Wednesday recap: MSU gets another shutout

Mississippi State throws its third-straight shutout 

Houston Harding photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics

Here's a recap of Southeastern Conference baseball action from March 10.

MSU POSTS THREE STRAIGHT SHUTOUTS

Mississippi State has posted three straight shutouts following its 4-0 win over Louisiana on Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field. The Bulldogs have beaten Kent State, Grambling and Louisiana by a combined 27-0 score in the last three games. 

MSU has recorded three straight shutouts for the first time since 1976 when the Bulldogs blanked Arkansas State and St. Olaf (twice) on March 22-24. Mississippi State had a school-record five straight shutouts against Nashville, Cumberland (3 times) and Ole Miss from May 1-5.

MSU has used 14 different pitchers during its current 27-inning scoreless streak. The Bulldogs have allowed only nine hits in 27 scoreless frames with five walks and 43 strikeouts. Sophomore right-hander Landon Sims is the only pitcher to make more than one appearance during the scoreless streak. Sims has allowed three hits in three scoreless innings with one walk and eight strikeouts.

A trio of MSU hurlers combined for 17 strikeouts in the win over the Ragin’ Cajuns. Senior left-hander Houston Harding logged five scoreless innings for the win. He allowed three hits, one walk and struck out eight batters. Junior right-hander Preston Johnson allowed one hit in two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Sims allowed three hits in two scoreless innings and fanned five batters. 

The Bulldogs have recorded nine straight double-digit strikeout games, which ties the 2019 for the longest streak in the last 20 seasons. The 2019 squad opened the season with nine straight 10-plus strikeout games.

MSU scored four runs on four hits the win. First baseman Josh Hatcher went 2-for-3, while centerfielder Rowdey Jordan scored two runs.

AGGIES WIN SEVENTH STRAIGHT GAME:

Texas A&M extended its winning streak to seven games with a 22-2 blowout win over Prairie View A&M. The game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

After a 1-3 start, the Aggies have won 10 of their last 11 games, including the current 7-game winning streak. Texas A&M has outscored opponents 55-8 over the last seven games.

Texas A&M scored a season-high 22 runs in Wednesday’s win. The Aggies defeated Prairie A&M 30-2 last year in College Station. Texas A&M scored in all six innings against the Panthers, including eight runs in the third inning.

Right fielder Logan Britt went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, one triple, one home run and two RBIs. He smacked a two-run homer in the eight-run third inning. Designated hitter Will Frizzell belted a two-run home run in the first inning. He reached base three times and scored three runs. A&M’s two catchers Taylor Smith and Kimble Schuessler drove in five runs. Smith hit a solo homer in the third inning.

AROUND THE SEC:

Alabama right hander Connor Shamblin allowed one run on three hits in six innings as the Crimson Tide defeated Jacksonville State 7-2. Shamblin worked a career-high six innings and tied his career high with six strikeouts in the 97-pitch performance. He did not issue a walk en route to his second win. Alabama third baseman Zane Denton and left fielder William Hamiter provide the spark on offense. Denton was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. He had a two-run single in the Tide’s four-run fourth inning. Hamiter went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. He had an RBI single in the fourth and fifth innings. UA designated hitter Sam Praytor extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a third-inning single.

Florida overcame a five-run deficit to defeat Stetson 10-7 in Gainesville. Stetson scored four runs in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead. The Hatters roughed up UF starter Timmy Manning for five runs in 1 2/3 innings. Florida began its comeback with two runs in the third inning and scored all 10 runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings for the win. The top three hitters in the Gators lineup went 7-for-13 with five runs scored, three doubles, one home run and seven RBIs. Catcher and three-hole hitter Kevin Hickey went 4-for-5 with one run scored and three RBIs. Left fielder and leadoff hitter Jacob Young went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, one double, one home run and three RBIs. Centerfielder and two-hole hitter Jud Fabian went 1-for-3 with two runs, one double and one RBI.

LSU freshman right-hander Will Hellmers fired five shutout innings as the Tigers blanked New Orleans 5-0 at Maestri Field on the UNO campus. Hellmers worked five scoreless innings and allowed four hits for his third win. He walked one and added a career-best seven strikeouts. Four LSU relievers combined on the shutout with Hellmers. The Tigers finished with 12 strikeouts. LSU first baseman Tre’ Morgan went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, one triple and two RBIs. Designated hitter Cade Beloso went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Missouri snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-1 win at St. Louis. Mizzou left fielder Brandt Belk scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh inning. Belk went 2-for-3 and scored both runs for the Tigers. Ian Lohseworked 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. He struck out seven batters and walked three. Mizzou starter Lukas Veinbergs struck out seven in a 5 2/3 innings.

 South Carolina scored six runs in the eighth inning to complete an 11-7 comeback win at The Citadel in Charleston. The Gamecocks are 11-0 for the first time since 2014. South Carolina has won 16 straight games dating back to last season, tying the second-longest active winning streak in the nation. Right fielder Brady Allen started the six-run rally with an RBI single to tie the game at 6-6. Centerfielder Braylen Wimmer followed with an RBI double to put the Gamecocks up 7-6. Designated hitter Josiah Sightler extended the lead to 9-6 with a two-run single. Left fielder Andrew Eyster capped the inning with a two-run double. Sightler finished the night 2-for-4 with one run scored and four RBIs.