Biloxi, Miss. – Facing off in the Hancock Whitney Classic at MGM Park, the No. 17 Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated No. 23 Mississippi State, 7-2, in a rainy and windy game after losing the first game of the series on Tuesday.
The last time these two teams faced off in the Hancock Whitney Classic at MGM Park was in March of 2020. Mississippi State took both games of the two-game set then, so Texas Tech was looking for revenge.
Senior Parker Kelly got Texas Tech on the scoreboard in the top of the second as he cranked his third grand slam and fifth home run of the season to give the Red Raiders a 4-0 lead. Kelly has hit a home run in back-to-back games, and the Red Raiders now have a home run in five straight.
Redshirt freshman Jamie Hitt worked a scoreless and hitless four innings, walking one while hitting two. The appearance was his longest of the season. Hitt recorded four strikeouts as well, and now has seven strikeouts over his 7.1 total innings so far.
With just two earned runs allowed in those 7.1 innings, Hitt has opened up the season pitching well.
Texas Tech Plays Well All-Around
After a strong four innings from Hitt, the Red Raiders mixed and matched relievers to close out the game. Colin Clark, Jase Lopez, Derek Bridges, and Brendan Girton combined to allow just two runs over five innings.
Sophomore Dillon Carter got in on the action in the five-run second inning, smashing a solo home run to right field for his second of the year. The RBI was Carter’s ninth. He finished the game one for four.
A strong performance at the plate from Kelly was not the only thing he provided this game, as he made a diving play at third base in the fifth inning to stop a hit down the third-base line.
Kelly finished the game three for four as he continues to be a breakout player for the Red Raiders so far this year. Kelly is hitting a ridiculous .405 with 19 RBI.
The Red Raiders tacked on another run in the eighth inning. Following a leadoff triple by shortstop Kurt Wilson, he scored on a wild pitch by Mississippi State reliever Mikey Tepper.
A ninth-inning single by Wilson drove in Cole Stilwell to cap off the scoring for Texas Tech and extend their lead 7-2.
Bulldogs Late Comeback Falls Short
After not recording a hit until the bottom of the sixth inning, an RBI double by freshman Hunter Hines got Mississippi State on the board in both the hit and run column. The RBI was Hines’ 13th of the season. He has been scorching hot to start the season, hitting .367 including a one-for-four showing against Texas Tech.
The Bulldogs weren’t done in the sixth, as after moving to third on a groundout, Hines got driven in by Brad Cumbest on a single to right field. Cumbest went one for four with a lone RBI. The sixth inning runs would unfortunately be the only ones they got in the game.
Aside from a long second inning where starting pitcher Jackson Fristoe let up five runs, Mississippi State’s pitching held strong otherwise.
Fristoe took the loss, moving to 1-2 on the season as he allowed five runs on four hits, walking three over 3.2 innings. He managed to strike out four.
Cam Tullar came in to replace Fristoe, firing 3.1 scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit, walking one, while striking out five. It was a much-needed bounce-back game for Tullar who had been struggling as of late.
While the bats were quiet for Mississippi State, expect them to get back on track as they are still averaging seven runs a game.
Looking Ahead
The Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-3) will travel to Houston, Texas where they will take on the Rice Owls (3-10) for the first game of a three-game series on Friday, March 11th. The series concludes on Sunday, March 13th with an afternoon matchup.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-7) will look to bounce back after losing the second game of the two-game set against the Red Raiders. They’ll play the Princeton Tigers (0-8) at home in Starkville, Mississippi for a three-game set that begins on Friday, March 11th and concludes Sunday, March 13th.
