Allen posts three hits, hits sixth home run of the season in finale at Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After grabbing an early 4-0 lead, the No. 2 Mississippi State baseball program couldn’t scratch another run across as No. 3 Vanderbilt pushed across seven unanswered runs to win a 7-4 decision on Sunday (April 25) at Hawkins Field.
Mississippi State (29-10, 11-7 SEC) built a 4-0 lead with three in the first and one in the second, however, Vanderbilt (31-7, 13-5 SEC) answered back with two in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth to come from behind for the win.
Tanner Allen carried the Bulldogs offense with a 3-for-5 day at the plate. His 16th multi-hit game of the season included a double and a home run, his sixth on the season and fourth in SEC play. Luke Hancock added an RBI double to the box score and Scotty Dubrule drove in two runs with a single in the opening frame.
Rowdy Jordan ensured his reached base streak went to 24 games with a walk to start the game. He eventually scored to mark the third time on the weekend that he reached base and scored in the first inning.
Jackson Fristoe (3-3)allowed five runs – four earned – in four and one-third innings of work in the loss. He struck out six batters and walked two. Houston Harding allowed two runs and struck out three in one and one-third innings of work. The combination of Parker Stinnett, Cam Tullar, and Mikey Tepper closed out the last two and one-third innings scoreless with just one hit allowed and four strikeouts.
The Bulldogs pushed their streak of 10-or-more strikeouts to 19 straight games with 13 more strikeouts in the series finale versus the Commodore.
For Vanderbilt, Chris McElvain (3-0) allowed only one run over five and one-third innings of relief work to earn the win. Nick Maldonado (3) closed out the game with three and one-third innings of scoreless, hitless work to grab the save. Carter Young homered and tripled to drive in three RBIs and scored twice.
Quotable
Head coach Chris Lemonis
On how he feels about the team moving forward
CL: I feel like we are close. We are still a work in progress and not where we need to be. We have to get better if we want to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. Now that school is out, we will have some more time to work and focus on baseball. Our guys have done a great job and are a tough group of kids who have responded to everything all year. We know there are still areas we can improve upon to become a better team.
Scoring Recap
Top First
Six of the first seven batters reached base against Vanderbilt starting pitcher Patrick Reilly, as the Diamond Dawgs scored three times in the inning. Rowdey Jordan and Tanner Allen each walked before Luke Hancock’s double scored the first run of the game. After a walk to Logan Tanner, Scotty Dubrule singled to drive in two runs.
Mississippi State 3, Vanderbilt 0
Top Second
Tanner Allen hit a one-out solo home run to straight-away centerfield.
Mississippi State 4, Vanderbilt 0
Bottom Fourth
A leadoff triple from Carter Young crossed the plate on a Dominic Keegan ground out. Jack Bulger then reached second base on a throwing error and came around to score on CJ Rodriguez’s RBI single to right field.
Mississippi State 4, Vanderbilt 2
Bottom Fifth
With one out, Jayson Gonzalez singled to right field and Enrique Bradfield Jr. walked in front of Young’s three-run home run to give Vanderbilt the lead.
Vanderbilt 5, Mississippi State 4
Bottom Sixth
Parker Noland walked to start the inning before Isaiah Thomas reached on a fielder’s choice. The duo advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Bradfield Jr.’s two-run single.
Vanderbilt 7, Mississippi State 4
Up Next
Mississippi State will not have a midweek contest as it is finals week for the Bulldogs, before Texas A&M heads to Dudy Noble Field for a three-game series starting on Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m.