MEMPHIS — Just five days ago, Mississippi State's Ryan McPherson had the lowest low of his young college pitching career.
One inning, two walks, two hits and three runs allowed in the 8-4 loss against LSU on March 27 by the freshman right-hander played a part in getting swept by the Tigers.
On Tuesday, McPherson (2-0) had his best performance of the season, tossing four scoreless innings in relief as Mississippi State (17-12) defeated Memphis 5-3 at FedEx Park on Tuesday.
"It felt great, especially after the LSU weekend, kinda let the team down a little bit," McPherson said. "It felt great to great to get back out there, regain my confidence, and continue into this weekend."
After a three-run third inning for Memphis (11-17), McPherson entered the game and retired 12 batters in a row after allowing a soft single. In four innings, he struck out eight and notched his first win since March 12 against Nicholls.
"It was awesome," coach Chris Lemonis said of McPherson's outing. "The last two weeks have been tough (for McPherson) because of command and composure, and I thought he had great command and composure (Tuesday). Even after he got hit, he just jumped right back out there and pounded the strike zone. He's got elite stuff."
Tough competition and long road trips early in the season have been an adjustment, but McPherson has leaned on the veterans around him.
"It's a learning process," McPherson said. "A lot of the older guys they help me out, Pico (Kohn) helps me out, Stone (Simmons) helps me through it all. You just have to learn to take it game by game and do your job."
Noah Sullivan's continued success as a two-way player
Noah Sullivan made his fourth career start for the Bulldogs after transferring from USC Upstate.
Lemonis said he likes the value and consistency Sullivan provides in midweek games. That's exactly what Sullivan did Tuesday, throwing two scoreless innings despite two errors in the opening inning. He also went 1-for-4 at the plate with a home run.
"I don't know if he had his best stuff tonight, but he's always a competitor," Lemonis said.
Sullivan is second on the team with a .358 batting average and has thrown 10 scoreless innings.
"It's more so to save innings for our weekend guys and set the table for the rest of games, almost like an opener," Sullivan said of his role. "It's really good to put up zeroes and let us win."
Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal's high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com or on X @wendellsjr_.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Ryan McPherson bounced back for Mississippi State baseball
