Pitchers’ duel goes to Miss. State 4-0

Doxakis
Photo credit: Russell James

By Thomas D. Dick

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 17 Texas A&M Aggies came out on the losing end of a pitchers’ duel against the No. 7 Mississippi State Bulldogs, 4-0, Friday afternoon on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

Aggies’ starter John Doxakis (5-3) was saddled with the loss after throwing 7.1 strong innings. He yielded four runs, three earned, on four hits and two walks, while fanning four.

Mississippi State put up two runs in both the fourth and eighth frames.

Offensively, Ty Coleman accounted for the Aggies only extra-base hit with an eighth-inning double.

pitchers' duel
Photo credit: Russell James

Texas A&M dropped to 31-16-1 overall on the season after the pitchers’ duel and 11-10-1 in league play. Mississippi State improved to 37-9 on the year and 14-8 in SEC action.

The Aggies and Bulldogs close out the series with a Saturday doubleheader starting at 2:02 p.m.

 

SCORING SUMMARY
T4 | Elijah MacNamee led off and reached first after being hit on the back with a 2-1 offering. The next pitch, Justin Foscue shot a double down the leftfield line to put two runners in scoring position. Rowdey Jordan broke the ice, plating MacNamee with a sacrifice fly to right-center.  With one out, Dustin Skelton knocked in Foscue with a double down the third base line. MSU 2, A&M 0.

T8 | Jake Mangum got things started with a line drive single to centerfield and advanced to second when Jordan Westburg reached first on a fielding error by TAMU’s shortstop. Tanner Allen moved both runners into scoring position with a sac bunt down the third base line and an intentional walk issued to MacNamee loaded the bases. The Aggies went to bullpen and with one out Foscue hit a 1-1 pitch from Bryce Miller through the left side of the infield, plating two. MSU 4, A&M 0.