WATCH: Ethan Small strikes out the side vs. Auburn to start Mississippi State’s College World Series opener
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Mississippi State LHP Ethan Small won the SEC’s Pitcher of the Year award for 2019, in large part because of his insane strikeout numbers.
He fanned 168 batters in 102 innings this season, and has continued his fantastic pitching in the postseason, receiving the ball for the Bulldogs’ opener at the College World Series in Omaha on Sunday evening.
As you can see below, he struck out the first three Auburn Tigers he faced on Sunday, with the third strikeout coming on a nasty breaking ball:
Ethan Small starts the game by striking out the side! #CWS | @HailStateBB pic.twitter.com/AZGoF3uMIi
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 16, 2019
Did he get a little bit lucky with the call on the second strikeout? Sure, but there was nothing cheap about strikeout Nos. 1 and 3.
He also struck out the first two batters he faced in the second inning, for good measure before allowing his first hit of the game.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
