The Mississippi State Bulldogs brought Oregon pitcher Cole Irvin back down to life in the Ducks’ 10-4 loss at Dudy Noble Field on Friday.
Irvin, who entered the game with a pair of wins and a 0.82 ERA, struggled through 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs (three earned) on three walks and two strikeouts.
The Ducks (8-3) got off to a fast start, thanks to A.J. Balta’s two-run home run in the first inning, but the Bulldogs erased the lead in the third inning. Travis Moniot’s throwing error to first base allowed Ryan Gridley to reach base and take second. Following a sacrifice bunt, Brent Rooker knocked Gridley home on an infield single. Gavin Collins then scored Rooker on a two-out, two-strike double to left-center field to tie the score.
The Bulldogs added two more in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Rooker blasted a go-ahead solo home run to left-center. With two outs, Gavin Collins singled and Reid Humphreys tripled to right, scoring Collins.
Irvin’s day came to a frustrating close in the sixth. He threw four straight balls to Luke Alexander after starting the count 0-2. Gridley followed with a bunt single, and Jacob Ronson singled through the right side with two strikes. The bases were loaded with one out when Brac Warren entered in Irvin’s relief.
Warren got his first batter, Rooker, to fly out to shallow left, but the next batter cashed in. Jack Kruger, who played his freshman year at Oregon and now leads Mississippi State with a .462 average, singled to the third baseman. Alexander scored from third, increasing the lead to 5-2 before Warren escaped the jam.
Freshman Matt Mercer relieved Warren in the eighth and pitched an inning he’d like to have back. Mercer struck out two of his first three batters and gave up a double to Gridley. Pinch hitter Jake Magnum then roped the first pitch he saw down the right field line for a double, scoring Gridley. After an intentional walk to Kruger and a four-pitch walk to Collins, Cody Brown crushed a grand slam to right.
Mercer retired the next batter, but the damage was already done. The Ducks went down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning and lost 10-4.
The Ducks managed just four hits and went 3-18 with runners in scoring position. Their team batting average sits at .203, although their opponents’ is just .202.
Oregon and Mississippi State will square off again Saturday at 12:00 p.m.