No. 17 Mississippi State Beats South Carolina 5-3 in SEC Series Opener

COLLEGE PARK, S.C. — No. 17 Mississippi State secured a 5-3 victory over South Carolina on Friday night at Founders Park, opening their Southeastern Conference series with a strong offensive and pitching showing.

The Bulldogs (28-10, 8-8 SEC) launched four home runs and combined for 12 hits. Tomas Valincius pitched 6 2/3 innings, striking out 11 and earning his seventh win of the season. Relief pitcher Ben Davis closed out the game with 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his fifth save.

Mississippi State took an early lead in the second inning when Gehrig Frei hit a solo homer. The Bulldogs added three runs in the third, including a two-run shot by Reed Stallman and a solo homer from Ace Reese, pushing their advantage to 4-0.

South Carolina (19-20, 5-11 SEC) responded in the fifth, with Ethan Lizama hitting a three-run homer to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Gamecocks threatened again but couldn’t capitalize further as Valincius settled in and kept them at bay.

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the ninth when Noah Sullivan hit a solo shot. Sullivan, along with Reese, Frei, and Stallman, each had two hits in the game. Sullivan and Reese also homered for Mississippi State. The Gamecocks’ Brandon Stone took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The series continues Saturday at noon CT, with Mississippi State’s Duke Stone set to start against South Carolina’s Amp Phillips.

Source: Original Article