Strong start from Pico Kohn helps Diamond Dawgs to run-rule win over Alcorn State, 11-0
Mississippi State got a nice confidence boost on Tuesday after a rough weekend in Oxford.
The Bulldogs got three strong innings from Pico Kohn in his start and some hits from younger players on the way to an 11-0 run-rule in seven innings over Alcorn State.
Starkville native Ethan Pulliam was one of several young players that got a chance to get playing time on Tuesday night. A punter on the football team as well, Pulliam is pulling double duty and got his first career start, following through with a 2-for-3 night with an RBI.
It was the first two hits of Pulliam’s young career.
“What kind of stinks for us is we haven’t had this game that much. My youngest guys haven’t had this game,” coach Chris Lemonis said. “Every time I play them, I’m trying to get an at bat in a big moment or a big game. Ethan was really good in the fall and really good in spring training and it was his time to get an opportunity and he had a really good game.
“He just works. He gets after it. Hasn’t pouted, hasn’t acted like a baby, and the game rewards that.”
The Bulldogs finished the night with nine hits with Pulliam and Dakota Jordan each getting two hits. Jordan had a double and triple and drove in three runs. State also walked 12 times in the game with three of those coming from David Mershon and two each for Jackson McKenzie and Logan Kohler.
Kohn shines in his start
Although some offensive production was nice, the real promising news was the start from Pico Kohn. One of State’s most prized left-handed pitchers missed last season with Tommy John but has struggled to get back in the groove on the mound.
Tuesday certainly felt like a breakthrough to Lemonis and pitching coach Justin Parker. Kohn earned the win as he went 3.0 dominant innings with one hit surrendered, no runs, no walks and five strikeouts.
“I think (Tuesday) it was pretty much there,” Kohn said. “I’ve been working with Parker, slowing down, getting out front and finishing. I think we’re getting close.”
Karson Ligon, Gavin Black, Colby Holcombe and Logan Forsythe all followed him with an inning each and combined to give up just two hits, now runs, one walk and struck out nine.
Up Next
With the win, State improved to 23-14 ahead of Super Bulldog Weekend. Auburn comes to town on Friday to take on the Bulldogs and both teams are desperate for a win. The Tigers have gotten off to an abysmal 2-13 start in SEC play while State is 7-8 with several close losses.
The three-game series feels like a must-win for State after dropping a brutal series to Ole Miss last week.
“Our team has flushed (Ole Miss series) and you have to flush it,” Lemonis said. “You can’t hold on to those things. We’ve preached all year long that this is an accumulation of the whole year and this isn’t a defining moment. Hopefully at the end of the year we’ll have some defining moments but these guys are competitive and they came out and played ball (Tuesday).”
