Following an uninspiring 6-3 loss to South Alabama in the first round of the 2017 NCAA regional in Hattiesburg, Mississippi State gutted out a 5-4 victory over Illinois-Chicago in the first elimination game.
Konnor Pilkington got the nod on the bump for the Bulldogs, having another spectacular performance. In 7 innings of work, he struck out nine and gave up just four hits. Pilkington held on to a one-hitter going into the 8th, but the Flames were able to rally and score two runs before Spencer Price entered the contest. Price’s outing was short lived, facing two batters before Riley Self replaced him.