Mississippi State Baseball: No. 3 Dawgs no-hits Kent State in 13-0 rout

Mississippi State Baseball: No. 3 Mississippi State 13, Kent State 0

No. 3 Mississippi State (8-3, 0-0 SEC) avenged Saturday’s 9-5 loss with a 13-0 thrashing of Kent State (4-4, 0-0 MAC) to capture its second series win of the season. The Bulldogs played a complete game, keeping the Golden Flashes hitless and pounding out 16 hits at the plate with a new-look lineup.

State got the scoring going in the first when Kamren James lined a single into center field, scoring Scotty Dubrule.  Drew McGowan’s sacrifice fly added another run in the second inning. James delivered again in the bottom of the fifth with a 2-run line drive homerun over the left-field wall to put MSU up 5-0.

A four-run frame in the sixth was highlighted by a James’ 2-run double off the left-center field wall, giving Mississippi State a commanding 9-0 lead. RBI singles by Brandon Pimentel, Landon Jordan, and Kace Garner in the seventh added another four runs on the board for MSU.

Chris Lemonis made several changes to his lineup card for Sunday’s game, and it paid off in a big way. Scotty Dubrule and Rowdey Jordan traded places at the top of the Bulldog lineup, and the pair combined to go 3-6 with three walks on the day.

Kamren James moved to the cleanup spot and responded with a 3-4 day while driving in five. Freshman Lane Forsythe shined in his first career start at shortstop, going 2-4 at the plate and making a spectacular catch in shallow center field to preserve the no-hitter.

Jackson Fristoe (1-1) was flawless through six innings of work, retiring all 18 batters he faced. He recorded eight strikeouts on the afternoon. Landon Sims worked the seventh, where he walked one and struck out two.

Mikey Tepper worked the next 1.2 innings before giving way to Cam Tullar for the final out. Tullar walked the first batter he faced before getting a shallow flyout to end it. It was the first no-hitter thrown by Mississippi State since 1999.

Timely hitting, excellent pitching, and dazzling defense were on full display at Dudy Noble Field on Sunday. The game was never in doubt as Mississippi State controlled it from the first pitch.

Mississippi State will host two Louisiana schools during the midweek. Grambling visits Starkville on Tuesday, with the first pitch set for 6 PM CT. A battle with the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana awaits the Bulldogs on Wednesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 PM CT as well.

State will wrap up the non-conference weekend series slate with Eastern Michigan starting on Friday. The first pitch for Friday is set for 6 PM CT.