The Northeastern baseball team (48-10, 25-2 CAA) was defeated by the Mississippi State University Bulldogs (35-21, 15-15 SEC) in the first game of the College World Series regional tournament May 30, ending its 27-game winning streak. The final score was 11-2.
The Huskies struck first, going up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Junior center fielder Cam Maldonado walked before being advanced to third by junior shortstop Jack Goodman’s single. Junior second baseman Carmelo Musacchia singled up the middle to score Maldonado.
In the top of the second inning, senior designated hitter Noah Sullivan walked to put a runner on first. Senior center fielder Bryce Chance singled to advance Sullivan to second. Graduate student catcher Joe Powell doubled to bring in Sullivan, leveling the score at 1-1. Junior second baseman Gatlin Sanders singled to score two more runs and give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.
Northeastern got a run back in the bottom of the second inning. Redshirt freshman catcher Will Fosberg walked and advanced to second on a single by senior third baseman Jack Doyle. Sophomore right fielder Ryan Gerety reached on a fielder’s choice, sending Fosberg to third. A fielding error by Sanders allowed Fosberg to score 3-2.
The Bulldogs pulled away in the top of the third inning, putting four more runs on the board. Senior shortstop Sawyer Reeves singled to lead off the inning. Sullivan reached first on a fielder’s choice, advancing Reeves to third. Senior first baseman Hunter Hines grounded out to bring in Reeves, 4-2. Chance doubled down the left field line to score Sullivan. Powell’s two-run home run extended the lead to 7-2.
Junior right fielder Ross Highfill doubled to left field before being scored by a double to right field by Sanders in the top of the eighth inning, 8-2.
In the top of the ninth inning, freshman shortstop Lukas Buckner entered the game as a pinch hitter, bunting to reach first. Sullivan homered to bring two runs across the plate and give the Bulldogs a 10-2 lead. Hines walked before advancing to second on a single by Chance. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, and Powell’s ground out brought in Hines 11-2.
The strikeouts by freshman right-handed pitcher Ryan McPherson in the bottom of the ninth inning ended the game at 11-2.
Despite the loss, Northeastern’s postseason is not done yet. The Huskies will take on the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats (37-22, 24-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) in the elimination bracket May 31.
