Box Score
The Youngstown State baseball team led No. 9 Mississippi State heading into the bottom of the sixth, but ultimately fell 14-3 in game one of a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field on Friday evening to open the 2019 season.
Trailing 3-0, Mississippi State tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning before pulling away with an 11-run eighth. The Bulldogs outhit the Penguins 14-5, and recorded 13 of those hits over its final three at-bats.
In his first game as a Penguin, senior first baseman Trevor Wiersma went 2-for-4 with a single and a two-run home run while driving in all three YSU runs. Web Charles doubled in the contest while Cameron Murray and Jeff Wehler each singled.
Colin Clark had a very solid outing for the Penguins, allowing three earned runs on four hits over 5.1 innings. The sophomore left-hander held the Bulldogs scoreless and surrendered just one hit over the first five frames. He retired 11 consecutive batters at one point while facing the minimum in the second, third and fourth innings.
After a leadoff single by Wehler, Wiersma broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run to right center. The Penguins added another run in the sixth when Murray, who reached on a leadoff single, scored on an RBI groundout by Wiersma.
Jake Mangum led off the bottom of the sixth with a double down the left-field line, and came around to score on a one-out double by Jordan Westburg. Tanner Allen followed with a two-run homer to left that tied the game at 3-3.
The Bulldogs plated 11 runs on nine hits in the bottom of the eighth to secure the season-opening victory on a night when they unveiled a newly-renovated Dudy Noble Field at Polk DeMent Stadium in front of more than 8,500 fans.
Westburg led MSU with four hits and four RBIs while Allen and Elijah Macnamee each notched two hits and homered in the contest. Nine different Bulldogs registered a hit in the game.
Mississippi State starter Ethan Small allowed two earned runs on only three hits over five innings while striking out 11, but took a no-decision. Cole Gordon picked up the win after tossing a perfect eighth inning in relief.
Kip DeShields was saddled with the loss after giving up one run on one hit in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen.
The Penguins and Bulldogs will continue their series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Both games will be broadcast live on SEC Network+ and the MSU Radio Network.
