STARKVILLE, Miss. – Indiana State dropped its second consecutive matchup in as many days to Mississippi State, falling to the Bulldogs 9-1 Saturday at Dudy Noble Field. The Sycamores fell to 2-4 on the year while MSU improved to 6-2.
 
The Indiana State offense struggled for much of the contest, putting up four hits in the game compared to the Bulldogs' 14. Mississippi State scored two runs in the first and never looked back as they added runs in the third, fifth and six innings.
 
Indiana State broke up the MSU shutout in the ninth inning as Max Wright who singled to right to leadoff the inning was able to score on a wild pitch. Wright along with CJ Huntley, Kyle Moore and Brandt Nowaskie were the only Sycamores to record hits in the contest.
 
Sophomore Tyler Whitbread pitched three solid innings out of the bullpen, giving up just two hits and striking out three. Southpaw Ryan Keaffaber (0-1) was charged with the loss after giving up three earned runs in five innings. The senior struck out six on the afternoon.
 
Mississippi State took complete control of the game in the fifth as they added on to their 3-0 lead with four more runs. The Sycamore defense held strong for much of the game but an error in the inning prolonged the frame and MSU took advantage of the miscue with a 3-run homer from Cody Brown. MSU added two more runs in the sixth.
 
Payton Plumlee (2-0) earned the win after going eight shutout innings and striking out five while allowing only three hits.
 
Ryan Gridley led the Bulldogs offensively with a 4-for-5 performance on a home run and three RBIs.
 
The Sycamores will close out the weekend Sunday with Marist. The Red Foxes and Indiana State will get things going at 11 a.m. ET from Dudy Noble Field.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Baseball team, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.