Mississippi State Tops Jayhawks, 3-1

Feb. 25, 2012

Final Stats

Mississippi State 3, Kansas 1
Dudy Noble Field // Starkville, Miss.
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Freshman Connor McKay went 2-for-3 and scored KU’s lone run Saturday.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R
KU 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
MSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 x 3
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Leaders – Batting
Kansas AB R H RBI BB HR
C. McKay 3 1 2 0 0 0
K. Eldredge 3 0 2 0 0 0
MSU AB R H RBI BB HR
D. Norris 3 0 2 1 0 0
A. Frazier 5 0 2 1 0 0
Pitching
Kansas IP H R ER BB SO
T. Taylor 5.2 4 0 0 1 5
Jor. Luvisi (L) 0.2 1 2 1 2 0
R. Kahana 1.2 1 1 1 0 2
MSU IP H R ER BB SO
N. Routt 4.1 6 1 1 1 5
E. Mitchell (W) 2.2 2 0 0 2 2
C. Reed (SV) 2.0 0 0 0 0 4

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single and a dropped pop-up to overcome a one-run deficit and sneak past Kansas, 3-1, in a non-conference baseball game played Saturday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.

The Jayhawks drop their second-straight one-run game to the Bulldogs after falling 1-0 Friday night. KU is now 4-2 on the season, while Mississippi State improves to 5-1.

MSU rallied for two runs against the Jayhawk bullpen in the seventh inning. Following a pair of one-out walks, Mississippi State second baseman Adam Frazier tied the game with a sharp single to left center off of KU relief pitcher Jordan Luvisi.

After Robert Kahana came on for the Jayhawks and recorded the second out via a strikeout, C.T. Bradford hit a pop up behind third base that was misplayed by the Kansas infield and allowed the go-ahead run to score from second base.

The late Bulldog rally wasted another spotless performance by junior right-handed pitcher Thomas Taylor. The 6-foot-4 righty went 5 2/3 innings and allowed no runs on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Taylor ran his scoreless innings streak to 15 consecutive innings after going 8 1/3 shutout innings in his first start of the year.

The Jayhawk offense gave Taylor a lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by sophomore Tucker Tharp. Freshman Connor McKay started the inning with a single up the middle and then moved to second on a failed pick-off attempt. After a bunt single by Kevin Kuntz, Tharp shot a ball through the right side of the infield to score the run.

However, once again, KU left seven men on base and hit into three double plays. The Jayhawks outhit the Bulldogs, 8-6, with McKay and Ka’iana Eldredge both going 2-for-3 in the game.

KU will look to even the weekend on Sunday when it faces Mississippi Valley State at 11 a.m. at Dudy Noble Field. The Jayhawks downed the Delta Devils, 9-2, Friday afternoon. Sunday’s game can be heard on Jayhawk All-Access at kuathletics.com.