State Tops NKU to Secure Series Victory

Sunday, February 27

Starkville

1:00 PM

Mississippi State

4-3

Northern Kentucky

1-5

Northern Kentucky

Mississippi State

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Student Manager Gavin Schmidt and Pitcher Stone Simmons (#17) 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 KC Hunt

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Assistant Coach Scott Foxhall 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis speaks with the team in a huddle 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - The Mississippi State Bulldogs huddle 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis during the National Anthem 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Cade Smith (#15) 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Assistant Coach Scott Foxhall, Assistant Coach Jake Gautreau, and Coordinator of Baseball Player Development Bobby Austin in the dugout 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Aaron Downs (#5) 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Hunter Hines (#44) and 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder/Outfielder Aaron Downs (#5), Outfielder Brad Cumbest (#33), and Catcher Logan Tanner (#19) hug 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Catcher Logan Tanner’s (#19) shin guards 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Luke Hancock (#20) celebratesduring 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Infielder Luke Hancock (#20) and Mississippi State Infielder Kamren James (#6) celebrate 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - A bat is on the ground 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Brooks Auger (#48) 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Mikey Tepper (#39) 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Pitcher Preston Johnson (#35) signs autographs after 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis during a tv interview after 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

STARKVILLE, MS - February 27, 2022 - Mississippi State Catcher Logan Tanner (#19) signs autographs for fans after 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 Austin Perryman

Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics

State Tops NKU to Secure Series Victory

February 27, 2022 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

Brad Cumbest and Luke Hancock each had two-run home runs in the victory

By: Anna Claire Thomas, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State (4-3) starter Cade Smith put in another solid pitching performance and the offense powered two more long balls as the Diamond Dawgs took the series over Northern Kentucky (1-5) with a 7-2 victory over the Norse on Sunday (Feb. 27) at Dudy Noble Field.

State put up crooked numbers in the second, third and fourth innings, while Cade Smith allowed just one unearned run in five innings to lead MSU to victory. The Diamond Dawgs had 11 hits on the day compared to five by Northern Kentucky.

Cade Smith (2-0) picked up his second win of the short season after allowing just one unearned run on three hits and striking out seven in 5.0 innings. Brandon Smith came on in relief in the sixth and tossed two shutout innings before Brooks Auger came on in the eighth and allowed a run on two hits. MSU's Mikey Tepper closed things out in the ninth, striking out one and walking two.

NKU starter Kaden Echeman (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing five runs – four earned – on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout in 2.2 innings. The Norse used a total of six pitchers on the afternoon.

At the plate, the Dawgs received multi-hit performances by Brad Cumbest (2-for-2, HR, 2 RBI), Luke Hancock (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI), Aaron Downs (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Kamren James (2-for-3, 2 BB). Matt Corder was 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored, while Logan Tanner and Hunter Hines also had a hit apiece and scored runs in the contest.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bottom Second

Mississippi State took a 1-0 lead in the second when Matt Corder opened up the scoring with an RBI single to left-center to score Hunter Hines. Later in the inning, Aaron Downs notched his first career base knock, driving in two more runs on a single up the middle to give State a 3-0 lead.

Mississippi State 3, Northern Kentucky 0

Bottom Third

Brad Cumbest left the yard for the second time in as many days with a two-run home run to left field that extended MSU's lead to five runs.

Mississippi State 5, Northern Kentucky 0

Bottom Fourth

Luke Hancock made it a 7-0 lead for State in the fourth with a two-run home run of his own with Kamren James on base.

Mississippi State 7, Northern Kentucky 0

Top Fifth

A sacrifice fly to left field got Northern Kentucky on the board with an unearned run scoring to cut State's lead to six runs.

Mississippi State 7, Northern Kentucky 1

Top Eighth

The final run of the game came in the eighth when Northern Kentucky's Wakeham drove in a run on an RBI single to right-center.

Mississippi State 7, Northern Kentucky 2

ON DECK

Mississippi State will close out its season-opening 8-game homestand on Tuesday when the Dawgs host Grambling at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, at Dudy Noble Field. The game will air on 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.