Stone Simmons makes long-awaited return as Diamond Dawgs sweep Manhattan, 5-1

After a day off at the ballpark due to weather, Mississippi State and Manhattan were back at it on Sunday for game three of the season-opening series.

The Diamond Dawgs rolled in run-rule wins in the first two games Friday, but a cold and windy day made offense a little more challenging. State used a dominant pitching performance and some timely hits to get the series sweep as the No. 18 Diamond Dawgs took a 5-1 victory.

It was the first sweep of Opening Weekend for the Bulldogs since 2020.

“Really pleased,” head coach Chris Lemonis said. “A lot of work left to do in the long road ahead of us. We played great defense and threw strikes. I thought we were a lot more opportunistic on offense, even (Sunday).

“Tip your hat to Manhattan – their pitchers came out and threw strikes in any count and kind of kept us off balanced. We were able to manufacture a little bit and then we got a big swing from Nolan (Stevens) to separate it.”

Simmons enjoys return to the mound

MSU threw out six different pitchers in the game with four of the relievers making their State debut. Another, starter Stone Simmons, was making his long-awaited return to the mound for the first time since March of 2022.

Simmons came out and pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in his return, surrendered just one hit and had two walks with five strikeouts.

“It was great. It took me a while to settle in and for the first half of the first inning I was a little juiced up,” Simmons said. “I was walking in from the bullpen and got an ovation. That definitely had me a little emotional. I was really excited and just glad to be back.”

The Bulldogs’ offense was held at bay during the game after a dominant first two games but they took advantage of opportunities. Noah Sullivan and Hunter Hines came through with back-to-back hits in situational moments as they faced two outs and drove in two runs. Sullivan had a double and Hines a single during those at bats.

After Dylan Cupp doubled home another run in the second to make it 3-0, the bats went silent for a few innings. Manhattan was able to draw closer as the team got a solo home run in the fifth as Dylan Mayer sent one out to left off of freshman Ryan McPherson.

Stevens was able to get distance in the sixth as he followed with a home run of his own on a two-run shot to right. It was a big hit for Stevens as he is looking to make a jump as a sophomore. Last season was mostly spent pitching but Stevens spent the summer in Rhode Island exclusively hitting and it prepared him for this year.

“The summer was awesome. It set me up for the year really well by getting at bats,” Stevens said. “I had opportunities to go to the Cape (Cod League) as a freshman and the limited playing time, I just don’t think that’s good for someone coming off their freshman year. At bats matter.”

The California native Stevens was the lone Bulldog with multiple RBI in the game. Hines and Dylan Cupp both finished with two hits as Hines drove in a run and Cupp had an RBI while also walking.

MSU (3-0) also had another impressive day on the mound as the Bulldogs struck out 13 and walked four. Just two of those came from State’s bullpen that was full of first-time pitchers. Freshmen Ryan McPherson, Dane Burns and Mikhai Grant all got their first action and threw a combined 4.0 innings giving up one hit, one run, one walk and five strikeouts.

Nate Williams struck out the side in his one inning while Luke Dotson closed things out with a perfect ninth.

With the first weekend behind them, the Diamond Dawgs will now have a good test in the midweek when they travel down to Hattiesburg to face Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles will have the first of two games played between the two teams this season with a 6 p.m. first pitch at a sold out Pete Taylor Park.

“It’s a great test for us,” Lemonis said. “We’re going to play another great program in our state that’s very well coached. We play them every year and made a decision to play home and home which will be very interesting. We’re going to learn a lot about our ball club. I’m excited to go.”