That all-too familiar feeling of leaving too much meat left on the bone for Mississippi State crept back in on Saturday in the team’s winner’s bracket bout with Cincinnati in the Starkville Regional as the Bulldogs kept putting runners on bases but just couldn’t find that big swing.
A solo homer by Ace Reese in the first inning was countered by an RBI single by RBI single by the Bearcats’ Christian Mitchelle to knot the game at 1-1, and State kept on hitting but just couldn’t break through.
It was an issue that plagued the team during the regular season, and with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, the biggest moment of the year so far, Bryce Change delivered turned the tables.
The senior hammered a single to drive in the tie-breaking run and provide a surge the Bulldogs’ offense needed. State added two more runs to close the inning and had no issue pulling away for a 10-5 victory.
State advances to play the winner of Sunday’s Louisiana-Cincinnati contest at 7 p.m. in the regional finale.
Staring down that 1-1 tie in the sixth, the Bulldogs (42-17) had left 10 runners on bases already before Chance broke through. That momentum powered up the team and Gehrig Frei belted a two-run double to give State a quick 4-1 lead.
With seven strikeouts in his pocket already and only four hits given up, MSU ace Tomas Valincius quickly got through the top of the sixth inning to put the red-hot Bulldogs back at the plate – and they took advantage. Reed Stallman delivered a one-run double, Vytus Valincius stole home during a wild pitch to add to the lead and Kevin Milewski put a stamp on the inning with a two-run blast to go up 8-1.
The Bulldogs didn’t let up and kept on attacking for the remainder of the game. Stallman belted a two-out and two-run double in the seventh for State’s last score.
It was another monster outing for Tomas on the mound with 10 strikeouts on the day. The Bearcats (38-21), who hit six home runs against Louisiana on Saturday, were kept in check to only four hits with zero walks through Tomas’ first seven innings. Creeping past 100 pitches thrown in the eighth inning, Tomas walked two batters and gave up an RBI single to Ryan Tyranski to stop Bearcats’ bleeding. Maddox Webb came in for relief, and walked two batters to give Cincinnati a free score.
It wasn’t all roses for MSU from there as Webb was pulled for Ben Davis, who struggled to put the Bearcats away. In the ninth inning Davis gave up a single and an error during a fielder’s choice put two on the bags before a single by Charlie Niehaus scored another run. Tyranski grounded out to allow another Bearcat score, but Davis got Derrick Pitts out swinging and finished the game by striking out Quinton Coats.
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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
