No. 15 Diamond Dogs Take First Governor’s Cup Game With 14-9 Win Over No. 19 Rebs
Via Media Relations
No. 15 Mississippi State scored seven runs in a decisive fifth inning, roaring past No. 19 Mississippi 14-9 in the first Governor’s Cup Tuesday night at Trustmark Park. With the victory, MSU improved to 24-8 and completed its most recent abbreviated road swing with a 5-1 mark. Ole Miss fell to 25-14.
The game drew a crowd of 8,012, which was the largest crowd in the three-year history of the Class AA Mississippi Braves’ home park. The annual midweek contest between in-state rivals shifted locations Tuesday night. The former Mayor’s Trophy game had been contested for 27 years at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson. The series then found a new name and new home Tuesday night, as the Bulldogs snapped a five-game losing streak in the series. With the victory, MSU improved to 4-0 all-time at Trustmark Park.
The teams combined for a Mayor’s Trophy/Governor’s Cup record of 23 runs scored in a contest, which does not count in the Southeastern Conference standings.
The Bulldogs struck first Tuesday night scoring three runs in the first inning. Mitch Moreland had a two-run double and Joseph McCaskill added an RBI single in that first inning.
The Rebels responded with four runs in the third inning, to tie the game 4-4. Then two innings later, MSU took the lead for good with the big fifth. An RBI single by Turner gave the Bulldogs the lead for good in that frame. MSU also benefited from a pair of runs walked in and also scored on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by McCaskill capped the big inning.
From there, MSU relief pitching held on. Ole Miss scored four runs in the fifth inning. However, the MSU bullpen quartet of Greg Houston, Ricky Bowen, Aaron Weatherford and Mitch Moreland only allowed five hits and one run in the final four innings of play. Tyler Whitney (4-1) worked four-plus innings to pick up the win. Justin Pigott relieved Whitney in the fifth.
Brandon Turner extended his hit streak to 13 games and also had three of the Bulldogs’ 14 hits. McCaskill, Moreland, Turner and Mark Goforth each had three hits for MSU. Turner had his second four-RBI game of the season.
Ole Miss finished with 16 hits but were plagued by four errors. Jordan Henry led the Rebels with four hits. Justin Henry added three.
Jesse Simpson (1-1) took the loss for the Rebels. Simpson entered in relief of starter Craig Rodriguez in the third inning. Justin Cryer, Phillip Irwin, Cody Satterwhite and Brett Buckvich also pitched for Ole Miss.
MSU resumes Southeastern Conference play this weekend with the opening of a five-game homestand. The Bulldogs welcome longtime SEC rival LSU to Dudy Noble Field. Game times for the series are 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. MSU closes the homestand with a midweek series against in-state rival Southern Mississippi on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Related Articles
- Georgia sweeps Mississippi State
- Dawgs take Super Regional opener 8-6
- State Sweeps Tallahassee Regional, Defeats Seminoles
- Diamond Dogs Drop 17-9 Decision Against Ospreys
- MSU Baseball Defeats North Florida, 8-2, In Season Opener
Tickets
Mississippi State Football Tickets | at LaTech (TV) | at Southeastern Lousiana
vs Auburn (TV) | at Georgia Tech | at LSU | vs. Vanderbilt | at Tennessee
vs. Middle Tennessee | vs Kentucky | at Alabama | vs Arkansas | at Ole Miss
