Baseball Falls in Extras to Mississippi State
COLUMBIA – Mississippi State scored a run in the top of the 11th inning to defeat the University of South Carolina baseball team, 4-3, Sunday afternoon (April 19) at Founders Park.
The Gamecocks sent the game into extras by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. Patrick Evans led off the frame with a single to left. Tyler Bak then was hit by a pitch. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and with one out, Talmadge LeCroy singled to deep left field, scoring Bak. Jake Randolph tied the game with an RBI groundout.
In the top of the 11th, Vytas Valincius led off with a single. After a fly out, Aidan Teel singled to put runners on the corners. An error on a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases and Kevin Milewski’s sacrifice fly brought in the winning run.
Mississippi State used a two-run home run from Blake Bevis in the second and an RBI fielder’s choice in the sixth to take a 3-0 lead. Carolina got a run back in the bottom of the sixth on Randolph’s single to right to score Will Craddock.
On the mound, Alex Valentin went five innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts and a walk. Alex Philpott pitched four scoreless frames, allowing just one hit with a strikeout and a walk. Zach Russell took the loss, allowing an unearned run on two hits with a strikeout in 1.2 innings.
LeCroy and Harman had two hits apiece to lead the Gamecock offense while Randolph had two RBI.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Carolina played its third extra-inning game of the season and second in SEC play.
- Will Craddock extended his hitting streak to five games in Sunday’s game.
- Philpott has not allowed a run in his last three outing, lowering his ERA to 3.68.
UP NEXT
Carolina hosts Presbyterian Tuesday night (April 21) with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. The game will be streamed on SEC Network Plus.
