State Completes Midweek Sweep Of APSU With 10-2 Win

Wednesday, April 2

Starkville

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

13-15

Austin Peay

12-13

Austin Peay

Mississippi State

State Claims Victory In Season Opener, Cohen Debut With 8-1 Win Over NIU

State Completes Midweek Sweep Of APSU With 10-2 Win

April 02, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

? Official Statistics
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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Ryan Collins and Connor Powers each had four hits as Mississippi State powered its way past Austin Peay State 10-2 in college baseball action Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs scored in four different innings to complete a two-game midweek sweep of the Ohio Valley Conference member Governors. MSU closes it's seven-game homestand with a 4-3 record and improves to 13-15 overall. Austin Peay is now 12-13.

Sophomore right-hander Drew Hollinghead won his first career start with the Bulldogs. Hollinghead threw five effective innings before turning matters over to the bullpen. The relief staff again came through, as MSU relief pitching threw 10 scoreless innings in the series. Wednesday's victory was capped by a perfect ninth inning from Aaron Weatherford in his long-awaited return to the lineup. The MSU relief staff threw six innings of shutout relief in MSU's 13-4 victory in the series opener Tuesday night.

For a second sraight night, the Bulldogs struck early. MSU scored seven runs in the first inning Tuesday night. In Wednesday's win, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the first inning.

Grant Hogue and Ryan Collins started things in the MSU first inning with back-to-back singles. Connor Powers followed with an RBI-single, scoring Hogue. Jet Butler later drew a bases-loaded walk. Ryan Duffy hit a sacrifice-fly to close the inning.

In the second inning, the Bulldogs extended the lead to 4-0 when Collins hit a double and Powers followed with an RBI-single.

MSU struck for three runs again the fourth inning. With two outs, Grant Hogue struck out but reached on a throwing error. Collins, Powers and Sneed followed with consecutive singles. Collins and Sneed drove in runs with their hits. A balk call scored the other run.

Austin Peay broke up the shutout with a pair of runs in its half of the fifth inning. A sacrifice-fly by Chad Cunningham and RBI-single by Tyler Farrar scored the two runs for the Governors.

MSU then extended the lead to 10-2 with three more runs in its half of the fifth inning. Johnny Allen started things with a single. Hogue followed with a one-out single. Collins followed with a two-run single, scoring both Allen and Hogue. An RBI-single by Sneed scored Collins and closed the inning.

For the contest, the Bulldogs finished with 14 hits. Collins had his first 4-hit game and first 3-RBI game of the season. Powers also had his first 4-hit game of the season. Sneed and Hogue had multiple hits for the Bulldogs.

The Governors finished with five hits. Farrar had two hits for the Governors.

Hollinghead (1-0) pitched five innings, allowing four hits and two runs (both earned), with four walks and three strikeouts. Jesse Carver, Tyler Whitney, Forrest Moore and Weatherford threw in relief for the Bulldogs.

Matt Kole (1-2) pitched three innings and took the loss for the Governors.

MSU returns to Southeastern Conference play this weekend with a road trip to Kentucky. The Bulldogs and Wildcats are scheduled to play at 5:30 p.m. CT Friday, 5:30 p.m. CT Saturday and noon CT Sunday.