STARKVILLE — Cade Smith knows Mississippi State’s pitching rotation is far from settled just two weekends into the season.
“You’ve still got to show up every day to compete,” Smith said. “Everybody out there is still trying to earn a spot. There’s no comfortability right now. Everybody is still showing up to the field every day, and who knows? Somebody else could have that Sunday spot.”
For now, though, Sunday remains Smith’s day to take the mound — possibly for good.
The sophomore turned in his second straight strong start as No. 7 Mississippi State (4-3) beat Northern Kentucky (1-5) by a score of 7-2 at Dudy Noble Field.
Smith struck out seven and allowed just one unearned run in five solid innings, giving up just three hits along the way.
“He’s got good stuff, and he’s locating well right now,” coach Chris Lemonis said. “He’s pitching with a lot of confidence.”
Smith was supported by seven runs in a three-inning span as the Bulldogs won for the second straight day after losing Friday’s series opener, 7-6.
Brad Cumbest and Luke Hancock hit two-run home runs in the third and fourth innings, respectively, after freshman Aaron Downs’ two-run single led to a three-run second.
Mississippi State has 20 hits in its past two games after Saturday’s 10-1 win over the Norse, and Cumbest said the Bulldogs have to keep it rolling.
“We’ve got to keep stacking days on days,” Cumbest said. “That will lead to a better team.”
Cumbest said MSU played without energy in each of its three losses: Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 to No. 12 Long Beach State and Friday to NKU.
When Mississippi State focuses, though, it’s not easy to take down the Bulldogs on their own home field.
“If we dial in and we play good baseball, it’s going to be hard to beat us,” Cumbest said.
Such was the case Sunday as MSU struck for five quick runs off NKU starter Kaden Echeman in 2.2 innings. Matt Corder opened the scoring in the second with a line-drive single into left before Downs sent a hard-hit grounder up the middle to bring home a pair of runners.
The freshman from Heritage Academy went 2 for 4 on the day, hitting the ball hard — albeit on the ground — in every plate appearance. Downs, who came to Heritage from Pella, Iowa, made his first appearance of the season Sunday.
“Fun to see him out there,” Lemonis said. “He’s worked hard, and they’ve worked a ton on his swing. He had some big hits.”
Lemonis praised a good performance by the “big three” in the middle of the Bulldogs’ lineup. Kamren James, Hancock and Logan Tanner had five hits in all, including Hancock’s two-run shot to right field off reliever Tyler Murphy.
Hancock was charged with an error in the fifth inning that allowed NKU to score its first run on a Treyvin Moss sacrifice fly. The Norse also scored in the eighth on a walk and a pair of singles against freshman Brooks Auger.
For the second straight week, Brandon Smith took over on the mound for Cade Smith, throwing two scoreless innings. The Richland product struck out three hitters and didn’t allow a hit.
“I thought Brandon Smith was really good today, coming out of the ’pen and just sinking that fastball,” Lemonis said.
Mikey Tepper was shaky in a scoreless ninth as Mississippi State continues to sort out its bullpen mix. Lemonis said he feels better about his rotation than his relief corps so far, but things can change.
“Each day is new for us,” he said. “Since I’ve been here, this is probably my newest-feeling team, and we’re just trying to figure it out. It’s been different lineups. It’s been different pieces. We’ve got good players; we’ve just got to figure out how to put our best team out there.”
Mississippi State will host Grambling State (2-4) at 4 p.m. Tuesday before facing Southern Miss (5-2) at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Pearl.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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