UVA Walks it Off Against Mississippi State (6-1-24)

By: Xavier Jones

Headline Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network

In game 2 of the Charlottesville Regional, we have the Virginia Cavaliers facing off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Each team won their respective matchup on Friday, which placed them in today’s winner bracket game. What makes this matchup exciting is that both teams have won a National Championship within the past 10 years. The Cavs won in 2015 and the Bulldogs won in 2021. The starting pitchers for this contest are Mississippi State’s RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje and the Cavs’ LHP Evan Blanco.

LET’S PLAY BALL!!!

In the top of the 1st inning, the Mississippi State Bulldogs were only able to muster up a base hit single by #3 David Mershon. However, the Virginia Cavaliers had a three up three down inning to close out the 1st. The Bulldogs repeated their efforts from the 1st inning to the 2nd by only getting a base hit single by #38 Bryce Chance. The bats of the Cavaliers began to wake up at the bottom of the 2nd. Starting with #28 Jacob Ference’s single to left field, followed by #2 Henry Godbout’s line drive single to right field. Then, #21 Eric Becker would hit an RBI triple to center field bringing in 2 runs and making the score 2-0. In the 3rd inning, the top of the order for Mississippi State got their rally started after a line drive single to left field by Mershon. Next, #42 Dakota Jordan would hit a single to left field, and then #44 Hunter Hines hit a 3-run home run to take the lead 3-2. No action from UVA at the bottom of the 3rd.

The Bulldogs would add another run to their total after a single by Chance and a terrible throw on a pick-off attempt. With the score sitting at 4-2 in favor of Mississippi State, both teams would exchange base hits but no scores in the 5th and 6th innings. In the 7th inning, UVA would rally with a base hit by Ference and a fielder’s choice by #34 Harrison Didawick. Then, a 2-run RBI single by Eric Becker tied the game at 4. The 8th inning saw the Bulldogs leave two runners stranded in scoring position and the Cavs only mustered up a walk. In the top of the 9th inning, UVA held strong after Mississippi State got two runners on base. In the bottom of the 9th, Didawick of UVA hits a lead-off-ground rule double, followed by a walk and fielder’s choice. The next batter, #18 Bobby Whalen hits an infield single for the walk-off win. Final score 5-4 UVA! 

The next time UVA plays is Sunday at 6 pm against the winner of the St. Johns Red Storm and Mississippi State Bulldogs game at noon.