Mississippi State got another great pitching performance on Saturday, and again, the long ball delivered in spades as the Bulldogs took a 9-1 win over Alabama to clinch the series, their fourth in five weeks of SEC play. Peyton Plumlee gave the maroon and white 5 shutout innings, and State got three home runs, one each from Elijah MacNamee, Dustin Skelton, and Marshall Gilbert. State improved to 30-6, 9-5 on the season, and will look to get its first sweep in conference play this year.
PLUMLEE PUTS IT TOGETHER
5️⃣ scoreless got us started.
Atta boy, Plum 👏#HailState🐶 | @Peytonplum1 pic.twitter.com/pfhiqVuBps
— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) April 13, 2019
A week ago, Peyton Plumlee found out the day of he was drawing the starting nod. This week with plenty of time to prepare, Plumlee delivered one of his best performances of the year, throwing 5 shutout innings and limiting Alabama to 4 hits. Regardless of what happens in the rotation, it appears Mississippi State has found a reliable third starter to enter the stretch run.
CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL
[Very Bob Seger voice]:
"Agaaainst the wind" 🎶#HailState🐶 | @Elijahm_2 pic.twitter.com/vQFgspux5D— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) April 13, 2019
The weather was rough all morning in Starkville, and the remnants of the all night rain left a windy day at Dudy Noble. Despite that, the Bulldogs were able to crank three home runs on Saturday, none bigger than Elijah MacNamee’s opposite field blast that broke the game open in the seventh inning. State’s power numbers have been very impressive this year, and whether it’s the new park, the development of hitting power under Jake Gautreau, or just a little magic, the Bulldogs have been pushing balls out of the stadium at a high rate.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Mississippi State will put true freshman JT Ginn back on the mound tomorrow. Ginn missed his last scheduled start, then was pulled after only one inning when he did take the hill in Knoxville last weekend. Coach Chris Lemonis had been insisting all week there was nothing of major concern with his star pitcher, and announced he will be getting the ball tomorrow in his post-game press conference. If Ginn is truly at 100 percent, the Diamond Dawgs have a tremendous chance to get a much needed sweep as they enter the stretch run in conference action.
Photos courtesy of Mississippi State athletics
