Mississippi State Baseball: Finally National Champions
The Mississippi State Diamond Dawgs are your 2021 College World Series National Champions. The wait is over, and every Bulldog fan across the world can celebrate this achievement with joy and pride. Mississippi State dominated Vanderbilt over the final two games 22-2 to claim their first College World Series Championship in 12 trips to Omaha.
Mississippi State has now removed itself from the list of most College World Series appearances without a title. What started as a season full of optimism and promise ended on the highest note possible.
For years Mississippi State fans have had their hearts broken as our beloved athletic programs have been on the cusp of success and within reach of winning a national title in several sports. Our maroon hearts have taken so much over the years that this moment of finally getting over the HUMP brings a sense of joy we have never experienced.
Bulldog Team Champions: Close but no Cigar
Mississippi State has seen athletes win SEC and NCAA Championships in individual sports, but never in a team sport. Our Bulldogs have been close several times but were unable to seal the deal.
In 2014, the Bulldog football team rose to #1 in the land before falling to Alabama. The 1996 Final Four squad, regarded as the greatest basketball team in Mississippi State history, lost to Syracuse. The Vic Shaefer led Lady Bulldogs felt the heartbreak in back-to-back seasons, falling to South Carolina and then to Notre Dame on a buzzer-beater.
Finally National Champions
After Mississippi State lost the first game of the Championship series with a disastrous first inning, Bulldog fans could have been down. Some might have felt that there was no way Mississippi State would take two away from the championship-caliber and scholarship-heavy defending national champions. Chris Lemonis and the Diamond Dawgs would give us all the feeling we have waited for more than half of our lives.
Vanderbilt gift-wrapped the early lead in game two with lackluster pitching and errors. The Bulldogs would seal the victory with timely hitting and tie up the series with a 13-2 victory. Scott Debrule (4 RBI), Lane Forsyth, Luke Hancock (2 RBI each), Rowdey Jordan, Kamren James, and Logan Tanner (RBI each) lead the charge offensively.
The Championship game would be a battle of the Aces as Will Bednar faced off against Kumar Rocker. The Bulldogs rocked Rocker for five runs to end his day early. Bednar was lethal as he no-hit the Commodores for six innings. The Bulldog assault was lead by Kellum Clark (HR, 3 RBI), Logan Tanner (HR, 2 RBI), Luke Hancock (2RBI), and Rowdey Jordan and Lane Forsythe with an RBI each.
It would have been an awesome experience for Bednar to have the honor of coming out to cheers of fans one final time, but coach Lemonis was all business as he brought in closer Landon Sims to finish off the Commodores. Vanderbilt broke up the no-hitter, but that is all they would get as a bunt attempt was the final out in a dream championship season WRAPPED IN MAROON AND WHITE!
Jack Cristil is definitely smiling in front of his heavenly microphone.
It Feels Great to be a Bulldog Fan
I have been a Bulldog fan since I was 9 years old, where I probably watched my first Mississippi State football game in September of 1989. I have waited 11,624 days or 31 years, 9 months, 28 days, or 278,976 hours for the Mississippi State Bulldogs to become National Champions. It feels great to be a Bulldog fan and finally to say that the Mississippi State Bulldogs are National Champions, and I am sure it feels the same for all of you.
Also, for the record, the first game I probably watched as a Bulldog fan was a 42-7 victory over guess who, Vanderbilt. Please share your stories on how Mississippi State winning their first National Championship made you feel and how long you have waited for this moment.