STARKVILLE — After leading 2-0 for much of the game, the Mississippi State baseball team allowed three runs after the bullpen took over for starter Cade Smith and fell 3-2 to No. 17 Auburn on Saturday night at Dudy Noble Field.
The game was largely uneventful through the first six innings. Mississippi State got solo home runs from Hunter Hines and Kellum Clark during the second inning and got six solid innings of work from Smith, who allowed four hits through six innings, striking out five.
The trouble began for the Bulldogs in the 7th inning, when Kason Howell put the Tigers on the board with an RBI double off Jackson Fristoe. They drew level immediately after as a ball hit between second and third caused confusion between Lane Forsythe and Slate Alford, allowing Howell to get home.
“We gotta make some plays,” MSU coach Chris Lemonis said. “For some reason we weren’t moving tonight, and some balls went through the infield that looked like we were gonna catch them. We gotta do a better job, and we’ll work on that Monday morning.”
In the eighth Brooks Carlson put the Tigers in front with an RBI double off of Pico Kohn, giving them a 3-2 advantage and putting pressure on the Bulldogs to make something happen.
They nearly did.
With pinch-runner Matt Corder on second base with two outs in the ninth, Brad Cumbest lined a hit into shallow left. Corder rounded third and headed home. The throw came in on time, and while they play was close, Corder was ruled out, correctly it was determined after a review.
Game 3 went to the Tigers after close losses in Games 1 and 2 as the Bulldogs moved to 21-16 on the season. It’s an important series win for the Bulldogs, who bounced back after getting swept at home by LSU Tigers the weekend prior, but there’s still plenty of work to do.
The Bulldogs host Jackson State on Tuesday before traveling to Oxford next weekend for their next SEC series against the No. 25 Ole Miss.
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