STARKVILLE — In the Mississippi State baseball team’s well-documented offensive struggles through March, the catcher position was offering little relief. Marshall Gilbert entered this weekend’s series against No. 3 Ole Miss (27-6, 7-5 Southeastern Conference) with a .238 batting average and Dustin Skelton was getting more starts with his .193.
The same position rose to the occasion when MSU (17-16, 4-8 SEC) needed it most.
Catchers proved pivotal throughout the weekend, but particularly on Sunday in MSU’s series-clinching 7-5 win in 11 innings. Gilbert saved a run with his sweeping tag in the fourth inning on a throw from junior center fielder Jake Mangum.
“That was awesome. Gilbert had a great day (Saturday), he’s been great behind the plate,” Mangum said, referencing Gilbert’s three hits in the first game of the series. “We have two catchers that alternate behind the plate and both have done an awesome job.”
Skelton entered the game in extra innings and threw out Thomas Dillard trying to steal second, representing the go-ahead run.
Defensive changes
For the first half of his freshman season, Tanner Allen had settled into a designated hitter role. At one point he recalled a conversation with assistant coach Jake Gautreau, who told Allen he wanted him in the field but Allen passed; everything was going well at the time, for him and the team, so he saw no reason to change.
Recently, the change has been made and it has not slowed Allen down at all. He has started the last six games at first base and has continued to produce at the plate, collecting four hits in the series against the Rebels.
“I like it a lot. I feel like I’m going to compete my rear end off every day over there to get us a win,” Allen said. “I’m in the game, it keeps me in the game. DH is awesome, but I like being on the field and giving my team a chance to win.”
Fellow freshman Josh Hatcher was previously manning first base and the move put him at designated hitter most of the time, but he did get one start at left field in the Ole Miss series, his first of the season in a position that has been a revolving door of late. MSU interim coach Gary Henderson said Hatcher came into the program as an outfielder, so such a move has always been a possibility.
Columbus native returns
Former New Hope High School standout Will Golsan started all three games in center field for Ole Miss, going 2-for-11 from the plate with one RBI on a sacrifice fly on Sunday. He exits the series with a .244 batting average with 11 of his 31 hits going for extra bases.
Smith adjusts
With MSU holding onto a 4-3 lead, Henderson turned back to relief pitcher Cole Gordon, who had already pitched 1 2/3 innings, instead of bringing in closer Blake Smith, who was warming up in the bullpen. Smith entered the game with Rebels on second and third and retired all three batters he faced, two of those three scoring runs on sacrifice flies to give Ole Miss a one-run lead. He ultimately carried MSU through extra innings, pitching three scoreless innings with one hit and no walks allowed, striking out one.
“I felt great about it. (Gordon) got the five previous guys out and the last time we had him in that situation he did great,” Henderson said. “I don’t know that we will or won’t do the same exact thing the next time, but he’ll be better because of that today and obviously got to be pleased with what Blake did out of the bullpen, three scoreless.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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