FIRST PITCH
Score: Mississippi State 10 | Queens 2
Records: Mississippi State (10-4 overall, 0-0 SEC) | Queens (2-12 overall, 0-0 ASUN)
Location: Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium (Starkville, Miss.)
 
The Short Story:
In game two of a three-game weekend series at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, the Queens University of Charlotte baseball team had their offense held in check by one of the nation's best pitching staffs as the Bulldogs took down the Royals 10-2 on Saturday afternoon. Mississippi State totaled 10 runs on 14 hits while limiting Queens to a pair of runs on three hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-After seeing the first five batters retired in order, Mississippi State went to work with two outs as Nolan Stevens ripped a double down the left field line. A balk would advance Stevens to third before Aaron Downs drove in the games first run with a double down the left field line on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. Gatlin Sanders followed it up with an RBI single to left center to give the Bulldogs an early 2-0 lead after two frames.
-Queens answered the Bulldogs in the top of the third inning with a run to cut the deficit in half. Justin Hudson worked a one-out walk before a single up the middle from Anibal Rivera put runners on the corners. Jake Barbour laced a grounder down the first base line, and the Bulldogs first baseman elected to tag first and throw to second base eliminating the force out at second. Hudson came around to score before the Bulldogs could apply the tag to complete the double play.
-Mississippi State extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs on three hits. The inning was highlighted by a two-run blast down the left-field line off the bat of Aaron Downs.
-In the bottom of the sixth inning, Mississippi State added four more runs on a two-run blast from Aaron Downs, his second home run of the game and a two-run homer from Bryce Chance to extend the Bulldogs lead to 9-1.
-Mississippi State would tack on another run in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend their lead to 10-1. However, Queens reliever Andrew White settled in and fanned back-to-back Bulldogs and worked a ground out to escape the bases loaded jam and extend the game.
-After being held scoreless for five straight frames, Queens would tally a run in the top of the ninth inning. Jake Barbour ripped a one-out triple to right field before a single up the middle from Nick Alderfer brought across the Royals second run of the game.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Shortstop Anibal Rivera recorded a single down the left field line as he has knocked a hit in both games this weekend.
-Sophomore Jake Barbour smoked his sixth extra-base hit of the season, and first triple of the year before coming around to score his ninth run of the year.
-Charlotte native Nick Alderfer turned in a hit for his second straight game with a single in the ninth inning.
-Junior right-hander Adrian Quezada made his fourth start of the season and threw 4.0 innings allowing four earned runs on six hits.
-Andrew White impressed out of the bullpen for the Royals throwing 2.0 scoreless innings of relief and striking out two Bulldogs.
-Aaron Downs led the Mississippi State offense with a 3-for-3 day, including two home runs for five RBI.
-Mississippi State did damage with two outs hitting .529 on the afternoon while the Royals went 0-for-8.

NEXT UP
Queens and Mississippi State will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday, March 9^th at Dude Noble Field at 2:00 PM ET. The game will be broadcast on SECN+. Fans can purchase their tickets in advance by visiting the Queens Athletics website.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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