STARKVILLE, Miss. — Vanderbilt dropped Game 2 of the series at No. 6 Mississippi State, 7-2, on Saturday evening at Dude Noble Field.
Mississippi State’s Tomas Valincius recorded 15 strikeouts and didn’t allow an earned run over seven innings to improve to 5-0 on the season.
Back-to-back leadoff walks came back to hurt Vanderbilt in the bottom of the second as the Bulldogs struck for four runs in the inning on three hits.
The Commodores cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth.
Brodie Johnston reached on an error to lead off the inning and a single by Colin Barczi followed by a walk to Chris Maldonado loaded the bases. Mike Mancini put Vandy on the board with a sac fly and Rustan Rigdon made it a two-run game with a two-out single, scoring Barczi.
Barczi finished 2-for-4 with a double.
Mississippi State got one run back with a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth and pulled away with two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to win 7-2.
Luke Guth turned in four innings out of the bullpen for the Commodores. Guth allowed two runs on two hits.
Vanderbilt looks to avoid a series sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. at Dudy Noble Field.
