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Mississippi State Baseball: Looking Ahead to Game Two Versus LSU

By Cole Patterson

Feb 15, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official MLB baseball on the field during Chicago Cubs Spring Training workout at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official MLB baseball on the field during Chicago Cubs Spring Training workout at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mississippi State’s baseball team dropped a heart-breaker to the LSU Tigers in game one of the Baton Rouge Super Regional. How do the Diamond Dawgs bounce back?

Last night featured one of the better college baseball games of the season — that is if you either bleed purple and gold or have no rooting interest in either team.

The game was a pitcher’s duel for the majority of the game, as — aside an early run from the Bulldogs in the first — both teams struggled to reach home plate. Both Konnor Pilkington and Alex Lange threw heat all night long during the slug fest.

Then, the eight inning came.

Mississippi State added to their 1-0 lead in the top of the inning. The Bulldogs were able to get runners on base and put pressure on Lange. Hunter Stovall led things with a double to begin the momentum. LSU then refused to pitch to Brent Rooker and decided to intentionally walk the SEC Player of the Year. With runners on first and second, Cody Brown took advantage and slammed a double into left field that scored both Stovall and Rooker.

Things looked to be going great for the Diamond Dawgs.

The bottom of the eighth changed things, however. After an excellent performance on the mound, Pilkington began to wear down and the Tigers took advantage. Coach Cannizaro pulled his ace in favor of Peyton Plumlee the previous inning.

LSU scored three earned runs on Plumlee to tie the game, so the Dawgs went to Riley Self. Too little too late, though. The Tigers added another run en route to a 4-3 victory in game one of the Baton Rouge Super Regional.

Winning game one is important, obviously, in a three game series, so it will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs come out tonight. Can they bounce back after a crushing loss? Can the pitching staff come through? The bats need to come alive, and the Diamond Dawgs must avoid stranding base runners.

Jacob Billingsley will start on the bump tonight. Billingsley is coming off of a magnificent performance against Southern Miss last Monday that pushed State to a winner-take-all game. If the Bulldogs want to force game three, Billingsley needs to have a great night on the mound.

Next: Who is the SEC's best QB?

The Bulldogs and Tigers are back in action at 8:04 p.m., and the game will be live on ESPN2.

Hail State!

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