Jags Fall To 8th Ranked Bulldogs In Starkville
The #8 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs shut out the Jaguars for a 3-0 win on Wednesday night in Starkville, Mississippi. Three MSU pitchers combined for the shutout and allowed eight hits throughout the night.
USA righty Matt Bell took the loss after pitching four innings allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts with no walks. Hunter Soleymani pitched three scoreless innings with a walk and a strikeout in relief. Dilon Buhrkuhl pitched one scoreless inning in releif and also only walked one batter while striking out one as well.
All three Jaguar pitchers combined to hold the Bulldogs hitless after the third inning as Bell retired the final six batters he faced in the game before giving way to the relievers.
The Jags threatened in the bottom of the first inning when it loaded the bases on back-to-back one-out singles by Bud Collura and Hayden Jones followed by Erik Hindmon being walked. But Cole Gleason struck out to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the first inning two Jaguar errors led to two Bulldog runs. Jake Vickerson reached base on a fielding error at first to lead off the inning. He then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt at first by Bell. Alex Detz the followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to drive Vickerson in. Wes Rea singled to left center field to move Detz to third base then Brett Pirtle singled to left center as well to drive in Detz for a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the third inning Detz would score the final run of the game with a leadoff homer to right field.
The Jags threatened again in the top of the fourth inning when Adam Ballew drew a walk to lead off the inning. Matt Bolger hit an infield single to short then Drew LaBounty’s sacrifice moved both players in to scoring position. But MSU was able to pitch out of it with a strikeout and an inning ending flyout to left field.
Jags attempted to get something going in the eighth inning when Davis Knapp led off with a pinch hit single to right field. HIndmon followed with a single up the middle. But a flyout by the next batter would be followed by a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.
USA (5-7) will host Southern Illinois for a three-game series this weekend at Eddie Stanky Field.