State runs scoreless innings streak to a modern day school-record 36 innings with fourth straight shutout
STARKVILLE – A fourth straight shutout helped the No. 2 Mississippi State baseball program to a series-opening victory over Eastern Michigan on Friday (March 12) evening at Dudy Noble Field. The offense scored 14 runs on 14 hits, while the pitching staff struck out 18 batters in the victory.
On the mound, Mississippi State (11-3) moved its scoreless streak to 36 innings and in the process set the modern-day school record for consecutive scoreless innings. The previous best was 30 innings by the 1976 squad that spanned four games, which included three straight shutouts. The four straight shutouts mark the second-longest streak in program history, trailing only the 1909 team’s five-game streak.
Christian MacLeod (1-1) got the start on the mound and fired five innings of one-hit baseball. He walked one and struck out a career-high-tying 11 batters. The quartet of Brandon Smith, Riley Self, Parker Stinnett and Spencer Price all logged one scoreless inning to close out the win. Stinnett struck all three batters he faced, while Smith and Self each fanned two.
Offensively, 10 different Diamond Dawgs collected hits, led by freshman Lane Forsythe’s 3-for-4 day at the plate. Second-year freshman Kamren James and junior Tanner Allen each collected two hits and James plated three RBIs. Allen and Logan Tanner each drove in two runs. Sophomore Brayland Skinner walked in his first career plate appearance as a Diamond Dawg, while Kyte McDonald added his third double of the season after entering as a defensive replacement in the eighth.
In all, MSU had 14 batters reach base at least once in the game, 10 scored runs and 10 drove in RBIs. State piled up a season-best seven extra-base hits and walked 10 times in the game. Allen moved his hitting streak to 11 games in the series opener and Jordan has now hit in six straight games.
For Eastern Michigan (4-3), Davis Feldman (2-1) took the loss with seven runs – five earned – allowed in 4 2/3 innings of work. He gave up nine hits, walked one and struck out two. Nick Jones reached base twice for EMU with a walk and single in the series opener.
Quotable
Head coach Chris Lemonis
On Christian MacLeod’s start
CL: He was really sharp tonight, as sharp as I’ve seen him in a long time, and it was nice to see him bounce back and respond [after last week’s start]. He’s one of the more talented pitchers in the country. I told the team; we all face some little ups and downs as seasons go on with adversity. When you bounce back from it, it makes you a better player. I think that’s what we’re seeing with Christian right now. All three pitchers were working tonight. The low was there; command was there. I don’t ever care who we’re playing; when you pitch like that, you’re going to have some success.
On Lane Forsythe’s progressing over the last couple weeks
CL: He’s way beyond his years in terms of defensive ability. He can really defend. It’s exciting to see what he’s doing offensively right now. He’s spent a lot of time working with Coach [Gautreau] and working on his swing. He’s also spent a lot of time since he’s been on campus in the weight room with Coach [Seth] Diters. He was a kid who showed up here and we laugh at his picture when they show it on the scoreboard right now because it doesn’t even look like the same guy when he showed up here in August. You’re seeing all of his hard work coming true. He put some really good swings on balls tonight. But the defense doesn’t surprise me but watching his growth as an offensive player is a lot of fun.
Scoring Recap
Bottom Second
Kamren James led off the inning with a ground rule double into the Mississippi State bullpen and advanced to third on a Luke Hancock fly out. Logan Tanner singled to first base to bring in the first run of the game.
Mississippi State 1, Eastern Michigan 0
Bottom Third
Lane Forsythe singled for the first of his three hits to begin the inning and Scotty Dubrule’sbase hit moved Forsythe to third. Rowdey Jordan thenreached on an error by the second baseman to put runners on the corners with one out due to a base running mishap. A Tanner Allen double scored Forsythe before a Jamesgroundout scored Jordan. Hancock’s RBI double down the right field line capped the three-run inning.
Mississippi State 4, Eastern Michigan 0
Bottom Fifth
Jordanled off the inning with a double down the right field line and Tanner Allen singled up the middle for his second RBI of the game. Hancockwalked before a double steal put both runners in scoring position. Tanner’sgroundout scored Allen from third and Josh Hatcher doubled to score Hancock.
Mississippi State 7, Eastern Michigan 0
Bottom Sixth
Forsytheled off the inning with a double to deep center field before Tanner Leggett and Jordanwalked to load the bases with nobody out. A one-out Kamren James sacrifice fly to center made it an 8-0 contest.
Mississippi State 8 , Eastern Michigan 0
Bottom Eighth
Mississippi State pushed six runs across in the eighth inning against three EMU pitchers to reach double-digits on the scoreboard for the fourth time in 2021. State used two hits and benefitted from six walks in the frame. Kyte McDonald, James, Brandon Pimentel, Brad Cumbest, Forsythe and Leggett each collected RBIs in the inning.
Mississippi State 14, Eastern Michigan 0
Up Next
Mississippi State and Eastern Michigan continue the series with a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, March 13.