A weekend ago, Mississippi State couldn’t get anything going offensively as the Bulldogs dropped all three games to Arkansas. It seems like all of that caught up with the Diamond Dawgs on Friday night, as they exploded for a 19-3 win over the SEC leading Georgia Bulldogs. State got multi-hit games from five batters, including Justin Foscue’s 3-4 2 RBI night that saw him get three doubles. On the mound, Ethan Small again was in control, pitching six innings of two hit ball while striking out 11. Most importantly, the Bulldogs didn’t have to trouble any of their key bullpen arms with the comfortable lead. State improves to 34-9, 11-8 in the SEC with the win.
OH SO CLOSE NOW
First-pitch single! A leadoff hit for Mangum is No. 349.#HailState🐶 | UGA 1, State 0 pic.twitter.com/uymBGoKkZz
— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) April 26, 2019
Jake Mangum would get two more hits on Friday, meaning he is just now one hit away from tying the SEC career hits record held by LSU’s Eddy Furniss. Mangum also was walked intentionally twice, as the Bulldogs of the east opted to try and work around the State centerfielder, who seems to have shaken off any effects of the small slump he endured in Fayetteville. If you’re planning to be at Dudy Noble tomorrow, you’ll have a great chance to witness history as Mangum will need just one more base knock to ascend to the top of the conference’s leaders.
NO SMALL FEAT
MSU Baseball: Ethan Small https://t.co/ZNYM2yOl0Z
— SportsTalk Mississippi (@SportsTalkMiss) April 27, 2019
Ethan Small continued to pile up the strikeouts, sitting down 11 Bulldog batters and adding to his SEC leading total, now at 114. Small has been everything he was predicted to be and more this season, a true Friday night ace that has given MSU a chance in every game he’s pitched. Tonight he got off to a bit of a rocky start, giving up a first inning run, but he really settled in nicely after the second, and earned his fifth win of the year. Small now sits 11th on the single season strikeout charts, and with at least six more starts to go, will continue to climb up the list of Bulldog greats.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The 1-2 punch is back 🥊
Friday – Ethan Small
Saturday – JT Ginn
Sunday – TBA#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/etpvSe36kr— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) April 25, 2019
It’s back to normal for Mississippi State’s pitching rotation, as true freshman JT Ginn will be on the bump for the maroon and white. It will be interesting to see how State reacts to tonight’s win, can they lock back with the early first pitch tomorrow. Action begins at Dudy Noble Field at noon, as State will look to grab the series over the third ranked Bulldogs of Georgia.
Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics
