A Late-Game Collapse Leads to a 7-6 Loss for Mississippi State Baseball

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs lost game one to the sixth-ranked Florida Gators 7-6. MSU was playing well in this game, thanks to a good start from Khal Stephen. 

The Purdue transfer worked six innings, struck out eight, and allowed only two runs. MSU's lineup also hit well, as Bryce Chance drove in two runs and was 2-4 at the plate.

They scored runs in the third, fourth, and seventh innings, including a four-spot in the fourth. The Bulldogs seemed to start their weekend in Gainesville on the right foot until the eighth innings. 

MSU was set up nicely after Stephen's start and a nice inning of work from Cam Schuelke as they turned the ball over to the back half of their bullpen with a four-run lead. 

Tyler Davis has been lights out for the Bulldogs this year after struggling mightily a season ago, but tonight, the VCU transfer reverted to his old ways. Davis threw nine pitches, eight of which were balls, and pitching coach Justin Parker had seen enough and turned to Brooks Auger. 

Auger has been the closer for MSU this year and allowed two runs in the eighth, but they were runners the Louisiana native inherited. However, in the ninth, the former Hinds Community College Eagle created a mess by allowing a single and walking a batter. 

The freshman Nolan Stevens took over on the mound with runners on first and second and one out. Stevens struck out the first batter he faced but allowed a single to cut the lead to one. 

With two outs and runners on first and second, Jac Caglianone chopped a ball right at the shifted Bulldog third baseman Logan Kohler. The Memphis transfer could not make the play, and it was tough, but if fielded cleanly, he could step on the bag, and the game was over. 

However, he could not, and the bases were loaded with two outs. Stevens showed his youth by walking in the tying run, and Cade Kurland walked it off with a single up the middle. 

It was a heartbreaking loss, exposing a flaw in this team that must be fixed. The flaw is that this team lacks a closer. Closing out games in the SEC requires a different mindset and player, and the Bulldogs currently do not have that. 

MSU head coach Chris Lemonis cannot allow this tough loss to affect his team tomorrow, or it will get ugly. The Bulldogs will try to even the series tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.