Mississippi State and Auburn will play this even at Plainsman Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6 PM CT.
Steve Robertson
AUBURN - Mississippi State (24-18, 6-13 SEC) will look to level the three-game series with Auburn (29-13, 10-9 SEC) this evening under the lights of Plainsman Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6 PM CT. The game can be streamed on the ESPN App and heard on the Bulldog Baseball radio network.
Last night, Auburn won the opener by the score of 6-5. The game was a seesaw affair until State tied the game in the 7th with a three-run home run by Joe Powell. With the game level at 5-5, the Tigers put together some two-out magic to take a 6-5 lead that they would never relinquish.
Tonight, State will send RHP Evan Siary (0-1, 4.00 ERA). The talented right hander has made ten appearances including five starts. Siary has worked 27.0 IP. He allowed 12 earned runs on 24 hits. He has struck out 33 and 10. Opponents are hitting .231 against him.
Auburn will counter with LHP Cade Fisher (1-1, 4.71 ERA). He has made nine starts and worked 28.2 innings. He has allowed 15 earned runs on 23 hits. Fisher has struck out 37 and walked 19. Opponents are hitting .231 against him.
The series finale will be played on Sunday. First pitch is set for 2 PM CT. Auburn has not announced their pitching plans for game three. It will be determined by who all pitches today in relief. Mississippi State will send RHP Karson Ligon to the mound, but that is tomorrow. Today, State has to find a way to win a game and set up a rubber game on Sunday.
Mississippi State line-up:
1. Gehrig Frei LF
2. Sawyer Reeves SS
3. Ace Reese 3B
4. Noah Sullivan DH
5. Hunter Hines 1B
6. Ross Highfill RF
7. Bryce Chance CF
8. Gatlin Sanders 2B
9. Joe Powell C
Auburn line-up:
1. Chris Rembert 2B
2. Bub Terrell LF
3. Ike Irish RF
4. Cooper McMurray 1B
5. Eric Guevara 3B
6. Lucas Steele DH
7. Deric Fabian SS
8. Chase Fralick C
9. Briston Carter CF
1st inning
Top 1st:
1. Frei fouled back 0-1, takes a slider for strike two 0-2, slow roller towards first, Fisher gets it and wins the footrace.
2. Reeves slider up 1-0, hit hard foul 1-1, change up in 2-1, doubled off the wall in right.
3. Reese change up low 1-0, ball in 2-0, two-run bomb on top of the building in right. 2-0 State
4. Sullivan ball down 1-0, ball in 2-0, ball away 3-0, ball in for the walk.
5. Hines two-run shot to right center. 4-0 State. Mound visit.
6. Highfill ball in 1-0 ball up 2-0, swings over the slider 2-1, fly out along the right field line, two down
7. Chance takes strike one 0-1, fouled back 0-2, ball down 1-2, lined into left for a single.
8. Sanders takes strike one 0-1, slider away 1-1, chopped out to first, he makes the play and the side is retired.
4-0 State
Bottom 1st:
1. Rembert ball in 1-0, strike one called 1-1, grounded out to third, one down. First time State has retired him this weekend. Reached base five times yesterday.
2. Terrell ball down 1-0, ball down 2-0, ball up 3-0, takes strike one 3-1, takes strike two as he throws the bat towards the dugout expecting a walk. swing and a miss K, two down.
3. Irish ball down 1-0, ball down 2-0, swing and miss grounded into the shift, inning over
4-0 State
2nd inning
Top 2nd:
New Auburn pitcher is John Armstrong.
9. Powell takes strike one 0-1, fastball in 1-1, filed hard just outside of first, 1-2, fouled back, change up capped foul, swing and a miss K, one down
1. Frei ball down 1-0, diving catch in the right center field gap, ball hit well took a great play and he made it, two down.
2. Reeves popped out to short right, second baseman runs it down. side retired
4-0 State
Bottom 2nd:
4. McMurray strike one, swings and a miss 0-2, ball down 1-2, chopped out to first, one down.
5. Guevara ball in 1-0, fastball in 2-0, ball in 3-0, takes strike one 3-1, takes strike two to run it full, fouled away, swing and a miss K, two down.
6. Steele popped up to center, inning over
4-0 State
3rd inning
Top 3rd:
3. Reese ball down 1-0, fastball down 2-0, pulled foul into the net. takes strike two, Ace did not agree. 2-2, change up down to run it full, fouled back, ball down is called strike three K one down.
4. Sullivan ball down much like the previous pitch 1-0, ball down 2-0, strike one called 2-1, change up lands on the inside corner 2-2, fouled away, he's hit by the pitch.
5. Hines ball up 1-0, fastball in there for strike one 1-1, swing and a miss on the change 1-2, swing and a miss on the breaker, K, two down
6. Highfill fouled down 0-1, takes strike two 0-2 fastball well away 1-2, takes a close one, ball two, crowd groans. 2-2, gone, but foul. swing and a miss, K, side retired.
4-0 State
Bottom 3rd:
7. Fabian takes ball one 1-0, lined out toward center. Chance nearly misplays it, leaps and makes the catch, one down.
8. Fralick ball down 1-0, takes strike one 1-1, hard hopper back up the middle for a single. Auburn has their first base runner of the game.
9. Carter takes strike one 0-1, change low 1-1, slider away 2-1, swing and a miss 2-2, fouled outside of third, fouled away. swing and a miss K, two down.
1. Rembert takes strike one 0-1, ball down 1-1, swing and a miss 1-2, fastball up 2-2, slider down and away, runner goes, breaker down, walk
2. Terrell slider down and in 1-0, lined into right off the elevated glove of Hines, run scores 4-1 State
3. Irish takes ball one 1-0, swing and a miss 1-1, lined to Reeves who had him played up the middle. inning over.
4-1 State
4th inning
Top 4th:
7. Chance ball down 1-0, slider in there 1-1, doubled inside the bag at first.
8. Sanders fly ball to center, works like a bunt. Chance tags and takes third.
9. Powell will hit the infield in and he chops it back up the middle to send the run home 5-1 State. That will be all for Armstrong.
1. Frei will see LHP Griffin Graves ball up, check swing no 1-0, double off the wall in left, Powell glides into third.
2. Reeves ball up 1-0, ball down is called strike one 1-1, ball in the dirt, but not far away that anyone can advance 2-1, singled into left center, run scores, 6-1 State
3. Reese takes strike one 0-1, pulled foul outside of first 0-2, breaker in the dirt 1-2, fouled away, ripped into right, run scores 7-1 State. That will be all for Graves as Ben Schoor comes on
4. Sullivan takes strike one 0-1, fouled back 0-2, fouled away to stay alive, fouled away, fouled back, ball down 1-2, fouled back, fastball away 2-2, check swing no ball in to run it full, crowd is restless. ball down and away for the walk to load the bases.
5. Hines breaker lands for strike one 0-1, breaker pulled foul 0-2, ball down 1-2, hard grounder deep at second, run scores. Hines out RBI 8-1 State
6. Highfill ball down 1-0, ball away 2-0, ball in 3-0, ball down for the walk to load the bases again
7. Chance swing and a miss 0-1, not sure why we swing on the first pitch after the previous hitter walked on four straight, ball down 1-1, ball down 2-1, lined back up the middle and two more runs are home 10-1 State
8. Sanders first pitch swinging, chops it out to first, side retired.
10-1 State
Bottom 4th:
4. McMurray fly out to center on the first pitch, one down
5. Guevara ball down, 1-0, ball in 2-0, fly out to right, two down.
6. Steele takes strike one and now he's hit by the pitch
7. Fabian takes strike one 0-1, takes strike two 0-2, swing and a miss K, inning over.
10-1 State
5th inning
Top 5th:
LHP Abe Chancellor is the new pitcher
9. Powell ball down 1-0, grounded to third, one down.
1. Frei doubled into the right centerfield gap.
2. Reeves grounded back toward the middle, stop made everyone safe.
3. Reese ball down 1-0, ball in 2-0, grounds into the 4-6-3 double play. State is challenging the play at first. The replay appears he was in fact out.
10-1 State
Bottom 5th:
8. Fralick takes ball one 1-0, solo shot to right 10-2 State
9. Carter ball down 1-0, fouled back 1-1, popped down the leftfield line and Frei runs it down near the brick, one down.
1. Rembert bunted softly down the line at third, Siary has it, but the throw is not in time. State is challenging the play and it appears that he is out. call reversed. He's out, two down.
2. Terrell takes ball one, grounded out to Hines at first and he takes and steps on the bag. inning over
10-2 State
6th inning
Top 6th:
4. Sullivan takes strike one 0-1, fastball taken for strike two 0-2, fly out to deep center, one down.
5. Hines takes ball one 1-0, strike one, 1-1, swing and a miss 1-2, takes a ball in 2-2, fly out to center, two down.
6. Highfill fouled back 0-1, takes strike two 0-2, fouled down, swing and a miss, K, side retired.
10-2 State
Bottom 6th:
3. Irish fly out to left, one down.
4. McMurray strike one 0-1, ball down 1-1, strike two 1-2, ball down 2-2, fouled away, grounded into the shift, two down.
5. Guevara ball down, solo shot to left, 10-3 State
6. Steele fouled back 0-1, shows bunt and takes strike two 0-2, ball down and in 1-2, fastball down 2-2, breaker fades in to run the count full, pop out to right inning over.
10-3 State
7th inning
Top 7th:
7. Chance ball down 1-0, ball down 2-0, ball down 3-0, strike one called 3-1, ball in for the walk.
8. Sanders ball in 1-0, ball down 2-0, fastball in there for strike one 2-1, ripped foul, 2-2, takes strike three, one down.
9. Powell takes strike one 0-1, takes a ball in 1-1, hit by the pitch.
1. Frei rolls the first pitch out to short and it's a 6-4-3 double play.
10-3 State
Bottom 7th:
Stone Simmons is the new Bulldog pitcher
7. Fabian solo shot to center.
8. Fralick takes ball one 1-0, strike one called 1-1, strike two called 1-2, pulled foul. called strike three, K, one down
9. PH Edwards takes strike one 0-1, swing and a miss 0-2, fouled down, slider down and away 1-2, swing and a miss K, two down.
1. Rembert takes ball one 1-0, swing and a miss 1-1, ball down 2-1, takes strike one 2-2, solo shot to center. 10-5 State
2. Terrell takes ball one 1-0, swing and a miss 1-1, swing and a miss 1-2, change up low 2-2, foul tip, swing and a miss K, two down.
10-5 State
10-4 State
8th inning
Top 8th:
2. Reeves strike one 0-1, ball down 1-1, ball in 2-1, ball down 3-1 grounded out to second one down.
3. Reese fouled back 0-1, grounded out to second, two down.
4. Sullivan takes ball one 1-0, solo shot to right 11-5 State
5. Hines takes strike one 0-1, ball down 1-1, ball down 2-1, ball in and all the way back to the brick 3-1. ball down for the walk.
6. Highfill fouled back 0-1, takes strike one 0-2, ground ball hard to short, he fields it and throws to second. side retired.
11-5 State
Bottom 8th:
3. Irish dumped a single into left on the first pitch
4. McMurray takes strike one 0-1, strike two 0-2, dumped another single into left. Oh, the drama.
5. Guevara takes a ball in 1-0, strike one, 1-1 fouled back 1-2, fouled down, ball down 2-2, grounder toward third, works like a bunt, out at first, both runners move up a base. one down.
6. Steele ball down 1-0, change up in the dirt, check swing no 2-0, swing and a miss 2-1, singled back up the middle two runs score 11-7 State
7. Fabian will see Nate Williams. swing and a miss 0-1, takes a ball up 1-1, breaking ball up 2-1, fouled back 2-2, ball down to run it full. fastball down for the walk. Hines and Powell both walk out to the mound to offer some encouragement.
8. Fralick fouled back 0-1, swing and a miss, ball gets loose, only the lead runner advances, double play still in order 0-2, buries the breaker 1-2, blocked up well, ball just below the knees 2-2, fouled away, breaking ball just away. Powell was pleased with the pitch, but no strike called, full count, fouled away, trail runner goes, ball is loose, but bounces back to Powell. bases loaded. Parker out to visit.
9. PH Snow fastball up 1-0, strike one called 1-1, fouled back 1-2, 5-4-3 double play ends the inning, but they will review the play at first. He is out. Thank, Goodness.
11-7 State
9th inning
Top 9th:
New pitcher is Mason Koch
7. Chance takes a ball up, slow roller down the line at third and it gets foul 1-1, ball away 2-1, fouled back 2-2, fouled away, takes strike three. K, one down.
8. Sanders ball down 1-0, fouled back 1-1, swings over the change 1-2, ball down 2-2, ball up to run it full, fouled outside of first. slider fouled back, rolled toward first, tough play and be can't make it. E3
9. Powell is hit by the pitch.
1. Frei takes strike one 0-1, singled back up the middle 1-1
2. Reeves ball down 1-0, ball down 2-0, popped up to first, two down
3. Reese fly out to left side retired.
12-7 State
Bottom 9th:
Luke Dotson is the new Bulldog pitcher
1. Rembert takes strike one 0-1, takes ball one 1-1, takes strike two 1-2, fastball up 2-2, swing and a miss K, one down.
2. Terrell takes strike one 0-1, swing and a miss 0-2, swing and a miss K, two down
3. Irish strike one 0-1, ball down 1-1, swing and a miss 1-2, ball down 2-2, takes strike three.
12-7 FINAL
