The Mississippi State Bulldogs just didn’t quit Tuesday evening. Down 4-0, the Bulldogs roared back and were able to defeat the Virginia Cavaliers in the College World Series.
Mississippi State didn’t do itself any favors by falling behind early on.
The Cavaliers claimed an early 1-0 lead over Mississippi State in the 1st inning. That run came after the Bulldogs gave up a couple of hits and a sac bunt.
In the very next inning, Virginia jumped out and extended its lead by tacking on three more onto the scoreboard. With more hits, walks, and sac bunts, the Cavaliers set the score at 4-0 following the 2nd inning. UVA’s starter, Griff McGarry, continued to silence the Bulldogs’ bats late into the game.
And while that deficit began to feel insurmountable to Mississippi State baseball fans, the Bulldogs proved that it wasn’t.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs came roaring back in the 8th inning
Down 4-0 late in the game, Mississippi State’s offense came alive in the top of the 8th inning. Scotty Dubrule got the inning started off by getting on base thanks to a walk. After Brad Cumbest flew out, Kellum Clark stepped up to the plate. Clark, a freshman, launched a home run past the right field wall and gave the Bulldogs some life by putting the score at 4-2.
Josh Hatcher then entered the game as a pinch hitter and got on base via a single. Rowdey Jordan followed Hatcher up with a double, giving Mississippi State two in scoring position with one out.
That’s when Tanner Allen stepped up to the plate and took advantage of the crucial moment. Allen sent a home run of his own into the bullpen out past right field and gave the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead over the Virginia Cavaliers.
Luke Hancock’s single gave State a base runner as he was ultimately substituted out for Tanner Leggett as a pinch runner. Logan Tanner then was walked, which moved Hancock over to second base. Having a runner in scoring positions was helpful for MSU when Dubrule got the opportunity to bat again.
Dubrule responded by getting a hit of his own, putting MSU up 6-4.
The Cavaliers got a run back with a home run of their own in the bottom of the 8th, cutting MSU’s lead to 6-5. That score ultimately held as Landon Sims stepped in late in the game for Mississippi State.
MSU needed almost everyone in the bullpen to make this win happen
The Bulldogs had to rely on just about every available arm in their bullpen to make the win possible. Christian MacLeod drew the start for MSU but wasn’t able to get more than 1.1 innings.
Preston Johnson stepped in, got 2.0 innings of work, getting three strikeouts in the process. Chase Patrick, Parker Stinnett, Cam Tullar, Cade Smith, and Stone Simmons got Mississippi State late into the game without giving up any more damage, allowing Sims to come in and get the final four outs.
Mississippi State came out on top, beating Virginia 6-5. The Bulldogs will return to action and will face the winner of the Virginia Cavaliers and the Texas Longhorns.
How to visit Omaha for the College World Series: Where to eat?
With the College World Series set to start, NCAA baseball fans from all over the country will be headed to Omaha, Nebraska, to watch the country’s eight best teams play each other with the goal of winning a championship. While it’s often overlooked, Omaha is a city that deserves more credit for everything it has to offer.
I actually had the pleasure of living in Omaha for a couple of years and, despite the bitter winters, I thoroughly enjoyed my time living in the Midwest.
Omaha is a wonderful city with a great food scene, plenty of bars (especially sports bars), and a solid amount of nightlife.
There’s always something happening somewhere in town and, thanks to the size and layout of the city, it’s pretty easy to get just about anywhere you need within 20 to 30 minutes.
If you’ve got the opportunity to go see the College World Series, you should definitely take it.
And if you’ll be in Omaha, it’s worth getting a few ideas on what to do while you’re there. That’s what this guide is for, to help you get some ideas on what to do during your trip to see your team in the CWS.
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