The Mississippi State baseball team had a chance to send Saturday’s game against Virginia into extra innings before second baseman Amani Larry botched a double-play opportunity to give the Cavaliers a win and a big advantage heading into day three of the Charlottesville Regional.
Virginia went up 2-0 in the bottom of the second when Eric Becker tripled to right center, sending Henry Godbout and Jacob Ference across home plate. Mississippi State didn’t wait long to take its first lead off a three-run home run from first baseman Hunter Hines in the top of the third. The Bulldogs added another run in the top of the fourth off a Virginia throwing error.
BANG💥
📺» https://t.co/1n7mxX4Xcp#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/bj6SsXTQQN
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) June 1, 2024
Mississippi State starting pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje continued to settle in over the next couple of innings with the help of his infielders making some big plays, including this highlight-reel catch by Hines to close out the fifth.
Hunter Hines flashing the leather!
📺» https://t.co/1n7mxX4Xcp#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/O2NlJOjKoP
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) June 1, 2024
To the surprise of some, Bulldogs head coach Chris Lemonis allowed Cijntje to take the mound to start the seventh even though the switch pitcher had already exceeded his season-high pitch count. The move did not pay off as Virginia’s Becker knocked in two runs off a single to tie the game up with no outs. Tyson Hardin entered in relief and was able to get Mississippi State out of the inning with no further damage.
In the top of the ninth, the Bulldogs had a chance to retake the lead as David Merson forced a two-out walk. Dakota Jordan, who saved game one on Friday with an extra innings walk-off home run against St. John’s, hit a single that barely made it through the left side of the infield and with some aggressive baserunning, Mershon made it to third. With two runners on and a chance at a go-ahead hit, Hines’ heroics were exhausted as he grounded out to end the frame.
Harrison Didawick started the bottom of the ninth with a ground-rule double that hopped over the left field fence. Godbout then walked with Becker reaching on a fielder’s choice to put a runner on first and third for Virginia. That’s when the miscue at second base happened as the Cavaliers celebrated the latest walk off this year’s postseason has seen.
HOOS WALK IT OFF!!!!!!
📺: @accnetwork | #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/xqxhwk8VN7
— Virginia Baseball (@UVABaseball) June 2, 2024
Mississippi State will be back up against St. John’s on Sunday with an 11 a.m. CT first pitch set for the elimination game. Whoever wins will face off against Virginia at 5 p.m. CT with two wins needed to overcome. If a second game is forced, that will be played on Monday at a time to be determined. The Cavaliers need just one more win to advance to a super regional.
