A season-high 19 hits lifted Mississippi State over St. John’s on Sunday afternoon and into the Charlottesville Regional final against host team Virginia.
The Bulldogs took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third before adding runs in the fourth, sixth, eighth, and ninth innings. Although the Red Storm had sporadic success at the plate, it wasn’t enough as Mississippi State never surrendered the lead and won 13-5.
As Mississippi State coaches looked to conserve pitching with expectations of another game on Sunday evening, Brooks Auger and Cam Schuelke virtually split time on the mound and with 144 combined pitches and eight strikeouts, were able to get the job done.
Leading the way offensively for the Bulldogs was no other than Dakota Jordan, who reached base six times with five hits, one walk, and four RBI. Jordan’s ninth inning home run was his 19th of the season and second of the regional – the first being a walk-off against St. John’s on Friday night.
Amani Larry, who botched what would have been a game-saving double play against Virginia on Saturday night, bounced back with three hits while David Mershon powered a sixth-inning home run over the left field wall to go along with two more hits. Bryce Chance added three hits and two RBI out of the seven-hole.
First pitch between Mississippi State and Virginia is set for 5 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations as well as on the ACC Network. The Cavaliers, who narrowly defeated the Bulldogs 5-4 to advance to the final, will need to be beaten twice to be bounced from the regional. If Mississippi State forces a second game, it will be played on Monday at a time to be determined.
