Connor Hujsak hits walk-off home run to send Mississippi State past Ole Miss in SEC Baseball Tournament
It was a bona fide pitchers duel in Hoover Tuesday night as Ole Miss and Mississippi State squared off in the first round of the SEC Baseball Tournament. The Rebels had a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the ninth and the heart of the Bulldogs order coming to the plate.
Enter Connor Hujsak.
David Mershon walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. He then moved up to third when Hujsak stepped to the plate and sent a fastball over the left field fence to stun Ole Miss and send Mississippi State to the second round of the conference tournament.
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It’s been 16 days since Hujsak last suited up for Mississippi State after suffering a back injury, and earlier in the game, Ole Miss’ lone run came after the ball went off his glove. But when he came up with the game on the line, he delivered – and it’s because he was looking for a fastball at the belt.
“This is my first game back. I’m just trying to keep it simple,” Hujsak said afterward. “Look for the fastball, get it at the belt and that’s what I got. I didn’t miss it.”
The Egg Bowl of Baseball was different than any of the first three games on Tuesday’s first day of the SEC Tournament. The closest margin of victory was five runs to start the week as home runs flew. But the nightcap only had one total run entering the bottom of the ninth – although it came on a home run.
That’s why Chris Lemonis said he had one simple thought when Connor Hujsak made contact.
“Go over the wall, is what I wanted,” Lemonis said. “I wanted it to be over. This ballpark, it’s carried today, but it usually doesn’t carry a lot. You’re just sitting there hoping it gets over the wall.
“Man, what a great story for him because he’s been out a couple weeks. People don’t realize it because we have some real stars in there, but Connor’s been our best hitter in SEC play all year, and we haven’t had him for two weeks. It affects everybody, and having him back and him getting a big swing is huge for our ball club.”
The crowd erupted when the ball left the park, but the dugout was just as emotional. As for what it was like, Lemonis said it felt like a team longing for the postseason. Remember, Mississippi State didn’t make the conference tournament last year, so the Bulldogs are hungry.
“It was bonkers,” Lemonis said. “That’s all I can tell you. That type of emotion, and a lot of these kids, we didn’t come last year. So we haven’t been in the postseason for a year here, so being here is a big deal.”
Now, Mississippi State will try to get some rest before taking on No. 4 seed Texas A&M on Wednesday.