Mississippi State
South Carolina
Nicholas And Staff Quiet USC Bats As Bulldogs Claim Series Finale 2-1
April 20, 2003 | Baseball
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Sophomore lefty Todd Nicholas led a foursome of Bulldog pitchers who combined to limit South Carolina (25-15, 9-9 SEC) to one run on four hits Sunday afternoon as No. 8 Mississippi State (28-9-1, 11-6) topped the Gamecocks 2-1 in the final game of a pitching-dominated three-game series at USC's Sarge Frye Field. It was the third one-run game of the weekend and marked the 14th time in the last 20 meetings that the MSU-USC rivalry was decided by a single run.
Junior first baseman Matthew Brinson singled and scored MSU's first run on a second-inning two-out single by Brad Corley. And in the eighth Jon Mungle doubled to right and scored the winning run on Brinson's two-out double into the left field corner.
Nicholas (4-1) scattered three hits, walked four and struck out seven in a solid seven-inning pitching performance. USC third baseman Brian Buscher had two of those hits and scored the Gamecocks' lone run when he opened the fourth with a triple down the right field line and Landon Powell followed with a sacrifice fly to left. Nicholas left the game after issuing a lead-off walk to Steve Tolleson in the eighth inning. MSU turned to its bullpen to keep USC at bay in the eight. Righty Saunders Ramsey followed Nicholas to the hill in the inning, giving up a sacrifice bunt to Justin Harris, retiring Buscher on a fly ball to center field, and intentionally walking Powell. Lefty Brian Owens then came on to fan pinch hitter Demetric Smith to end the threat.
Jonathan Papelbon came on to pitch the final inning, retiring the first two batters before Jon Coutlangus laced a double past the glove of a diving Jon Mungle in left field. Kevin Melillo, the No. 9 hitter in the USC batting order, then lined out to Corley in right field, giving the Bulldogs a win in the series finale and snapping a four-game conference losing skid for MSU. Papelbon picked up his fourth save of the year and the 10th of his career.
Brinson, Corley and center fielder Jeff Butts had two hits apeice to pace MSU's seven-hit plate performance off USC starter Chris Hernandez (2-3). Hernandez, who earned his first career save in Saturday's 2-1 USC win over State, gave up two runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out six.
The Bulldogs stranded six base runners, four in scoring position. Hernandez got a double play to limit MSU's threat in the second inning when three Bulldogs singled and another reached via walk. State was unable to score when Butts laced a one-out triple to left-center field and came up shot in the seventh when Corley laced a one-out double.
MSU and USC combined to score a meager 13 runs, 10 earned, during the three-game series. Bulldog pitching compiled a 1.80 weekend earned run average and registered 30 strikeouts against the defending SEC champion and NCAA runner-up Gamecocks.
Mississippi State returns to action at Dudy Noble Field Tuesday night, opening a two-game set with instate rival Southern Miss (30-10), ranked 22nd last week. Game times for the Tuesday and Wednesday games are set for 6:30 p.m.
MSU 010 000 010 --- 2-7-1USC 000 100 000 --- 1-4-0
WP -- Todd Nicholas (4-1). LP -- Chris Hernandez (2-3). SV -- Jonathan Papelbon (4). T -- 2:16. ATT. -- 2,110
Todd Nicholas, Saunders Ramsey (8), Brian Owens (8), Jonathan Papelbon (9) and Crag Tatum. Chris Hernandez and Landon Powell.
