You knew before the season started that it was just a matter of time before Mississippi State’s Jake Mangum ascended to the throne as the all time hits leader in the history of the SEC. The only question was when, and the answer was Saturday, April 27. Mangum’s bloop single in the bottom of the second inning pushed him past LSU’s Eddy Furniss into first place among all the SEC batters to take the plate. That moment was part of a big day for the Bulldogs, as they took Game 2 from Georgia and clinched a series win with a 9-3 victory. State once again was potent offensively, putting up 12 hits the day after they pounded out 19. JT Ginn pitched five solid innings to pick up his seventh win of the season, and once again, the Bulldog bullpen was solid in relief. State improves to 35-9, 12-8 in the SEC.
A BIT OF HISTORY
What a moment.#HailState🐶 | @jakemangum15 pic.twitter.com/ZI0cUSeKXM
— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) April 27, 2019
It might not have been a line drive double or a deep shot into the Left Field Lounge, but Mangum’s blooper was enough to put his total at 353 hits. Mangum will likely push that number even further out in the coming weeks, as the Bulldogs are set to play at the very least four postseason games beyond the remainder of the regular season. More importantly for the Bulldog senior, his hit was part of another solid day at the plate for the Diamond Dawgs, as they have beaten up a pitching staff that came into the weekend only allowing a .182 batting average.
BACK AT IT A-GINN
The kid keeps rolling 💪#HailState🐶 | @JT_Ginn3 pic.twitter.com/M2y5IiJ5mW
— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) April 27, 2019
JT Ginn told us in postgame he’s happy to be back in his role as Game 2 starter, and that showed in his performance on Saturday, only getting into trouble in the fourth, while striking 7 and only allowing 1 run in his 5 innings pitched. Ginn seems to have completely shaken off the arm soreness that bothered him four weeks ago at Tennessee. He and Ethan Small are the biggest reason the Bulldogs will be favorites against most any team they face the rest of the way, they simply don’t make it easy on opposing hitters.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Coach Chris Lemonis says Peyton Plumlee will get the Game 3 start for the Bulldogs, coming off Tuesday’s outing against Ole Miss where he threw four innings. State has not used Keegan James or Cole Gordon this weekend, and pitchers like Brandon Smith and Colby White both should be fully available if needed in relief. State will look to make it a sweep and a 4-0 week tomorrow, first pitch is at 1 PM.
Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics
