Coming off back-to-back midweek wins, Mississippi State carries some momentum into its three-game home series with Maine.
Although No. 8 State struggled some against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Wednesday, the Bulldogs won 14-1 to notch their eighth-straight victory to improve to 12-1.
Pine Bluff’s starter, Colton Bochtler, brought a 27.00 earned run average into the matchup, but Mississippi State only plated two runs against him in 4.1 innings. Bochtler allowed six hits but nothing too threatening. Some singles, an outfield error and a wild pitch were enough for State to get those two runs home.
Eight of State’s runs came in the seventh inning. The Dogs had 13 batters come to the plate in the frame. Only three of them had extra-base hits. Mississippi State worked runners around with conventional hitting and some help from UAPB pitchers, who beaned two batters and intentionally walked Mangum in the frame.
Sophomore third baseman Justin Foscue had one of the extra-base hits. His first of two doubles on the day brought two runs home. Foscue went 4-for-5 with those two RBI, and he also scored three runs. He's batting .358 this season after finishing last season with a .241 average.
Mississippi State's pitchers were again solid from start to finish yet again. Freshman right-hander Eric Cerantola got the start and the win, both of which were his second of the season. He allowed one hit, one walk and struck out four batters in his outing. Junior righty Riley Self, a Greenwood native, was the only other pitcher who threw multiple innings. He allowed one hit, no walks and had one strikeout in two innings.
MSU will host Maine Friday in Game 1 of a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Junior ace Ethan Small gets start as the Bulldogs try to continue their scorching start to the season.
MSU’s early-season success can be traced directly to its pitching staff, which overall Lemonis is happy with his pitching staff — one that boasts a 1.53 team ERA.
nDillard on fire: Ole Miss junior Thomas Dillard is batting .422 — the second-best average on the team.
Against Long Beach State last Saturday, the Greenwood native had a walk-off homer.
What Dillard has done this young season is nothing short of incredible. He began this week ranked top five nationally in home runs, slugging percentage and total bases.
Dillard looks to stay hot this weekend in a three-game series with UAB in Oxford. The first game is at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
