Comeback Win In Nightcap Lifts Diamond Dogs To Sweep Of Valpo Wednesday At Dudy Noble

Wednesday, March 11

Starkville

2:30 PM

Mississippi State

9-4

Valparaiso

4-7

Valparaiso

Mississippi State

Diamond Dogs Shutout UAB, 10-0, For Midweek Road Win

Comeback Win In Nightcap Lifts Diamond Dogs To Sweep Of Valpo Wednesday At Dudy Noble

March 11, 2009 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: hailstate.com

? Official Statistics (Game 1)
? Official Statistics (Game 1) (PDF)
? Official Statistics (Game 2)
? Official Statistics (Game 2) (PDF)

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Luke Adkins drove home the game-winning run with a hard hit ground ball in the bottom of the ninth inning as Mississippi State snuck past Valparaiso 5-4 in college baseball action Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs rallied from a 4-0 deficit with four runs in the eighth inning and the game-winning score an inning later. MSU swept the day's activity, after rolling to a 9-2 victory in the doubleheader opener.

MSU improved to 10-4 and snapped a three-game losing streak by winning Wednesday's opener. Meanwhile, Valaparaiso fell to 4-8 overall after suffering its sixth and seventh straight defeats.

In the MSU eighth inning, Russ Sneed started things with a leadoff single. Ryan Collins followed with a smash hit through the left side of the infield. An RBI-single by Luke Adkins broke up the shutout.

The Crusaders then replaced starting pitcher Alex Barry, who had allowed only two hits through seven innings of shutout work.

After a strikeout, a wild pitch scored Ryan Collins. Reliever Steve Godawa then got a groundout before issuing a two-out walk to Mark Goforth. Connor Powers followed with a two-run double off the right field wall.

An inning later, Sneed again started things with a leadoff double off new Valparaiso pitcher Jarad Miller. A sacrifice bunt by Collins advanced Sneed before the fielder's choice at second base hit by Adkins scored pinch runner Nick Hardy with the game-winner.

Drew Hollinghead had a career-long six innings of mound duty. Hollinghead allowed one hit and no runs, with two walks and three strikeouts. Hollinghead worked in relief of starter David Hayes, who pitched two-plus inning and was chased during the Crusaders' four-run third inning.

Jared Wesson (1-0) struck out the side in the ninth inning to record the win. Miller (0-1) retired the final batter in the eighth inning before suffering the defeat in the ninth inning.

Each team finished with seven hits. Adkins and Sneed were multiple hitters for the Bulldogs, while Kyle Muhlsteff paced Valpo's attack with a three-run double during the third inning. A follow-up RBI-single by David Klein capped the scoring for the visitors.

In the opener, MSU's Jet Butler tied a school record by hitting three doubles. Butler finished with four hits and four RBIs as the Bulldogs rolled to victory.

MSU built an early lead by scoring four runs in the first inning and three more scores in the second inning.

Such offense would be more than enough for the MSU pitching duo of Ricky Bowen and Lee Swindle. Bowen (1-0) worked a season best five innings, allowing four hits and two runs (both earned) to garner the victory. Swindle struck out seven in four innings of shutout relief to earn his first career save.

MSU finished with 11 hits. Scott DeLoach and Jason Nappi joined Butler as multiple hitters.

Valpo finished with seven hits. Steven Scoby and Ryan O'Gara each had multiple hits for the Cavaliers. Starting pitcher Bryce Shafer (2-1) worked 5-1/3 innings and took the defeat.

MSU will open Southeastern Conference play this weekend when South Carolina comes to Dudy Noble Field. Game times are 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.