STARKVILLE — Stone Simmons’ comeback season was going as well as Mississippi State could have hoped for. That is, until Friday night.
Coming off multiple elbow injuries that required surgery, Simmons has been one of the Bulldogs’ most important bullpen arms, and through 12 innings across five appearances in Southeastern Conference play, he had allowed just one unearned run, striking out 16 batters without issuing a walk.
But following five strong innings from starter Pico Kohn, who had 11 strikeouts in the series opener against Florida, MSU handed the ball to Simmons, and he was not missing any barrels. All six Gators who came to the plate against Simmons hit safely, and all six came around to score. The Bulldogs’ lead quickly evaporated, and Florida continued to pour it on in a 13-3, eight-inning victory.
“He’s been so good lately. He hadn’t given up an (earned) run in SEC play. But man, he was in the middle of the plate,” Lemonis said. “He’s been so good at pitching with command. There were a lot of balls down the middle, and they’re too good. They got hot and they put them all together.”
The big sixth inning started with a single from Brody Donay, who came all the way home for the tying run on a double by Hayden Yost. Ashton Wilson reached on a bunt single when MSU third baseman Ace Reese slipped before he could make a throw, and the next three batters all delivered run-scoring hits to spell the end of Simmons’ disastrous outing.
Chase Hungate retired the first batter he faced, but then allowed a three-run home run to Luke Heyman that broke the game wide open. Hungate would leave the game in the seventh due to a spasm in his shoulder, and Lemonis said MSU will not know more on his status going forward for a few days.
The Gators added two more runs in the seventh and then another two in the eighth against Kevin Mannell, who was pitching for the first time in conference play.
“It’s one inning, and it’s a situation where it’s frustrating to everybody, especially myself as a manager,” Lemonis said. “(Simmons) has been one of our rocks down the stretch. I’m sure he’ll bounce back, but we’ll need a better effort tomorrow.”
Things started well for the Bulldogs (23-15, 5-11 SEC), as Gehrig Frei led off the first inning with a home run down the right-field line. Frei has taken over as MSU’s primary leadoff hitter lately, and all three of his homers this season have come leading off the game.
“He’s an everyday guy for us right now,” Lemonis said. “He plays hard and has a lot of good at-bats. Leading off for us, too, that’s a big piece.”
Florida (26-14, 5-11) tied the game on Donay’s first of two homers in the second, but the Bulldogs took advantage of a pair of infield hits in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. Reed Stallman, who entered the game hitless in his last 12 at-bats, hit a solo homer of his own in the fourth off Liam Peterson to make it 3-1. It was part of a three-hit night for the Campbell transfer.
MSU had several hard-hit balls for outs against Peterson, who earned the win with six innings of three-run ball, striking out six with just one walk.
“I felt pretty comfortable,” Stallman said. “We prepared all week for a good righty with a live arm.”
Kohn nearly got out of a trouble spot in the fifth on a double play ball, but second baseman Gatlin Sanders’ relay throw to first was wide, allowing the inning to continue. A wild pitch then brought in a run before Kohn recorded his 11th strikeout for the third out. But at 98 pitches, his night was done, and the bullpen — which had been excellent in series wins over South Carolina and Alabama — had its worst performance of the season.
The series continues Saturday night with Evan Siary starting for the Bulldogs and freshman Aidan King taking the ball for the Gators.
“I wish we’d have turned that double play ball. That probably gives Pico another inning to pitch,” Lemonis said. “I just feel like the momentum started to turn in that little area.”
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