TUCSON, Ariz. — The No. 12 Mississippi State baseball team saw its seven-game winning streak snapped Friday with an 8-3 loss to California-Santa Barbara in the opening game of the Hi Corbett Classic. Arizona beat MSU 12-3 in the second game.
UCSB (8-1) ran its winning streak to seven games by pounding out 17 hits, the most allowed by MSU pitching this season and later matched by Arizona. Despite strong offense from the Gauchos, the Bulldogs still held a 2-1 lead entering the sixth inning.
UCSB scored four runs in the sixth and added three more scores in the seventh off a total of seven pitchers. Ben Bracewell (2-1) took the loss after being chased with out in the sixth.
MSU had six hits, including a multi-hit game from Demarcus Henderson. The Bulldogs built a 2-0 lead by scoring twice on double play ground ball outs with the bases loaded.
Joey Epperson paced UCSB with four hits. Andrew Calica added three hits, and two RBIs, while Scott Quinlan and Jackson Morrow each added two hits and two RBIs. Robby Nesovic also had multiple hits.
An infield single by Calica tied the contest. An RBI single by Quinlan put the Gauchos on top for good.
Out of the bullpen, MSU’s Myles Gentry and Vance Tatum combined for 2 2/3 innings of shutout relief to end the game.
The Bulldogs tried to rally in the ninth when Brett Pirtle doubled and Seth Heck reached on an infield error. A sacrifice fly by C.T. Bradford scored MSU’s final run. A strikeout and groundout ended that threat.
In the second game, Arizona also had 17 hits and scored in six innings off three pitchers.
Starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (1-2) worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and six runs (all earned), with four walks and four strikeouts. Austin Sexton and Tatum followed in relief.
MSU scored its lone run in the second on an RBI single by Jake Vickerson. Arizona built on its 2-1 lead with a run in the third and three scores in the fourth and sixth.
For Arizona (7-7), Trent Gilbert led the way with a 5-for-5 night and six RBIs. Scott Kingery and Kevin Newman each had three hits.
MSU had eight hits, including a multi-hit night by Heck. The Bulldogs scored twice in the ninth.
Senior right-hander James Farris (3-1) pitched into the ninth to get the victory.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.