Auger's dominant start, Hujsak's walk-off blast brings fireworks to Hoover for Bulldogs in SECT
With Mississippi State’s hosting chances in the NCAA Tournament on the line to start SEC Tournament play, the Bulldogs were down to their last out against Ole Miss.
State hadn’t scored for 8.2 innings and the team was down to its last out. On the first pitch Connor Hujsak saw, the outfielder would blast a two-run home run to left field to set Hoover, Ala., off in a 2-1 walk-off win.
Hujsak has been the Bulldogs’ best hitter in SEC play but has been out for the last two weeks due to a back injury. His impact was felt the last two weeks in his absence and felt again in his return.
“It’s unreal,” Hujsak said of the moment. “Getting the opportunity to go out with my boys every single day means everything to me. Hitting the game-winner is unreal. It’s my first game back and I’m trying to keep it simple. I didn’t miss it.”
The last swing was a big one for a team that had been struggling for the majority of the game. MSU had just four hits in the game as starter Riley Maddox had a career-high 7.0 innings with just three hits, no runs, no walks and he tied a career high with seven strikeouts.
It was the first time this season that Maddox had not surrendered a run and it was the lowest hit total the pitcher has allowed this season. Liam Doyle was doing well in relief with 1.2 innings, but his leadoff walk to David Mershon in the ninth proved crucial.
Mershon got over to second base on a wild pitch and was at third with two outs when Hujsak came through with a big hit.
While Maddox threw a great game for the Rebels, Brooks Auger’s night was the best for a starter since Will Bednar led State to a National Championship in 2021.
Auger threw 8.0 innings, gave up three hits, one run, didn’t walk a batter and struck out 13. At one point in the game, Auger had thrown an incredible 27 strikes in a row. 66 of his pitches would be strikes on the night with just 12 balls.
“We needed it,” head coach Chris Lemonis said of Auger’s outing. “We know that we’re in next week, but we didn’t want to use our one and two and we have the better one and two in the league. Now we can use them the next couple of days.”
Coincidentally, the only run that Auger would surrender in the game came on a ball that was hit to center and went in and out of the glove of Hujsak. Will Furniss’ home run to center in the fifth broke the scoreless ball game and had the Rebels in position.
The Bulldogs would come through when it mattered and stayed alive in the hosting discussion.
State (37-19) will now move into the double elimination portion of the tournament. The Bulldogs take on No. 4 Texas A&M on Wednesday night at 8 p.m.
