The DBU (11-8) rally erased a 6-3 lead by the Bulldogs (10-3), who posted a 2-2 record during their spring break visit to Texas.
The Bulldogs played error-free baseball on the afternoon, but a base-running error in the opening frame proved costly for State. Jeffrey Rea and Edward Easley sandwiched singles around a walk issued to Brandon Turner by DBU starter Jerome Wilson. Junior first baseman Mitch Moreland then sent a bases-loaded blast over the right field wall, but was out on the play when he passed Easley on the base paths near first base.
Easley later added his team-leading fourth home run of the year, a two-run blast to open the third inning that gave the Bulldogs a 5-3 advantage. State loaded the bases against three DBU pitchers in the top of the fourth, scoring one run on a single by Jeffrey Rea. But Ryan Goins came on to record the final two outs of the inning and then picked up the win when Dallas Baptist sent 11 batters to the plate and took a 9-6 lead in the bottom of the inning. Garrett Baker and Evan Bigley delivered consecutive two-run doubles to highlight the inning. Goins retired all 11 batters he faced before ending his 3-2/3 inning relief stint.
DBU lead-off hitter Austin Krum went 4-for-5 with a triple, two doubles and a single while Trevor Head added to DBU’s 15-hit barrage with two doubles and his first home run of the year, a two-run sixth-inning blast over the center field wall.
Rea, Easley, Moreland and Connor Powers had two hits each to account for eight of MSU’s 11 hits. Easley and Moreland extended their season-opening hitting streaks to all 13 games. Rea raised his career hits total to 269, climbing to eighth among MSU’s all-time hits leaders ahead of former MSU All-American Rafael Palmeiro, who was on hand to watch the game.
Freshman starter Tyler Whitney (1-1) took the loss, yielding eight runs on nine hits and three walks during his 3-1/3 inning mound stint. Chad Crosswhite was charged with the other three runs on six hits over 2-2/3 innings. Ricky Bowen gave up two runs on two hits and John Lalor and Mitch Moreland both retired the three batters they faced during one-inning relief appearances.
Mississippi State travels on to Gainesville, Fla., Thursday in advance of this weekend’s SEC season-opening three-game series against the Florida Gators.