All season, the Southern baseball team showed why it could play against any team in the country. Against Mississippi State Friday afternoon, things were no different.
Starkville, Miss – All season, the Southern University baseball team showed why it could play against any team in the country. Against Mississippi State Friday afternoon, things were no different. Through the top of the fifth inning, the Jaguars maintained a two-run lead and a heavy dose of momentum before the bats got warm for MSU.
However, the Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth and never looked back, defeating the Jaguars 11-6 in the opening game of the 2019 NCAA Starkville Regional.
Mississippi State (47-13) will now face the winner of the Central Michigan and Miami (FL) game Saturday evening.
MSU scored the first run of the game. Center fielder Jake
Mangum was hit by a pitch and shortstop Jordan Westburg walked. When Mangum
advanced to second, first baseman Tanner Allen flied out to advance both Westburg
and Mangum. Then, Bulldogs designated hitter Elijah MacNamee grounded out,
allowing Mangum to cross home plate.
The two teams remained scoreless in the second inning before
both teams added a run respectively in the third inning. In the top of the
fourth, Southern got in a rhythm.
MSU pitcher Brandon Smith came into replace pitcher JT Ginn
and the Jaguars took advantage. SU right fielder Ashanti Wheatley singled to
centerfield to start the inning. After Malik Blaise walked from being hit by a
pitch, Wheatley managed to steal both second and third bases. Bobby Johnson
then hit a RBI single to score Wheatley.
Southern was just getting started. Hampton Hudson singed to
centerfield while Johnson and Blaise moved to second and third base
respectively. Smith then walked Jaguars’ Coby Taylor, allowing Blaise to score
and putting other Jaguars in scoring position.
Jaguar center fielder Javeyan Williams led the way for
Southern third run in the top of the fourth.
Williams flied out to right field, allowing Hudson to advance to third
and plating Johnson. Southern led 4-2.
SU's J. Wiliams flies out to right field…
But, Hudson advances to third and Johnson scores a run for SU.
But like Southern owned the fourth inning, Mississippi State put up four runs in the fifth inning and gained a huge portion of its momentum back, taking a 6-4 lead.
Then, the Bulldogs responded with three more runs in the seventh
inning and two more in the bottom of the eighth inning for cushion to defeat
Southern.
Mangum with the intentional walk.
With the bases loaded for Miss. State, Westburg singles (RBI), Mangum goes to second.
