Diamond Dawgs Claim Series Over No. 11 Vanderbilt

Sunday, April 28

Nashville, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Mississippi State

29-15, 12-9

#11 Vanderbilt

31-13, 11-10

Mississippi State

Vanderbilt

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Diamond Dawgs Claim Series Over No. 11 Vanderbilt

April 28, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trailing 7-6 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Hunter Hines came up to the plate with a runner on and hit a two-run home run, leading the Mississippi State Diamond Dawgs to an 8-7 victory over the No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores.

Following Hines's homer, Tyson Hardin came in and recorded the final three outs of the game, earning his second save of the season.

Mississippi State came out of the gate hot, scoring five in the third. Vanderbilt scored six runs in the sixth inning and a single run in the seventh to take the lead.

Hines played hero for State with a two-run home run in the ninth to take the lead 8-7. Connor Hujsak went 3-for-4 in the Sunday finale with a pair of RBIs and a double. David Mershon went 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI and a home run. Logan Kohler picked up his first home run of the season.

Jurrangelo Cijntje earned the start on the mound and punched out a career-high 11 batters in his 5 1/3 innings pitched. Nolan Stevens and Karson Ligon each picked up 1 1/3 innings of relief work. Ligon struck out a single Commodore and grabbed his first win. Tyson Hardin pitched one inning and earned his second save.

Mississippi State is back for the Governor's Cup in Pearl, Miss. against Ole Miss. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU with first pitch set for Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Scoring Summary
Top 3
David Mershon and Hunter Hines scored off an RBI double by Connor Hujsak. Logan Kohler hit a three-run home run to plate Hujsak and Amani Larry.
Mississippi State 5, Vanderbilt 0

Top 4
Mershon hit a solo home run to left field.
Mississippi State 6, Vanderbilt 0

Bottom 6
Braden Holcomb scored off a double by Jonathan Vastine. RJ Austin hit an RBI single to score Vastine. Austin scored off a single by Alan Espinal. Troy LaNeve hit a three-run home run to plate Espinal and Colin Barczi.
Mississippi State 6, Vanderbilt 6

Bottom 7
Holcomb scored off an RBI fielder's choice from Espinal.
Mississippi State 6, Vanderbilt 7

Top 9
Hines hit a two-run home run to plate Mershon.
Mississippi State 8, Vanderbilt 7

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