LEXINGTON, Ky. — Sophomore designed hitter Reid Humphreys slugged a pair of home runs Sunday afternoon to spark the No. 20 Mississippi State baseball team’s 12-5 victory against Kentucky in the final game of a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
MSU salvaged the final game of the series after Kentucky earned wins Friday and Saturday. MSU improved to 18-8 and 2-4 in the SEC, while Kentucky fell to 15-7 and 2-4.
Sophomore left-hander Vance Tatum (3-0) threw the team’s third complete game of the season, and the first of his career. Tatum allowed 11 hits and five runs (all earned). He walked four and struck out one in a 125-pitch effort.
Tatum threw seven innings in his first conference start last Sunday against Alabama.
“Vance Tatum is one of those kids who looks forward to challenges,” MSU coach John Cohen said. “This was a big challenge. He was facing a Kentucky lineup which has been swinging it well against us. It wasn’t pretty but it was a win.”
After hitting seven home runs in their first 23 games, the Bulldogs hit six in the three-game series.
The Bulldogs never trailed Sunday. MSU built a 3-0 lead and then broke a 3-3 tie with six runs in the fifth inning — the biggest output in an inning in a conference game this season.
MSU built the 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout by Seth Heck in the third. The lead grew to 3-0 when Humphreys sliced a two-run shot down the right-field line in the fourth.
In the fifth, Ryan Gridley reached on an infield error. Jacob Robson then beat out a bunt single. Heck followed with a bunt to load the bases.
Gavin Collins followed with a two-run double. After Kentucky’s second error of the inning scored another run, Humphreys hit his fourth home run of the year — a three-run shot to left center.
That hit ended the day for Kentucky starter Kyle Cody (2-2). Cody pitched four-plus innings, allowing seven hits and nine runs (six earned), with three walks and no strikeouts. Six additional Wildcats pitched.
MSU added to the lead with a two-run double from Cody Brown in the sixth and an RBI single from Collins in the eighth.
MSU then followed with the game’s biggest defensive play in the home half of the eighth. With the bases loaded and no outs, Tatum worked out of the jam when Wes Rea snagged a ball at first base and converted the line drive double play.
A pop up ended that threat and Tatum worked around two base runners in the ninth to close out the win.
MSU finished with a series-best 12 hits. Robson had a career-best four hits, while Collins had three. Brown and Humphreys each had multiple hits. Humphreys had a career-best five RBIs, while Brown and Collins each drove in a career-best three runs.
Kentucky had 11 hits. Kyle Barrett had three hits in the game and eight hits in the series for the Wildcats. Ka’ai Tom, Dorian Hairston, and Greg Fettes each had two hits..
MSU will take on Southern Mississippi at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Trustmark Park in Pearl.
Men’s golf
n Wood helps Bulldogs move into ninth after first round: At Williamsburg, Virginia, After a week off, the men’s golf team shot a team round of 292 and is tied for ninth after the opening round of the Middleburg Bank Intercollegiate.
Ben Wood rifled a one-under-par 69 to pace the Bulldogs and place in sixth place after round one. Wood sits two shots back of the co-leaders.
Ben Follett-Smith carded a 72 and is tied for 25th. Freshman Taylor Grant shot a first round 75 and is tied for 67th. Tim Walker carded a 76 and is tied for 81st. Tim Walker shot an 81 and is tied for 133rd.
Women’s tennis
n No. 27 women’s tennis loses to No. 2 Florida: At Gainesville, Florida, Louise Ronaldson and Timea Guibe earned singles victories Sunday, but the women’s tennis team (13-5, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) lost to No. 2 Florida (15-1, 7-0) 5-2 at the Ring Tennis Complex.
Ronaldson and Guibe earned their first ranked victories of the season. Ronaldson earned a 7-5, 0-6, 1-0 (6) decision on No. 4 against No. 32 Belinda Woolcock, while Guibe won 2-6, 7-6 (1), 1-0 (11) victory at No. 6 against No. 119 Peggy Porter.
Men’s tennis
n Rain reschedules match against LSU for April 12: At Starkville, Rain forced the No. 35 men’s tennis team’s match against No. 23 LSU to be rescheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
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