Dawgs Drop Game One to Northern Kentucky

Friday, February 25

Starkville

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

2-3

Northern Kentucky

1-3

Northern Kentucky

Mississippi State

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Dude Effect Sign before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Baseball Camps Coordinator/Volunteer Assistant Kyle Cheesebrough before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis during the before between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Matt Corder (#14) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Brad Cumbest (#33) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Drew McGowan (#8) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Brayland Skinner (#36) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Slate Alford (#24) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Lane Forsythe (#43) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder RJ Yeager (#4) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Tanner Leggett (#31) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Cleats before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Assistant Coach Jake Gautreau before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Jackson Fristoe (#27) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Catcher Logan Tanner (#19) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher KC Hunt (#2) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Revy Higgins III (#10) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis before the before between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Bryce Chance (#38) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Bradley Wilson (#40) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Baseball Hats before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Baseball Cleats before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Catcher Logan Tanner (#19) and Pitcher Landon Sims (#23) before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Baseball Hat before the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Landon Sims (#23) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Luke Hancock (#20) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Kamren James (#6) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Hunter Hines (#44) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder RJ Yeager (#4) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Baseball Camps Coordinator/Volunteer Assistant Kyle Cheesebrough during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Tanner Leggett (#31) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Baseball Hat during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Catcher Logan Tanner (#19) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Matt Corder (#14) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Parker Stinnett (#32) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Brad Cumbest (#33) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Cam Tullar (#45) and Catcher Logan Tanner (#19) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Cam Tullar (#45) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Stone Simmons (#17) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Drew McGowan (#8) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Mississippi State Outfielder Brayland Skinner (#36) during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 25, 2022 - Lights during the game between the Northern Kentucky Norse and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Laura Parsley

Photo by: Laura Parsley/MSU Athletics

Dawgs Drop Game One to Northern Kentucky

February 25, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday at The Dude

By: Anna Claire Thomas, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State (2-3) dropped the opening game of the series, 7-6, to Northern Kentucky (1-3) on Friday (Feb. 25) at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville.

State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, but Northern Kentucky answered with three runs of its own the next half inning and never trailed the rest of the way in the series opener.

Landon Sims (0-2) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs – one earned – on six hits in five innings of work. Sims struck out four and walked two in the contest before Parker Stinnett came on to pitch 1.1 innings of relief. Cam Tullar also came in to pitch a third of an inning before Stone Simmons entered the game and shut down the Norse offense for the final 2.1 innings. NKU's Kyle Klingenbeck (1-1) picked up the win on the mound, while Bryson Lonsbury (1) earned the save.

Offensively for the Dawgs, Hunter Hines led the way with a 2-for-5 effort with a triple, home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Tanner Leggett also tallied a base hit in the game and drove in two runs, while Von Seibert came on as a pinch hitter in the eighth and singled for State's fourth and final hit of the game.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bottom Second

Hunter Hines led off the inning with a triple to deep centerfield and later came around to score on a groundout RBI by Matt Corder for the first run of the game. Brad Cumbest reached base after being hit by a pitch and was driven in on an RBI single up the middle by Tanner Leggett to give the Dawgs a 2-0 lead.

Mississippi State 2, Northern Kentucky 0

Top Third

Northern Kentucky plated three unearned runs in the top half of the third after Liam McFadden-Ackman led off the inning by reaching on a Bulldog error. Brennan Gick followed up with a bunt single, followed by an RBI single later in the inning by Manny Vorhees to NKU's first run. Ryan Glass followed up with a two-run double to centerfield to give the Norse a 3-2 lead over the Dawgs.

Mississippi State 2, Northern Kentucky 3

Top Fifth

Northern Kentucky added to its lead after 9-hole hitter Brandon Tucker led off the fifth with a single to right field and later scored on a ground ball to first to make it a 2-run lead for the Norse.

Mississippi State 2, Northern Kentucky 4

Top Sixth

The Norse extended their lead to 5-2 in the sixth on an RBI single by Tucker that scored Liam McFadden-Ackman, who initially reached on a 1-out single earlier in the inning.

Mississippi State 2, Northern Kentucky 5

Bottom Sixth

Hunter Hines led off the sixth with a 433-foot solo home run to right-center to cut the deficit to 5-3 after six innings.

Mississippi State 3, Northern Kentucky 5

Top Seventh

Northern Kentucky added two more in the seventh after Mississippi State pitching allowed two hits, a hit batsman and walked in a pair of runs.

Mississippi State 3, Northern Kentucky 7

Bottom Seventh

The Dawgs chipped away at the NKU lead in the bottom half of the seventh, starting with Drew McGowan leading off the inning by drawing a pinch-hit walk. McGowan reached second on a wild pitch and took third on a throwing error by the NKU pitcher. Logan Tanner drove in McGowan with a ground ball to second base to cut the deficit to three runs.

Mississippi State 4, Northern Kentucky 7

Bottom Eighth

Mississippi State made it a one-run game in the eighth by plating a pair of runs. RJ Yeager and Matt Corder led off with back-to-back walks before Von Seibert pinch hit and loaded the bases on a single through the left side. Corder eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice RBI by Tanner Leggett. Later in the inning, the Dawgs plated another run when pinch runner Brayland Skinner scored on a wild pitch by Northern Kentucky.

Mississippi State 6, Northern Kentucky 7

ON DECK

Mississippi State will take on Northern Kentucky in game two of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Dudy Noble Field. The finale is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27. Both games will be aired on the SEC Network+ and the Mississippi State Radio Network.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.