STARKVILLE, Miss. – Despite blasting three home runs in the game, the No. 8 ranked Mississippi State University Bulldogs (41-15) defeated Samford University (35-23) 8-4 on Friday, June 4 at Dudy Noble Field in the opening game of the Starkville Regional. MSU will face the winner of VCU and Campbell on Saturday at 7 PM while Samford awaits the loser at 2 PM.    
 
THE BASICS
FINAL: Samford 4 | No. 8 Mississippi State 8
Date/Time: Fri., June 4 | Start 2:00 p.m. | TOG: 2:58
Location: Dudy Noble Field
Series: 48^th meeting; MSU leads 38-10; Tied 2-2 in NCAA Tournament
Records: Samford (35-23) | Mississippi State (41-15)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• On the first pitch of the game, senior center fielder Max Pinto smashed an opposite field home run to put Samford up 1-0. It was his ninth home run of the season and the second in as many at-bats.  
• MSU answered back in the bottom of the first, as Rowdey Jordan, who doubled to open the frame, scored on a groundout by Kamren James.
• In the bottom of the second, Mississippi State added three runs to take a 4-1 lead. After loading the bases, the Bulldogs drew a bases loaded walk before Luke Hancock slapped a two-RBI single through the right side.
• Jordan's second double and stolen base of the game led to MSU's fifth run, as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth on Tanner Allen's groundout to second.
• The Bulldogs cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs to make it a 5-3 game. Kaiden Drier's solo home run jump-started the inning with a solo blast to left. After Will David reached on an error and Taylor Garris doubled down the left field line, Pinto lifted a sac-fly RBI to right to score the second run of the inning.
• A leadoff double by Brad Cumbest set up MSU's six run, as Lane Forsythe lifted a sac-fly to right to extend the Bulldogs lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
• MSU tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh taking a commanding 8-3 lead.
• In the top of the eighth, Sonny DiChiara connected on his SoCon-leading 16^th home run of the year to left-center, slashing the deficit to 8-4.     

 
ON THE MOUND

• Samuel Strickland (5-3, 5.07 ERA), who brought a 23-8 career record into Friday's start in Starkville, tossed 5.0 innings while allowing five runs, two earned, on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout in the loss.  
• Will Bednar (6-1, 3.23 ERA), a 6-2 freshman from Valencia, Pa., worked 7.0 innings for Mississippi State, giving up three runs, two earned, on eight hits with a walk and eight strikeouts to earn the win.
• Blake Bortak, a freshman from Monroe, Ga., came on in relief of Strickland in the sixth, working 2.0 innings while surrendering two runs on a pair of hits.
• MSU's Preston Johnson and Stone Simmons tossed the final two innings.  

 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE 

• Max Pinto led the Bulldogs with a pair of RBIs after going 1-for-3 at the plate with his ninth home run.
• Rowdey Jordan of MSU was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored.
• MSU's Luke Hancock drove in three runs to lead the Maroon-and-White.
• Tyler McManus was 2-for-4 to lead Samford in hits with Sonny DiChiara blasting his 16^th home run of the year to tie for the lead in the SoCon.

 
SERIES/REGIONAL NOTEBOOK 

• The Bulldogs of Samford University are making their third appearance in the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament holding a 3-5 record all-time.
• Samford and Mississippi State are no strangers when it comes to NCAA Regional competition, as both teams have met in Samford's two previous NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2012, Samford defeated MSU 5-0 and 3-2, eliminating the maroon Bulldogs in Tallahassee. MSU exacted revenge in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, claiming a 9-8 victory at Florida State in Tallahassee.  

 
ON DECK 

• Samford will face the loser of VCU versus Campbell on Saturday, June 5 at 2:05 PM in an elimination game. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.