STARKVILLE — Seven straight batters reached base for Mississippi State to start the first inning Tuesday evening against Jackson State, and they all came around to score.
The Bulldogs needed to quickly erase the sting of being swept at home by Texas over the weekend to start Southeastern Conference play, and the seven-run first helped them accomplish that in a 16-3, seven-inning midweek victory over the Tigers at Dudy Noble Field.
“These games, actually, they can be tricky sometimes,” MSU head coach Chris Lemonis said. “Coming out after big weekends and playing midweeks, I was happy with our focus level and energy level. Getting a lead there lets you play a little more relaxed and lets a lot of guys play, which is good for the team.”
Lemonis would know about the pitfalls of midweeks — his team lost four of them to inferior opponents last year, and even against Jackson State, the Bulldogs fell behind by five runs in the first two innings before putting up 13 in the third and cruising from there. MSU’s two midweek losses this season have come against much stronger opposition, and there was no drama whatsoever this time around.
Reed Stallman got things started with a three-run home run well over the right-field wall, and Gatlin Sanders and Dylan Cupp each added a two-run single later in the first. The Bulldogs (14-7) scored two more runs in the second, and then Joe Powell hit a three-run shot in the fourth for his first homer of the year to put the game into run-rule territory.
“We have a deep lineup,” said Sanders, a transfer from Jones College who made his ninth straight start at second base. “We have a lot of good guys coming off the bench. More at-bats have been good and (I’ve been) just getting into a groove.”
Noah Sullivan, the usual starting designated hitter, made his second start on the mound and allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts. He was a regular starter last season at South Carolina Upstate, with a 4.88 ERA in 75 ⅔ innings.
“The big part is saving innings for our big-time guys who throw Friday, Saturday, Sunday,” Sullivan said. “This upcoming weekend is huge for us, so any way I can to save innings for those guys and to keep the weight off the bullpen is huge.”
Kevin Mannell was sharp in two innings of relief, striking out six of the seven batters he faced. Nolan Stevens, another two-way player, exited with back tightness after issuing a leadoff walk in the sixth, and Robert Fortenberry struggled after taking over for him, allowing three runs on three hits. Freshman Duke Stone then finished things up with a scoreless seventh, striking out three more to bring the pitching staff’s total for the night to 15.
The big early lead allowed Lemonis to empty the bench as third baseman Sawyer Reeves was the only Bulldog to play the entire game. Reeves typically plays the middle infield but started at third Tuesday in place of Ace Reese, whom Lemonis said will be back for this weekend’s series at No. 10 Oklahoma.
All nine starters hit safely for MSU, as did Landis Davila and Gehrig Frei off the bench. In addition to their 13 hits, the Bulldogs drew 12 walks, including three by Reeves and two each from Michael O’Brien and Stevens.
“These games make me as nervous as some of the weekends,” Lemonis said. “It’s huge to get that lead. I really wanted to get Michael O’Brien some at-bats. I feel like we’re going to need him here. Bryce (Chance) was able to have two good at-bats, come out, get some rest and get some other guys ready. Sawyer Reeves got some at-bats, Gehrig Frei, those are guys who we’re really leaning on and we’re going to need.”
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