Three-Run Fifth Not Enough Against No. 5 LSU

Friday, May 19

Starkville

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

34-21, 17-12

#5 LSU

38-17, 20-9

LSU

Mississippi State

Hunter Stovall went 2-for-4 on the night with 2 RBIs.

Three-Run Fifth Not Enough Against No. 5 LSU

May 19, 2017 | Baseball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – A three-hit night by Jake Mangum led a strong offensive night No. 8 Mississippi State but still was not enough to grab a victory in Southeastern Conference baseball action Friday night.

The Bulldogs walked 11 batters, hit two more and dropped an 11-5 decision to No. 5 LSU at Dudy Noble Field.

With the victory, LSU secured the series win, meaning MSU will finish the season with six series victories.

LSU clinched the Western Division championship while moving to 38-17 overall and 20-9 in league play. The Tigers enter the final day of the regular season tied with Florida for the overall SEC lead. MSU fell to 34-21 and 17-12. The Bulldogs are in sole possession of third place in the division.

"It was a rough start," head coach Andy Cannizaro said. "They started scoring runs early and didn't do a lot to score those runs. We battled in the middle innings and got things tied back up. In the sixth inning, we quit throwing pitches over the plate. You can't beat a team like LSU when you give them that many walks."

The Bulldogs pounded out 10 hits, while stranding nine base runners. Ryan Gridley, Brent Rooker and Hunter Stovall each had multiple hits with two hits apiece.

The story of the game was on the mound. LSU only managed eights but took advantage of the MSU wildness for the victory.

LSU touched MSU starter Denver McQuary for three runs in the first inning. The Tigers drew two walks and a hit batsman in the first inning. Nick Coomes then had a two-run double.

In the home half of the first inning, Gridley singled, Rooker doubled and Mangum singled. One run scored but a pair of strikeouts snuffed that threat.

After McQuary settled down, LSU eventually broke through for another score in the fifth inning.

MSU tied the contest with three runs in the home half of the fifth inning, including an RBI-single by Rooker and a two-run single by Hunter Stovall.

A Josh Smith double started a four-run sixth inning for LSU. Four MSU pitchers were needed to work out of that frame. The Tigers then added three more insurance scores in the seventh inning.

McQuary (2-3) was lifted with two outs in the sixth inning. Trey Jolly and Trysten Barlow both pitched in the sixth inning but neither got an out. Jacob Barton finished the sixth inning and threw two more innings, before giving way to Parker Ford in the ninth inning.

LSU had three hits from Kramer Robertson and two hits from Michael Papierski. Papierski homered in the seventh inning for the Tigers.

Jared Poche' (9-3) pitched five innings to earn the win. Zack Hess finished the sixth inning and the contest for his first save.

The series will conclude on Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network. A Dudy Noble Field groundbreaking ceremony will be held between the Palmeiro Center and Dudy Noble Field at 2 p.m., while the official Celebration Series ceremony will take place prior to first pitch and fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 2:45 p.m.

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