Mississippi State falls to LSU in Game 2 of the season finale series in Dudy Noble Field by a score of 11-5 on Friday evening.
Are the injuries to the Bulldogs’ pitching staff finally coming back to haunt Mississippi State?
That certainly seems to be the case as the bulldog pitching staff allowed eleven walks on the evening. Mississippi State has now dropped three of the last four SEC series — including each of the last two.
Inconsistencies on the mound has been the key reason in the drop off. The Bulldogs were able to out hit LSU on the evening, but fell 11-5 to the tigers.
Pitcher Denver McQuary got the start on the mound for Mississippi State. McQuary went 5.2 innings, giving up six runs on four hits and five walks. McQuary struggled in the first inning when he walked two and hit one in the first three batters he faced to load the bases.
A RBI ground out and a double plated three in the inning. McQuary was able to respond over the next three innings where he retired eleven in a row at one point. Things began to unravel in the fifth when two walks, an error, and a wild pitch put runners at the corners with no outs. LSU was only able to plate one run, but it would signs of what to come over the next two innings.
LSU lead off the top of the sixth inning with a double to right. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third, Papierski hit an RBI single up the middle to give LSU a lead that they never relinquished. A Robertson single and another walk ended McQuary’s night. It took three more bulldog pitchers to get the final out, but not before three more runs were walked home.
Jared Poche` got the start for LSU in an outing where he went five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits. Mississippi State was able to make solid contact in the first where hits by Gridley, Rooker and Mangum plated a run but no more. Poche` settled in in the second, third, and fourth where he sat down eight in a row and didnt allow a run.
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The Bulldogs were able to tie up the game in the fifth inning Hunter Stovall single up the middle that plated a pair. Mississippi State threatened in the sixth but could only score one on a wild pitch. Zach Hess came in for the second straight night and shutdown the bulldogs going 3.2 innings without giving up a run and only two hits.
LSU clinched the SEC west title with tonight’s win in Starkville. This game not only ended State’s chances at a SEC West title, but likely ended their hopes at hosting a regional as well. With that said, the Bulldogs have plenty to play for tomorrow at 3:30 as they can still clinch a bye in the SEC tournament with a win and an Arkansas loss to Texas A&M.