Mississippi State
Clemson
State Takes Super Regional Opener From Clemson, 8-6
June 08, 2007 | Baseball
A sun-drenched crowd of 12,620 packed Dudy Noble Field as the Bulldogs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The crowd was the largest in nine seasons of Super Regional competition. The crowd was also the largest post-season gathering in the rich history of Dudy Noble Field. The attendance also marked the seventh largest crowd in Dudy Noble Field history.
Clemson (41-22) broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fourth inning. A fielding error opened the door. Marquez Smith and Andy D'Alessio followed with back-to-back singles. D'Alessio drove in a run, as did Taylor Harbin with a sacrifice fly.
MSU (37-20) answered an inning later when Powers slapped his eighth home run of the season - a towering two-run shot to right center. The blast would be the first of five round-trippers hit in the first-ever Super Regional game at Dudy Noble Field.
Clemson homered twice in the sixth inning to grab a 5-2 lead. D'Alessio hit a two-run homer to right center. That home run chased MSU starter Chad Crosswhite, who had battled into the sixth inning on a hot and muggy afternoon. New pitcher Jesse Carver was then touched for a solo blast by Harbin. It was the first time this season MSU pitching allowed back-to-back home runs.
Very quickly, the Bulldogs answered with a four-run sixth inning of its own. That outburst would be the largest scoring inning for MSU in its six postseason games this season. Joseph McCaskill began the frame by smoking a double to right field. Edward Easley followed with a line-drive RBI single to left field. Mitch Moreland then hit a monster home run just to the right of the extended wall in center field. Moreland's ninth round-tripper tied the game 5-5.
A follow-up double by Brandon Turner and infield error chased Clemson starter Daniel Moskos (3-6). Russ Sneed then grounded into a double play but did bring the lead run home.
An inning later, MSU expanded the lead by scoring twice. Jeffrey Rea started the inning with a single through the left side. After a sacrifice bunt by Nick Hardy, Moreland laced an RBI double to the right center gap. Turner then hit the ball nearly to the same spot, brining Moreland home.
A solo home run by Doug Hogan off MSU reliever John Lalor (3-1) closed scoring on the afternoon.
For MSU, Moreland, Turner and Powers each had multiple hits. The Bulldogs collected 12 hits in the contest.
Clemson finished with eight hits. D'Alessio and Hogan had multiple hits for the Tigers.
Lalor worked three innings in relief to garner the win. He allowed two hits and one run. Crosswhite worked the first five innings, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned). Aaron Weatherford worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth inning to pick up his fifth save.
Moskos also worked into the sixth inning, allowing nine hits and six runs (five earned). Stephen Clyne pitched two innings in relief, while Matt Vaughn completed the contest for the Tigers.
The Super Regional resumes Saturday with an 11:06 a.m. CT start time at Dudy Noble Field. The contest will be broadcast live nationally by ESPN2 with free audio of the Bulldogs Sports Network available at www.mstateathletics.com.
Clemson is scheduled to start junior right-hander David Kopp (6-2, 3.67 ERA), while MSU is scheduled to send junior left-hander Justin Pigott (6-6, 4.31) to the mound.
