Baylor Notches 6-3 Win In Finale Of Cadence Bank Classic

Monday, March 10

Starkville

1:00 p.m.

Mississippi State

Baylor

Baylor Notches 6-3 Win In Finale Of Cadence Bank Classic

March 10, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State collected 12 hits but the timely hit alluded the Bulldogs in Monday's final game of the Cadence Bank Classic, as visiting Baylor completed a three-game series sweep with a 6-3 victory at Dudy Noble Field.

With the victory, the 11th-ranked Bears improved to 11-1, while MSU fell to 5-7.

Baylor struck first Monday, scoring a pair of runs in the second inning. The Bears extended the lead to 5-0 with three scores in the sixth inning. MSU rallied, scoring once in the seventh inning and twice in the eighth inning. However, the Bulldogs stranded nine base runners and failed to produce the big inning. Baylor moved back out of danger with an insurance score in the ninth inning.

In the Baylor second inning, Aaron Miller drew a leadoff walk. Adam Hornung and Dustin Dickerson followed with back-to-back singles - Dickerson's hit produced a run. A two-out RBI single by Landis Ware capped that inning.

The Bears scored three times in the sixth inning. Dickerson started things with a one-out single. Gregg Glime drew a walk. A two-run triple by Paul Miles off the base of the outfield wall scored Dickerson and Glime. A groundout brought Miles home.

MSU started its rally with a single run in the seventh inning. Ryan Collins walked and Cody Freeman hit a ground-rule double over the right field fence. A ground out scored Collins.

In the eighth inning, Russ Sneed singled and Jason Nappi doubled down the left field line. Tyler Moore hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Sneed. Nick Hardy followed with an infield hit. Another groundout scored Nappi, as the Bulldogs could not get closer.

Ricky Bowen (1-1) took the loss but had a strong start for the Bulldogs. The sophomore right-hander threw six innings, allowing six hits and five runs (all earned). Bowen struck out seven and walked three. Jesse Carver, Forrest Moore and Greg Houston each threw an inning in relief.

Willie Kempf (2-0) recorded the win for the Bears. Kempf pitched 7-1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and three runs (all earned). Kempf struck out four and walked three. Mace Thurman and Nick Cassavechia threw in relief. Cassavechia pitched 1-1/3 innings of shutout relief to earn his fifth save.

The Bulldogs totaled 12 hits. Grant Hogue and Sneed each had multiple hits. Sneed extended his hit streak to 12 games, while Hogue has now hit safely in nine games. For Hogue, it was his first multi-hit game with the Bulldogs.

Baylor finished with eight hits. Hornung and Dickerson each had multiple hits for the Bears.

MSU hosts Mississippi Valley State at 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. The Bulldogs then close their 14-game homestand by hosting in-state rival Mississippi to open Southeastern Conference play. Game times for the MSU-UM series at 3 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.