Allen's HR keys thrilling late rally for MS State
OMAHA, Neb. - Josh Hatcher stood on third and Rowdey Jordan took a lead from second with No. 7 Mississippi State trailing by two runs. Tanner Allen then sent the maroon and white clad fans into a frenzy with a go-ahead, three-run home run in the eighth inning.
It was the key blow that enabled Mississippi State to advance in the College World Series with a dramatic, come-from-behind 6-5 win over Virginia at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska on Tuesday evening.
Trailing by four runs after two innings, Mississippi State (47-16) didn't have a hit through seven innings and Virginia (36-26) had scored four times and stranded nine runners on base.
UVA's Griff McGarry had allowed just two base runners entering the eighth, but a walk to Scotty Dubrule to start the inning was followed by a two-run home run to Kellum Clark and the Dawgs offense got the spark it needed.
With 27 games of College World Series experience on the field for MSU, Allen's home run gave the Dawgs the lead, but it was Dubrule with an RBI single four batters later that was the eventual game-winning RBI in the 6-5 victory that kept MSU in the winner's bracket of Bracket Two at the CWS.
Clark provided the spark for the offense with his first hit at the CWS, as the freshman's two-run home run got the scoring started. Dubrule provided the game-winning RBI and was on base three times on the night with two walks and the aforementioned base hit.
After Christian MacLeod tossed just 1 1/3 innings in the start and allowed four runs on five hits, the Mississippi State bullpen allowed one run the rest of the way. Preston Johnson, Chase Patrick, Cam Tullar and Cade Smith (3-0) worked 5 2/3 innings scoreless, with Smith tossing a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win in his CWS debut. Landon Sims (12) came on and recorded the save with a flyout to end the eighth and a 1-2-3 ninth inning, capped by his 92nd strikeout of the season.
McGarry took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and ended his outing with 7 1/3 innings pitched and two runs allowed on one hit. He walked two and hit one batter in the no-decision to go along with eight strikeouts.
Chris Newell had three hits and two RBIs in the game, while Zack Gelof and Kyle Teel both chipped in three hits and one RBI each.
Scoring Recap
Bottom First
After a leadoff single from Zack Gelof and a sacrifice bunt, Kyle Teel singled to plate the first run of the game. Virginia 1, Mississippi State 0
Bottom Second
A leadoff walk to Jake Gelof was followed by a sacrifice bunt and then back-to-back RBI doubles from Chris Newell and Zack Gelof to extend the lead. The third run of the inning came in to score on a Max Cotier base hit up the middle to end the outing for Christian MacLeod. Virginia 4, Mississippi State 0
Top Eighth
A leadoff walk to Scotty Dubrule was followed by a flyout, before Kellum Clark hit a two-run home run to right field. Pinch hitter Josh Hatcher singled and Rowdey Jordan doubled in front of Tanner Allen's three-run home run. Luke Hancock singled and Logan Tanner walked before Dubrule drove in the sixth run of the inning with a base hit. Mississippi State 6, Virginia 4
Bottom Eighth
Newell hit a solo home run to left field. Mississippi State 6, Virginia 5
Up Next
Mississippi State will have two days off before playing the winner of Texas/Virginia on Friday, June 25 at 6 p.m. CT on the ESPN. The Longhorns and Cavaliers will play at 6 p.m. om Thursday, June 24 on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET.