Mississippi State Baseball Cannot Overcome a Disaster Start

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs dropped their first SEC game of the season, 9-8, in game two over LSU. The Bulldogs' start could not have been worse. 

Khal Stephen drew the start for MSU, and Stephen pitched well last week, but that did not carry over. The Purdue transfer gave up five runs in two innings of work. 

Mississippi State coach Chris Lemonis spoke on the start by Stephen.

"Lack of breaking ball... get behind in counts, and they sit on fastballs," Lemonis said.

However, the punishment was not done there. MSU brought in Gavin Black in the third, and the Tigers took advantage. Black issued four walks and only two hits, but that was enough to bring home four runs, and the Tigers led 9-1 after three innings. 

Mississippi State's pitching coach brought in Miami transfer Larson Ligon, who has struggled this year, to relieve Black, and Ligon pitched well. Ligon pitched 3.1 scoreless innings and proved he could be a reliable arm for the Bulldogs going forward. 

"He (Ligon) is really good," Lemonis said. "He started out slow for us.... this time last year, he was one of the best pitchers in the country"

While Ligon was dealing, the Bulldog bats came to life, and it started with a three-run home run by Bryce Chance. The home run energized the 13,974 fans inside Dudy Noble Field. 

The Bulldogs slowly chipped their way back into the game thanks to excellent work from the bullpen. Tyson Hardin, Cam Schuelke, and Luke Dotson combined for three scoreless innings as well. 

The seventh inning was the game's turning point. David Mershon lined a double down the first baseline to cut the lead to one run, but Amani Larry was thrown out at home trying to tie the game. That defensive play proved to be the difference in the game. 

It was a valiant comeback for MSU, and it showed this team is made of the right stuff because, in the prior two seasons, the team would have likely folded. It was also an electric crowd in Starkville, and this team has shown signs of righting the ship. 

The rubber game tomorrow is huge for Mississippi State, and they will send Jurrangelo Cijntje to the mound at 1 p.m. CT on SEC Network+

"We need a good start," Lemonis said. "We gotta go out there and play better baseball than them"