STARKVILLE — John Cohen is seeing a workmanlike attitude from his team.
The Mississippi State baseball coach has been impressed with how the Bulldogs have handled the rigors of the Southeastern Conference and midweek games the last few weeks. MSU has taken series from SEC foes Vanderbilt, Georgia, Ole Miss, and then-No. 1 Florida. In that time, the Bulldogs are 3-0 in midweek games.
No. 2 MSU exhibited that workmanlike attitude Wednesday night in an 11-1 victory against Memphis at Dudy Noble Field. The victory helped MSU (24-9-1) matched last season’s win total.
“I think it’s a ton of healthy guys and some additions of some kids who are really good players,” Cohen said. “The kids we had a year ago worked every bit as hard as these guys. They had as every bit the same attitude. It’s just a difference of (Gavin) Collins being healthier than he was a year ago and some guys coming in and doing a good job who are new to our program.”
Last season, MSU started 13-0 and finished 24-30 and missed the postseason. This season, MSU has done a better job keeping its focus and bouncing back from losses. After sweeping Oregon a month ago, MSU lost to Eastern Kentucky and Oral Roberts in mid-week games. The Bulldogs were in control against the Colonels, but late mistakes opened the door for the loss. Against the Golden Eagles, the Bulldogs struggled offensively and couldn’t right the ship.
Since then MSU is 12-4.
“It’s not very hard to improve on a season like last year,” said MSU left fielder Reid Humphreys, who was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. “It was tough and we went through a lot of things last year. That’s kind of made us who were are now.”
On Wednesday, MSU fell behind Memphis (12-21) 1-0 on a Jacob Elliott RBI single in the second inning. But Brent Rooker hit a two-run home run to left field in the bottom of the inning to give the Bulldogs the lead for good.
Rooker, who has struggled in the last couple of weeks, went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. He had an RBI double in the seventh.
“This could have been a trap game pretty easily coming off a win at No. 1, but we were focused on the present,” Rooker said. “We came out here, played really well, and did what we needed to do.”
Humphreys doubled in two runs in the third, while Gavin Collins hit a solo home run and Ryan Gridley had a two-run single in the fifth. After Rooker’s double in the seventh, Gridley recorded his third RBI with a sacrifice fly. Pinch hitter Luke Alexander hit a two-run home run to left field in the eighth to end the scoring.
“We know we’ve got something special going, and we don’t want to do anything to ruin that,” Humphreys said. “We come to the yard every day trying to get better.”
MSU used seven pitchers. Starter Keegan James lasted 1 1/3 innings and allowed a run on two hits. Freshman left-hander Kale Breaux (2-1) lasted 2 1/3 innings and walked one and surrendered one hit. He struck out three. Ryan Cyr allowed one hit in two innings, and Ethan Small, Daniel Brown, and Vance Tatum pitched an inning and gave up one hit and walked two.
Cohen said improvement on the mound has come from competition.
“Every single arm that goes out there is fighting to show us they can pitch on the weekends,” Cohen said. “It’s really fun to watch those guys compete against each other, and that’s the way it ought to be.”
It would have been easy for MSU to lose its focus after coming off an emotional series win and knowing No. 4 Texas A&M (26-7, 7-5 SEC) is waiting. The Bulldogs, who lead the SEC Western Division with an 8-4 record, will play host to the Aggies this weekend as a part of Super Bulldog Weekend.
“They didn’t look past these guys (Memphis), and these guys have played really well against us in recent years,” Cohen said.
n In other baseball news, Cohen said freshman right-hander Noah Hughes will have Tommy John surgery today and will miss the rest of the season.
The Jackson native was 0-0 with an 8.22 ERA in 7 2/3 innings. He allowed seven runs (all earned) on nine hits. He walked four and struck out six.
“That’s really going to hurt our club,” Cohen said. “It’s just a shame because he had pitched so well for us. Hopefully we’ll get him back for next year.”
Cohen said junior center fielder Jacob Robson (left hand) has been practicing, but he is unsure when the Windsor, Ontario, Canada, native will return to the lineup. Robson has missed the last five games.
“He’s really chomping at the bit to get back out there, and every day I think he gets a little bit better,” Cohen said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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