STARKVILLE — Sunday’s opening weekend series finale between Mississippi State and Air Force was as big a game for two reasons; first, to decide a series, but also to watch sophomore Jurrangelo Cijntje make his season debut.
The ambidextrous starter got the nod for the Bulldogs and aside from a potential injury concern in the third inning, shoved on the mound.
Cijntje allowed one run in four innings, striking out eight Falcons in the process, but the damage for MSU came an inning later, a five-run fifth that broke a deadlocked 2-2 game wide open.
From there, it was the Bulldogs bullpen who kept Air Force at bay, securing a series win with an emphatic 10-2 blowout victory.
“I thought [Cijntje] was really good,” head coach Chris Lemonis said. “It was pretty impressive. He made some great pitches against some outstanding hitters in their lineup.”
Where Mississippi State (2-1) couldn’t produce runs on Saturday, runs were plentiful on Sunday as the Bulldogs didn’t squander many chances with runners on base.
In the fifth and sixth innings alone, the Bulldogs had three run-scoring hits, finishing the game 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position and 6-for-18 with runners on base.
The first of Sunday’s big hits came off the bat of Pittsburgh transfer Johnny Long. The Bulldogs had plated three already in the inning and loaded the bases with two outs when Long delivered the eventual knockout blow, a two-run single that put MSU up 7-2.
It was the cherry on top of a five-run fifth, and Mississippi State piled on in the sixth as center field became a house of nightmares for Falcons junior Chase Spencer.
“It was huge,” first baseman Hunter Hines said. “We were a little bit too antsy. We’re a great offense and we know that, so when we start finding barrels, it’s easier. … Today, we relaxed a bit and showed our true offense”
Spencer lost two balls in the sun during the inning, leading to three runs scored as Dakota Jordan teed off on Gaines Estridge, sending a liner into the Left Field Lounge for a two-run home run, his second of the series and the season.
“I feel good,” Jordan said. “I still feel like there’s way more to improve. I feel like I could have done way more damage, but a pretty good weekend overall.”
The top-half of the lineup made the biggest difference as Jordan, Hines and Bryce Chance all recorded multi-hit games. Hines had an especially big day, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, double and three runs scored.
Eight of nine starters recorded a hit, six scored at least one run and five drove in a run, with Connor Hujsak, Jordan and Long finishing with multi-RBI days.
On the mound, it was a near-flawless performance from the Bulldog bullpen after Cijntje’s day was done. Five relievers combined to post five innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and striking out eight.
That included a scoreless frame from true freshman Luke Dotson, making his college debut as he struck out two.
“We’re going to need all of those guys,” Lemonis said. “They’re really talented. … We’ll use them this week in the mid-weeks.”
Sunday was the time to respond and put together a bounce-back performance after a back-breaker of a finish on Saturday and Mississippi State did just that.
The Bulldogs have their first mid-week action of the season coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday as Austin Peay comes to town.
“I feel like the team just took a deep breath,” Jordan said. “Everybody is experiencing The Dude and how everything goes. … Everyone is just relaxed now.”
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