STARKVILLE, Miss. — Playing in front of 9,473 fans at Dudy Noble Field under clear, 49-degree skies with a stiff 16 mph northwest wind, Mississippi State completed its weekend sweep of Delaware with a 7-3 victory on Sunday. The Diamond Dawgs remain perfect on the young season, improving to an 8-0 record.
Pitching Highlights The Bulldog pitching staff was electric, combining to strike out 15 Delaware batters. The story of the day was right-hander Duke Stone (2-0), who took over in the third inning and completely shut down the Blue Hens. Stone tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six to earn his second win of the season. Starter Charlie Foster fanned five batters over his 2.0 innings of work, and Tyler Pitzer entered a tight spot in the ninth inning to record the final two outs and secure his first save (1).
Scoring Highlights Mississippi State used a steady offensive attack, tallying seven runs on eight hits. After falling behind 2-0 early, the Dawgs rallied to tie the game in the third inning behind an RBI single from third baseman Ace Reese and a bases-loaded RBI walk from Noah Sullivan. In the fourth inning, a Delaware throwing error and a sacrifice fly from center fielder Bryce Chance gave State a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.
Catcher Chone James had a stellar day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Right fielder James Nunnallee was a constant threat, hitting a double, walking twice, stealing a base, and scoring two runs. Second baseman Gehrig Frei helped put the game on ice in the eighth inning with an RBI single to right-center.
Up Next The Diamond Dawgs will look to keep their undefeated streak alive when they host Austin Peay at 4 PM CT on Tuesday, February 24, at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville.
(Disclaimer: This report was created with the assistance of AI but edited for accuracy by the webmaster.)