Bulldogs defeat Red Raiders 6-3

BILOXI – Houston Harding held the Texas Tech Raiders in check for 5.2 innings and the Mississippi State Bulldogs came up with a 6-3 win over the No. 2 team in the country on Tuesday night at MGM Park.

Harding (1-0) was very efficient with his 76 pitches and only gave up one run on two hits. He struck out four.

David Dunlavey, Landon

Sims and Spencer MSU head coach Price worked in relief Chris Lemonis said. on the mound “Houston Harding for MSU. Sims had a great effort struck out a batter and kept them offbalance. with runners on We really base in the sixth, competed offensively then struck out the and Landon side in the seventh, HARDING Sims and Spencer while Price retired the side in Price at the end were really the ninth to earn the save. good. I was happy with all

As a staff, the Bulldogs of them tonight.” held the Red Raiders to just After the Bulldogs fell behind three hits. 1-0 early in the game,

“Our kids played great,” they scored three runs in the fifth inning to gain a 3-1 lead. An infield single by Josh Hatcher scored one run, then a walk to Justin Foscue forced Brandon Pimentel across the plate with the second run and Rowdey Jordan drove home Kamren James.

Texas Tech got a run back in the sixth inning, but MSU answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to go up 5-2. Pimentel drove home Landon Jordan, while a double by Jordan Westburg

allowed Rowdey Jordan to score.

That would have been enough for the Bulldogs, but they added one more run in the seventh for insurance when Logan Tanner had an RBI single.

The Red Raiders (16-2) added one run off Sims in the eighth, but it was not enough as Sims did not allow anything more and Price shut the door in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts.

Sims had six strikeouts during his 2.1 innings.

Westburg and Hatcher led the nine-hit attack for MSU with two hits each. Both of Westburg's hits were doubles. Foscue also had a double for the only other extra base hit for the Bulldogs.

Carlisle Koestler (0-1, 5.40) is expected to get the start for MSU in today's final game of the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.