STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Lipscomb University Baseball team did not have an answer for national 14-seed Mississippi State in the opening game of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship on Friday from Dudy Noble Field at the Starkville Regional. The host Bulldogs defeated the Bisons 10-1.
Final Score: Mississippi State 10, Lipscomb 1
Location: Starkville, Mississippi (Dudy Noble Field)
Records: Lipscomb (29-25), #14 Mississippi State (41-17)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mississippi State took control in the fourth inning, starting with Ace Reese's single to right field. Noah Sullivan followed with a walk, and Jacob Parker drove in the first run with a single through the right side, bringing home Reese. Vytas Valincius advanced the runners with a bunt single. Reed Stallman's single up the middle added two more runs, putting Mississippi State ahead 3-0 through four innings.
In the sixth inning, Parker extended the lead with a solo home run down the right field line. Valincius doubled, but the inning concluded with Mississippi State holding a 4-0 lead.
The Bulldogs seized control in the seventh inning, capitalizing on a series of free bases and timely hits to extend their lead. After a hit-by-pitch and two walks loaded the bases, Parker's walk pushed across a run. Valincius followed with a two-run double, and Milewski's single plated two more, putting the game out of reach for the Bisons.
Mississippi State added another run in the eighth with Gehrig Frei's solo home run to center field, making it 10-0.
In the ninth inning, the Bisons managed to avoid the shutout.
Cam Pruitt singled to right field and advanced to second on a walk by
Jordan Thomas.
Blake Carter then hit an RBI single down the left-field line, scoring Pruitt. With this performance,
Cam Pruitt made it 23 games with at least two hits, including extending his consecutive multi-hit game streak to seven. Lipscomb concluded the game with a 10-1 loss to Mississippi State.
KEY STATISTICS
Cam Pruitt led the Bisons with two hits on the afternoon.
Blake Carter drove in the lone run for Lipscomb in the ninth on a base knock down the left field line.
UP NEXT
Moving to the loser's bracket, the Bisons will await the loser of Cincinnati and Louisiana, who play on Friday night. The elimination game will take place on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. from Dudy Noble Field.
