It both was and wasn’t the usual midweek game, as Mississippi State got off to a slow start in the first inning, but never really put it all together until the eighth, just sliding past a game Texas Southern squad in a 5-1 win. After grabbing a 1-0 lead in the first, State was held scoreless by TSU’s Alex Olguin, only finally getting control with a four run bottom of the eighth. With the win, MSU improves to 32-6 on the year, the best start to this point of the season in school history.
FOSCUE TO THE RESCUE
Dawgs break through!
Foscue singles through the left side to score Tanner Allen!#HailState🐶 | State 2, TSU 1 pic.twitter.com/89WeSmzngC
— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) April 17, 2019
It was 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth when Justin Foscue broke the tie with an RBI single. State would tack on three more after that, but once again, it was Foscue with the big blow. The sophomore has been one of State’s most consistent bats this season, and their biggest source of power, and his move to second base has solidified what was a leaky Bulldog infield. Foscue was overshadowed at times last season by his fellow freshmen, but 2019 has been his year so far.
HISTORY IS MADE
Final from Dudy Noble, it was interesting for awhile but MSU finally gets it going and takes a 5-1 win over Texas Southern. State now 32-6, best start to this point in the season in school history. Next up, a three game road set at Arkansas.
— SportsTalk Mississippi (@SportsTalkMiss) April 17, 2019
The new incarnation of Dudy Noble Field got a bit of history on Tuesday, as the win put the Bulldogs in their best start to this point in school history, getting ahead of the 1989 time that was 31-7 through 38 games. MSU is now 22-1 in non-conference games, with the lone loss being a Friday 1-0 decision against Southern Mississippi. As we have said throughout the past couple of weeks on the Thunder & Lightning Podcast and SportsTalk Mississippi, its the Bulldogs’ incredible work in the non-conference portion of the schedule that have them all but assured of being a host and national seed in the NCAA Tournament. With only two non-conference games remaining against Memphis and Ole Miss in the Governor’s Cup, the Bulldogs can easily get to 40 wins this year.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Took care of business tonight.
Now time to shift the focus to the Bulldogs on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/lDnnXban2t
— Razorback Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) April 17, 2019
There will be few series around the country with more at stake than this weekend’s three game set in Fayetteville. Thursday’s matchup might feature the two best starters in the SEC, with Ethan Small matching up with Arkansas’s flame-throwing Isaiah Campbell. The winner of this series should have the inside track to the West title and possibly an overall conference championship. First pitch is set for 8:00 PM, you can catch the game statewide on your local SuperTalk affiliate.
Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics
