Rowdey Jordan’s solo home run in the fifth inning was just a crack in the door. The game was kicked wide open in the fifth inning and the Bulldogs didn’t look back from that point on.
No. 8-ranked Mississippi State used 3 runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to blow past the No. 17-ranked Ole Miss Rebels 8-1 Tuesday at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss.
The Bulldogs won the Governor’s Cup for the fourth-straight season while the Rebels have now dropped five of their last seven contests on the year.
Zack Phillips (4-2) allowed only one hit and struck out 5 batters in 5.1 innings pitched. That on hit was the aforementioned home run by Jordan.
Phillips’ performance was undone by his bullpen. Max Cioffi and Austin Miller allowed a combined 5 hits in the sixth and seventh innings to help the Bulldogs drive in 6 runs.
Justin Foscue drove in Tanner Allen and Jordan Westburg in the sixth inning. It was later followed up with a Dustin Skelton sacrifice fly that allowed Elijah MacNamee to score. It would only get worse for the Rebels.
After Marshall Gilbert scored to start off the seventh, Jordan Westburg scored off of a throwing error. Jake Mangum was also able to get across home plate on the same play. Houston Roth immediately came in to pitch for Miller after that to try to prevent more damage.
In four innings pitched, Peyton Plumlee allowed 3 hits while striking out 3 more for Mississippi State. It was Trysten Barlow (3-1) that got the win.
The lone run scored by Ole Miss came in the third inning after Anthony Servideo got the game’s first hit. Grae Kessinger knocked him in with an RBI double. That resulted in the game’s first run and Kessinger getting on base in his 30th straight game.
Servideo led the way offensively for Ole Miss, going 2-4 at the plate. Ole Miss was able to out-hit Mississippi State 8-7, but once again left runs on the board with 12 runners stranded.
Ole Miss will look to rebound against the No. 6 ranked Texas A&M Aggies at Swayze Field during Double Decker weekend.
They will also have an opportunity to get revenge against Mississippi State in their home series finale May 10-12.
