Bulldog Batters Launch Three Homers in Second Inning to Defeat Little Rock 7-1
Mississippi State put on an early-season power display on Friday evening at Dudy Noble Field, using four home runs and sharp pitching to defeat visiting Arkansas-Little Rock 7-1 in the first half of a Friday evening exhibition twinbill. The Bulldogs unlocked a seven-run performance fueled almost entirely by longballs, generating six of their seven total runs via the deep ball across six turns at the plate.
The offensive surge ignited in the bottom of the second inning. Following a quick start that featured walks and an RBI single from Will Craddock, the Bulldogs strung together a rapid-fire sequence of extra-base hits. Leadoff man Brady Christman launched a high drive that cleared all seats in left field, leaving the park entirely. Ryder Woodson followed with a line drive clearing the first centerfield wall to push the lead to 3-0.
Relief pitcher Brandon Chavez entered for the Trojans, but the momentum continued. After hitting Burke-Lee Mabeus with a pitch, Chavez surrendered a home run to Zach Geertsma into the left-field seats. In the span of just four batters, Christman, Woodson, and Geertsma had effectively put round one out of reach.
Landon Brown leaves Little Rock scoreless in the third.Mid 3 | Mississippi State 0, Little Rock 0 pic.twitter.com/icbrlbnl8g
Valincius Sets the Tone on the Mound
Opening pitching duties fell to Tomas Valincius, who delivered two scoreless frames with minimal trouble. Valincius retired the side in order in the first inning with two strikeouts, then stranded a baserunner in the second following a strikeout and a wild pitch. That frame ended with a called strikeout verified via a video strike zone review.
Working consistently at 96 to 97 mph up in the zone, Valincius finished his afternoon facing seven batters, collecting four strikeouts while allowing zero hits and zero runs. He relied heavily on a mix of fastballs, sliders, and changes of pace before handing the ball over to the bullpen.
Top 4th, Brown back on the mound for Mississippi State, now leading Little Rock 1-0. He gets Rasmussen on a sinking line drive to CF, then a dandy play and cross-body throw to 1b by Firgens draws cheers from the fans bunched behind home plate. A fly ball to the outfield gets the…
Late-Game Power and Relief Pitching Preserve the Win
Little Rock attempted to mount a response in the third inning against reliever Parker Rhodes. Consecutive singles from GT Taylor and Jake McClure brought the Trojans within striking distance, plating their lone run of the contest before Rhodes closed the door with a swinging strikeout.
State capped its scoring in the sixth inning. After Woodson reached on a two-base error off the glove of the Trojan third baseman, Burke-Lee Mabeus hit a no-doubt blast over the right-field wall to extend the advantage to 7-1. A succession of Bulldog relievers—including Thomas Allen, Jack Gleason, and Landon Stump—combined to shut down the remainder of the Little Rock lineup, sealing the six-run exhibition victory with a flurry of late strikeouts.
Bottom 3rd, Harlin Hovater leads off for Mississippi State, looking to break a scoreless tie with Little Rock. He walks and Peyton Firgens is up. He fakes a bunt and eventually strikes out, but Hovater steals 2b and takes 3b on a wild pitch.After Souders goes 1-1 at the plate,…
