Allen paces offense with three hits and two RBIs in middle game versus Missouri
STARKVILLE – The No. 2 Mississippi State baseball program scratched and clawed all night against Missouri, however, it was the Tigers and handed the Bulldogs a 7-6 setback on Friday (May 14) at Dudy Noble Field to even the series and set up a rubber game on Saturday afternoon.
Missouri (12-33, 5-20 SEC) put up two runs in the second inning, before Mississippi State (36-11, 17-8 SEC) plated five runs across the third and fourth innings to grab the lead. The Tigers scored one in the fifth and three in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead, before the Bulldogs knotted it at six in the bottom of the sixth. Missouri pushed across a run on three hits in the ninth and held on for the win.
In all, the Tigers outhit the Bulldogs, 13-9, with each team making one error. State accounted for four of the five extra base hits in the game and Missouri stranded 10 runners to State’s nine.
Offensively, Tanner Allen posted his 22nd multi-hit game of the season and his fifth with three hits to move his hitting streak to 11 games and his reached base streak to 14 games. In the process, he moved up a couple of Mississippi State career charts. His third-inning triple was the 12th of his career and moved him into tie for No. 3 all-time with Brad Winkler (1980-83). That triple also made him the 16th Bulldog with 250 career hits.
Allen ended the night with 251 career hits, pushing him into a tie with Connor Powers (2007-10) for No. 15 in program history. His two RBIs moved him into a tie for No. 15 on the career charts with David Hayman (1993-96) with 164 over his four seasons at MSU.
Along with Allen’s double-digit reached base streak, four other Diamond Dawgs have reached base safely in 10-or-more straight games, including Rowdey Jordan’s 33-game reached base streak. Jordan’s streak is now the fifth longest single-season streak since 2002. Scotty Dubrule and Logan Tanner are each sitting at 11 straight games, while Lane Forsythe has reached in 10 straight games.
Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision, as MSU’s Will Bednar (5-1) threw five innings and allowed three runs – two earned – on seven hits. He struck out six with a pair of walks. UM’s Sam Halvorsen went five innings and allowed all six runs – three earned – on seven hits. He walked four and struck out two.
Stone Simmons (1-1) took the loss for MSU with one run allowed on four hits in two innings of work. He fanned two and didn’t walk a batter, with three of his four hits coming in the ninth inning.
For Missouri, Konnor Ash tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings and Miles Spencer (2-6) retired the final five batters in order to earn the win. Torin Montgomery went 4-for-5 at the plate and had one of three hits in the ninth inning. Mark Vierling drove in a pair of runs , while Josh Holt Jr. had two hits, including the Tigers’ lone extra base with a second-inning double.
Quotable
Head coach Chris Lemonis
On how he looks at the outcome
CL: In the fourth inning, we should’ve been up 6-2, and we make a couple of mistakes and do some things to let the game stay tight. They get back in in the middle of the game, and then we’re playing [another close] game. If we play [close games] every night, one guy’s going to win one night and one’s going to win the other … We have to expand that game in the middle. We had an opportunity, the fourth [inning], to push the lead to 6-2. We don’t take advantage of that, and it comes back to bite us.
Scoring Recap
Top Second
Joshua Day singled to left field and advanced to third on a double by Josh Holt Jr. A single for Mark Vierling pushed two across to take the early lead.
Missouri 2, Mississippi State 0
Bottom Third
Kellum Clark reached on a muffed throw and Rowdey Jordan walked before the duo advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. A Tanner Allen triple down the right field line scored two to tie the game. Kamren James walked and stole second before advancing to third on a ground out which scored Allen. A single by Logan Tanner plated one more for MSU.
Mississippi State 4, Missouri 2
Bottom Fourth
Lane Forsythe reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Jordan’s double to center field.
Mississippi State 5, Missouri 2
Top Fifth
Torin Montgomery singled and advanced to second and third on an error before scoring on a sacrifice fly.
Mississippi State 5, Missouri 3
Top Sixth
Luke Mann singled and advanced to second on a hit-by-pitch for Ty Wilmsmeyer before a walk for Vierling loaded the bases. A wild pitch advanced all three players, scoring one before a ground out plated another. A single to shortstop by Andrew Keefer pushed Vierling across.
Missouri 6, Mississippi State 5
Bottom Sixth
Clark hit a solo home run to right field to tie the game.
Mississippi State 6, Missouri 6
Top Ninth
Keefer and Montgomery singled back-to-back before advancing to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. A single for Day plated one to cap the scoring for the game.
Missouri 7, Mississippi State 6
Up Next
Mississippi State and Missouri close out the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. on Dudy Noble Field. The game will be carried on the SEC Network+ and Mississippi State Radio Network.