STARKVILLE — There is nothing about Mississippi State center fielder Jacob Robson that screams middle-of-the-order hitter.
Maybe that’s why it’s working so well.
Robson, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound speedster out of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, isn’t a threat to hit a home runs. And with his slender build and contact-hitting approach, he doesn’t seem like a typical run producer. But there he is, the sweet-hitting left-hander anchored at the No. 5 spot in MSU’s batting order.
So far, the results are near historic. Through six games, Robson has lived on base, reaching on 22 of his 27 plate appearances. He also leads MSU in runs scored (13), batting average (.667), and six stolen bases. In 18 at-bats, he has 12 hits, 11 of them singles.
For Robson, who set a career-high with three hits Friday night in a 6-2 win against Marshall and tied it Saturday with three more in an 18-2 victory against Alabama A&M, the spot he hits in the order doesn’t matter.
“I’m not really worried about where I am in the lineup,” Robson said. “I’m just thinking about doing my thing and sticking to my guys. Using my speed and putting the ball in play is my thing so where I hit in the lineup doesn’t really matter as long as I’m helping the team win.”
Robson has been plenty of help. Through six games, MSU has scored 72 runs, an average of 12 per game. The Bulldogs have been productive using a little bit of everything, They have six home runs, which is 10 off the total his by the 2014 team. But the Bulldogs also have thrived using skill sets like that of Robson and leadoff hitter Seth Heck, who have combined to score 23 runs.
“I’m not surprised our offense is kind of taking the team, making us so successful,” Robson said. “We know we have to put pressure on teams, so that’s what we are doing.”
Robson’s prodigious .783 on-base clip has him in position to use his other gifts, namely his blazing speed. The redshirt sophomore has stolen a team-high six bases and has been caught once.
That speed, and ability to put the ball in play, might go against most baseball norms, which dictate a home run threat should be in the No. 5 spot in the order. But MSU coach John Cohen isn’t conventional, and neither is Robson.
“His game is a little different than most,” Cohen said of Robson, who had one hit in 2014 before losing most of his freshman season due to a leg injury. “He’s going to use his speed. He’s going to use the bunt. He’s going to pressure you with the ground ball, and he really uses his skill set, which is running. He’s a guy that can really put pressure on a defense.”
Robson has done that this weekend. In the first two games, he had six hits in eight at-bats and scored four runs. To Cohen, Robson’s start is due to an unmatched work ethic.
“He is a guy that wants to be good,” Cohen said. “Since last season, he has worked extremely hard to get to where he is, and he continues to work. That with his talent is a great combination.”
Robson’s start has been a critical part of MSU’s game plan, as the Bulldogs are outscoring opponents by a little more than 11 runs per game.
Against Marshall, Robson’s skills were on full display. He singled in three of his first four at-bats and stole three bases. He also scored on a pair of hits by freshman Ryan Gridley.
That tandem continued to wreak havoc Saturday, as Robson singled three times and walked in front of Gridley. That resulted in a three-run inside-the-park home run and an RBI double for Gridley, who has seven hits in his first 11 career at-bats.
“We have guys on this team that can really use speed and put the ball in play to mess with defenses,” Gridley said. “Robson is one of those guys, so is Heck. This is a fun team to play for.”
Robson is one of four Bulldogs hitting better than .500. Gridley is at .636 and Heck is hitting .522 with 12 hits in 23 at-bats. Redshirt freshman Brent Rooker is coming on as well. He’s hitting .500 with two home runs. Rooker led MSU with five RBIs against Alabama A&M.
MSU-Marshall suspended
Off to a 6-0 start, MSU looked poised to make it seven-straight wins late Saturday afternoon, but then the rains came.
With MSU leading Marshall 3-1 in the top of the sixth, rain forced the suspension of the day’s final game. It will be completed this afternoon.
Marshall and Alabama A&M are scheduled to play at 11 a.m. today. MSU and Alabama A&M are slated to close the weekend at 3 p.m.
The Bulldogs and Thundering Herd will resume their game after the conclusion of the Marshall-Alabama A&M game. Marshall will be at bat in the top of the sixth.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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