It’s going to be tough for 7th-ranked Mississippi State to cart off back-to-back wins

Being on the brink of elimination isn’t what Mississippi State seeks in this, its 12th appearance in the NCAA Division Baseball World Series. The Bulldogs have never hoisted the championship trophy and it now appears likely their chances are slim.

The 8-2 setback in game one to defending champion, 4th-ranked Vanderbilt, was a big blow. While the Commodores were able to start All-America right handed sophomore Jack Leiter, 7th-ranked Mississippi State was stuck without a reliable starter and he was followed by five more Bulldogs hurlers.

It was to the many Dawgs’ fans a solo home run by us in the top of the first followed by seven big ones for the Dores in the bottom half, a miserable way to start this World Series, especially when Starkville’s die-hards have never celebrated a national title in any sport. Great fans, but not enough to cheer for.

Now Vandy (49-18) can wrap it up tonight in the second game of the best-of-three if it perhaps starts its other All-America, righty Kumar Rocker, but its manager, Chris Lemonis, hasn’t made any indication he will do so.

The reason is that Mississippi State ace right hander Will Bednar is not available until game 3, if there is one, and Liemonis might hold Rocker until then to face Bednar, who struck out 15 in game 1 versus the Longhorns, and then also started game 3, striking out eight before losing his control and departing after six frames.

“We’re not in the driver’s seat yet,” said Liemonis, “and these Bulldogs are a very good team and we have to be concerned about that. I have not announced our starter for tonight and neither have they, and I hope there are no more weather delays.”

Not only are the Commodores in excellent shape with starters in this the biggest stage of college baseball, but they are also have a better bullpen at this point, and more depth, with 12 available. This is because Vanderbilt had no more games after Saturday’s 3-1 win over N.C. State, but Mississippi State (50-7) was in game 3 that day to survive the double-elimination against Texas, and now have only four reliable relievers.

The Bulldogs’ Monday starter, Christian Macleod, made just 38 pitches, 19 for strikes, in his two-thirds of the first inning, giving up the first five runs, and relieved by Chris Patrick, who yielded a 2-run home run to Jason Gonzalez.

Two important notes, it ain’t over tile it’s over said Yogi, and someone else said to just let them play before declaring the winner. And right now it’s 0-0 before Tuesday night‘s contest.