Although the Mississippi State University baseball team took a series win over South Carolina in Starkville this past weekend, they are still facing a defensive slump.
The first game of the series ended in a 7-3 loss with two outfield errors made by State, and zero by the South Carolina Gamecocks. During the post-game press conference, head coach Chris Lemonis commented on the team’s inability to step up. This contributed heavily to Friday’s loss.
Hunter Hines, a senior from Madison, Miss., has personally had a great season, tying for the second-most home runs in program history by a player in one season. After Friday’s game, Hines shared his thoughts on the condition of the team.
“Defensively we’re struggling right now,” Hines said. “We just gotta go pitch for pitch, ball game for ball game. We can’t think about the past, there’s nothing we’re gonna do that’s gonna change it.”
It is no secret that the team is lacking defense and the frustration is snowballing on the players. Hines says while he is doing his best to slow down the dugout, “it’s more of a mental thing right now.”
This was not just at play in the South Carolina series. The team has been hitting defense hard in practice with hopes of showing the SEC that they are a defense-heavy team.
However, after so many tough losses, the slump has started to impact the players’ ability to perform well. The inconsistency of the team leads to a lack of confidence, which runs out onto the field during the game.
“We played a couple top-10 teams, and now’s the time,” Lemonis said. “Now it’s time for us to play better. It’s not just who we play, but how we play. We’re not playing the game good enough.”
The frustration among the staff and the players hit some players harder than others. Relief pitcher Mikhai Grant and outfielder Ethan Pulliam have decided to step away from the team.
“He left for some personal reasons and he probably won’t be back with us this season,” Lemonis commented on the absence of Grant.
On the offensive side, the Bulldogs blew it out of the park with a total of six series home runs made by Ace Reese, Noah Sullivan, Dylan Cupp, and Reed Stallman. Reese now leads the team with 12 season home runs, and Cupp snatched his first career homer during game two.
“I just keep my same approach. If the ball flies out, it flies out,” Reese said in response to the bad weather during the second and third games.
Lemonis also noted that Reese’s addition to the team has been huge.
“When he hits, you know, it helps us win games,” Lemonis said.
At the game Saturday, the Bulldogs swept South Carolina 11-4. They followed up the power on Sunday with a 6-0 victory, sending the Gamecocks back to South Carolina with a series loss.
The series led State to be ranked No. 12 in the conference and bumped the Gamecocks to No. 14. The Dawgs will continue their play in Tuscaloosa on April 11 to face No. 7 Alabama.
Before then, the Bulldogs will continue to work on their defense to ensure better play. Thankfully, Mississippi State fans still continue to show out at Dudy Noble, setting a season attendance record of 12,132 fans during the second game on Saturday.
“I think it’s been a combination of like just losing games,” Reese said. “We feel pressure, and in this league you can’t let pressure get to you.”
