Bulldogs lose first series to Rebels since 2015
OXFORD – Ole Miss looked like a team on the verge of being dead and buried late in its game on Saturday night and then the rival Mississippi State Bulldogs gave the Rebels life.
After MSU blew a 7-3 lead and eventually gifted Ole Miss a win in 12 innings, that rolled over into Sunday.
MSU gave up four runs in the first three innings and was dominated by Rebel starter Mason Nichols on the way to a 14-2 blowout loss in just seven innings.
The loss gave Ole Miss a series win over the Bulldogs for the first time since 2015.
The series win broke up seven-straight series victories for MSU over the Rebels and ended what had been a eightgame losing streak this year for Ole Miss.
“I thought from the eighth inning when it did turn, they had a good inning or two, but we fought our (expletive) off last night," Bulldog head coach Chris Lemonis said. "We just didn't make it happen. What happens when you lose a walk off like that, it gives the other team a lot of momentum and I think you tip your hats to Ole Miss. They took that momentum and played with it (Sunday).
“Emptying the bullpens (Saturday) had an impact on (Sunday). We've got to finish games out. We've had a couple of them in the league. We got four-run lead in the eight and leads in the ninth and we don't finish it. It's not just about pitching, it's about everything. It's about making plays.”
MSU did a little bit of everything badly on Sunday. The Diamond Dawgs had just two hits in the first six innings off of Nichols as he made his second start. The former reliever threw a career-high 6.1 frames giving up just four hits, two runs, one earned, zero walks and he struck out four batters.
The Rebels came into the game being outscored 43-11 in games three of a series in Southeastern Conference play but had no trouble with
MSU on Sunday. Ole Miss out-hit the Bulldogs 16-4 in the game and deliver the worst loss of the season for an MSU team that has been more competitive this year.
Bulldog pitchers gave up runs in six of the seven innings with two or more runs in three frames. The top five in the order for the Rebels all had two hits with six of the nine starters notching multiple base knocks.
Evan Siary (0-3) lasted just two innings in his start for MSU as the Rebels teed off for five hits and three runs. Cole Cheatham, Colby Holcombe and Luke Dotson combined to throw four innings giving up 10 hits, 10 runs, four walks and struck out four batters.
Logan Forsythe came in during the seventh and faced one batter as Will Furniss delivered a three-run walk-off home run.
As bad as the Bulldogs were on the mound, they were about as poor at the plate. MSU had just four hits in the seven innings with Hunter Hines delivering an
RBI double in the third and Logan Kohler had a basesloaded walk.
The Bulldogs (22-14, 7-8 SEC) had a chance to make a move closer to postseason play but they are putting pressure on themselves as the SEC schedule heats up. MSU has Super Bulldog Weekend next weekend as Auburn comes to town for a threegame series beginning Friday night. MSU hosts Alcorn State tonight at 6 p.m. Pico Kohn will get the start on the mound for the Bulldogs against the Braves.
“I think we've got a great team," Lemonis said. "We're starting the second half of SEC play and get three of the series at home to finish the SEC slate. We've shown we can play with anybody. (Saturday) night we were playing as well as we can until we get to the eighth inning. We've got to continue that. We've got to continue to get better. The best teams keep improving through this and we've got to be a team that improves.”