Jackson Mississippi News: Mississippi State's Holder locks down Jackson State

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Mississippi State's Holder locks down Jackson State - Jackson Clarion Ledger

Michael Bonner, 8:30 p.m. CDT May 31, 2014

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Mississippi State pitcher Ben Bracewell heads back to the dugout after holding Jackson State scoreless in the third inning of an NCAA Baseball Division I Regional Tournament game Saturday, May 31, 2014, at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field in Lafayette, La.(Photo: Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser)

LAFAYETTE, La. --- Mississippi State woke up in the sixth inning. The Bulldogs pounded out three singles to plate two and give them a 3-1 win over Jackson State on Saturday in the Lafayette (Louisiana) Regional.

The win places MSU in the late game on Sunday. It will face the winner of the early game between Jackson State and Louisiana-Lafayette that starts 1 p.m. The Tigers beat the Ragin' Cajuns on Friday 1-0.

A win for the Bulldogs would send them to their second Super Regional in as many seasons.

The Bulldogs' rally came after JSU pitcher Desmond Russell retired 11 in a row. It ended with a Jake Vickerson single. Two more followed and MSU took a 3-1.

Mississippi State cluttered the bases in the first two innings, yet only scored once. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead on a Matthew Britton sacrifice fly. Cody Brown began the inning with a leadoff single.

Jackson State responded with a leadoff single in the fourth along with some help from MSU. Gary Thomas singled, then Ben Bracewell walked three to score Thomas and tie the game at 1.

The walks ended Bracewell's day after 3 2/3 innings. Closer Jonathan Holder came into the game in the fourth and escaped a bases loaded jam left by MSU's starter. Holder struck out nine in his 5 1/3 innings of work..

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