S CUP:The Mississippi Braves are shifting. What does it imply for faculty baseball at Trustmark Park?
What’s subsequent on 2024 schedule for Mississippi State, Ole Miss?
Mississippi State returns to Dudy Noble Discipline on Friday (6 p.m., SEC Community+) to open a collection with Alabama. The Crimson Tide sits three video games again of the Bulldogs for third within the SEC West.
Ole Miss heads to Auburn to open a three-game set on Friday (6 p.m., SEC Community+). The Rebels are 4 video games forward of the Tigers who personal the worst convention report within the SEC. The underside two groups within the convention, at present Auburn and Missouri, don’t make the SEC match.
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat author for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or observe him on the X platform, previously often known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.
