On paper, at least, the prospect of that did not exactly inspire confidence — 5-foot-10 and 164 pounds, Leggett was a .206 career hitter who had just two plate appearances in the past month.
Leggett roped an RBI single to left-center field, lifting Mississippi State to a 4-3 walkoff win over the second-seeded Longhorns for a trip to Monday’s best-of-three finals against Vanderbilt.
None of this was lost on Leggett, who grew up in Randolph, Mississippi, and, like most boys in the state, dreamed of wearing maroon and white.
Coach Chris Lemonis calls them his JUCO bandits, and one of the things he has been telling his team this week is that it will take everyone to win a title.
“I told the team last night in the rain delay, ‘If you ever thought it was going to be easy, it’s not our way,'” Lemonis said.
Mississippi State trailed 3-1 after Mike Antico’s RBI double in the fifth inning but tied the game in sixth during Longhorns pitcher Tristan Stevens third time through the order.
On Saturday night, Bednar scattered four hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven.
Skinner tossed his helmet in celebration, and the Bulldogs ran out to Leggett and swarmed him in the outfield.
When the swarm enveloped him, Leggett said he kind of blacked out.
“Right when it went off the bat,” Sims said, “I think everybody in the dugout knew that it was game right there.