COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The No. 9 Mississippi State baseball team’s offense was held in check Thursday in a 9-2 loss to No. 16 Texas A&M in Game 1 of a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Blue Bell Park.
Texas A&M (34-13, 14-8 SEC) broke open a tight game with a grand-slam in a five-run fourth inning.
The loss dropped MSU to 30-17 and 14-8. The teams are tied for second place in the Western Division, a half-game behind Auburn.
MSU dropped its series opener for only the third time in eight conference weekends.
“We didn’t play sharp early in the game,” MSU coach Andy Cannizaro said. “We did battle, but we didn’t execute well enough. We had chances and couldn’t get a bunt down. We had a tough night in a hostile environment.
“The grand slam really hurt us. That switched all the momentum in the game.”
Texas A&M scored three times in the second. MSU climbed back into the game with two runs in the top half of the fourth. Texas A&M answered with five runs in the home half of the inning and tacked on an insurance score in the seventh.
MSU starter Konnor Pilkington (5-4) lasted only 3 1/3 innings for his shortest start of the season. He allowed five hits and seven runs (all earned), with three strikeouts and four walks. Peyton Plumlee allowed the grand slam to second baseman Braden Shewmake.
Jacob Barton and Brant Blaylock combined to throw the last three innings for the Bulldogs.
Texas A&M starter Brigham Hill (7-3) was lifted after hitting a batter to start the eighth. He allowed seven hits and two runs (both earned), with six strikeouts and no walks. The Bulldogs were held to one hit in the final five innings.
MSU had three hits for their runs in the fourth. Cody Brown and Elijah MacNamee had RBI singles.
MSU had seven hits and stranded seven runners. The Bulldogs had no multiple hitters.
Texas A&M had 11 hits. Nick Choruby had three hits, while Shewmake and Cole Bedford had two.
Game 2 will be at 6:30 tonight. The game will air on SEC Network+ via WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.
n In related news, junior shortstop Ryan Gridley was named Thursday to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team.
An Academic All-District infield selection for District 6, Gridley and other selections are recognized as the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
A native of Milton, Georgia, Gridley has compiled a 3.78 grade-point average as a Business Administration major, along with having been named to the 2015 and 2016 SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Through 46 games, Gridley is hitting .341 on the season, with 10 doubles, one triple and five home runs for 33 RBIs. His defense has also been a strong point as he has been a part of 25 double plays and nine runners caught stealing.
First-team CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees will be placed on the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second-, and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be selected later this month.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution, and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
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