The Mississippi State University baseball team was none other than super this weekend, as MSU (22-19, 8-10 SEC) swept No. 3 University of Arkansas (28-13, 10-8 SEC) in their first three-game sweep of the season during the 33rd annual Super Bulldog Weekend.
Elijah MacNamee, a junior from Cypress, Texas, had a good weekend at the plate, with a hit and an RBI in each of the two games on Saturday.
“Everything showed this weekend pitching, defense, offense; it was awesome,” MSU first baseman MacNamee said. “We knew they had a good club, so we had to show everything we had. You have to go out there and just show everyone what you’ve got, everyone is going to get there shot.”
In game one of the three-game weekend, the Bulldogs pulled off a thrilling comeback victory after being held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning with a score of 6-5. Arkansas’s Eric Cole produced their 4-0 lead after a grand slam in the second inning, and the Razorbacks scored their final run of the game in the fifth inning.
The game began to shift in favor of the Bulldogs with a bunt single from Rowdey Jordan. Shortly after, Luke Alexander notched a three-run home run, and the Bulldogs did not score again until the bottom of the eighth inning when Jordan Westburg hit a two-run single to tie the game. It was MacNamee who delivered the game-winning single to top the Razorbacks after being down 0-4 until the sixth inning.
“It was a great win for our team and for our fans,” head coach Gary Henderson said.
After coming off a thrilling victory Friday night, the Bulldogs completed their first three-game sweep of the season after defeating the Razorbacks 5-3 in the second game and 7-5 in the final game. In game two of the series, the Bulldogs struck first to lead 1-0 after Rowdy Jordan scored a solo home run, MSU remained in the lead until the fourth inning after a RBI-single delivered by Arkansas’ Luke Bonfield. MSU regained the lead after a RBI-double by Alexander, followed by a RBI-single from Tanner Allen. MSU increased their 3-2 lead after Justin Foscue scored on RBI-double delivered by MacNamee.
After a series-clinching game, the Rally Dogs did it again Saturday evening after being down 3-0 until the third inning, as they rallied to defeat Arkansas 7-5. Jacob Billingsley, a redshirt senior pitcher from Senatobia, said they had to keep playing to stay in the game.
“If you want to keep your team in the game, you just have to come out and compete,” said MSU pitcher Billingsley. “We have a roster full of great players, and it’s just going to keep going.”
After being down 4-2 in the fifth inning, MSU took the lead with four runs in the sixth inning. A sacrifice fly by Hunter Stovall scored a run soon followed by a single from Jordan Westburg, then MacNamee’s RBI-single. MSU scored their final run of the game in the seventh inning off of a RBI-single from Alexander.
MSU’s next game is against in-state rival University of Mississippi for the annual Governor’s Cup on April 24 at Trustmark Park in Pearl. The first pitch will be at 6:02 p.m., and SEC Network will broadcast the game.
