Bulldogs edged when strikes hard to find
Mississippi State fans suffered through four months of struggles on the mound last season in the team's first losing season since 2015 and things haven't looked much more promising two games into the year in 2023.
As bad as last season was, it was much worse in Saturday's debacle for the Bulldog pitching staff. Five State pitchers surrendered 12 walks and the team gave up 11 stolen bases as MSU had a nine-run lead blown and were dealt one of the most embarrassing losses of the Chris Lemonis era in a 14-13 defeat at Dudy Noble Field.
“We've got to throw strikes, especially with a team that can really run, (and) takes advantage of the base-running game,” Lemonis said. “I think we gave them 13 free bases, then we gave up a bunch of stolen bases. It's not a good combination. Give credit to VMI. They played really well, they never quit, they kept on play, got the momentum and we couldn't get it back.”
The day started with fans wondering whether or not the Bulldogs could get a run-rule. Instead, it turned into a nightmare for MSU fans.
State's pitchers and defense allowed a blowout to become a VMI lead by the seventh inning. The Bulldogs scored 10 runs in the first two innings to go up 10-1. In the first inning, 12 batters came to the plate for MSU with a home run and double by Colton Ledbetter highlighting the eight-run frame. Hunter Hines doubled in the second to get the Bulldogs quickly to the double digit run threshold as they batted through the order twice.
Starter KC Hunt couldn't pitch effectively with the lead and he foreshadowed what was a major issue for MSU pitchers. Hunt gave up four runs on four walks in the third frame to allow VMI to get something going.
“I think we lost focus a little bit in terms of pounding the strike zone, going after them and making them hit,” Lemonis said. “We gave them momentum that they didn't have to earn early, then they got a couple of big hits and all of a sudden we had a ball game, and we didn't respond well.”
VMI steadily worked its way back into the game. The team had four runs in the third, two in the fourth and fifth each and four more in the seventh. The two four-run innings featured just one hit as VMI did its work walking and stealing bases. The seventh is when the Bulldogs lost the lead for good as a two-out double brought home two runs. VMI got one more with two outs in the ninth to extend it.
State's offense went cold after those first two innings before making some noise in the ninth. With one out, Amani Larry and Colton Ledbetter came through with backto-back doubles and that closed the game to 14-13. With a runner 90 feet away from tying it, Hines struck out to end a day to forget at the ball park.
Make no mistake, the hitting was not to blame. the Bulldogs pounded out 13 runs on 17 hits with six doubles, two home runs and six walks. MSU also had just two strikeouts for the second day in a row, delivering another big day at the plate.
It was a second-straight day of big things from State's new faces. Ledbetter had the big day on Saturday with a 4-for-5 afternoon on two doubles, a home run and an incredible six RBI. Redshirt freshman Bryce Chance had a 3-for-4 day for the secondstraight afternoon and followed up his three-rbi game one with four.
Hancock had a 3-for-4 game as well with two doubles and Amani Larry followed up a four-hit game one by going 2-for-5 with two more doubles.
The promising offense for the Bulldogs takes a back seat to a pitching staff that is following last year's issues with commanding the strike zone. Hunt, Parker Stinnett and newcomers Tyler Davis, Colby Holcombe and Nate Dohm combined to surrender just seven hits, but they gave up 14 runs on 12 walks. The defense didn't come through either as Hancock had 11 players steal bases with no caught stealing and MSU had three errors.
The Bulldogs had 12 strikeouts as a staff, but the walks made that stat a moot point.
MSU (1-1) will try to bounce back today in a 1 p.m. battle with VMI. Memphis transfer Landon Gartman will be making his debut on the mound.