Diamond Dogs Rally For 8-4 Victory Over UAB

Wednesday, March 18

Starkville

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

13-6

UAB

10-7

UAB

Mississippi State

Diamond Dogs Rally For 8-4 Victory Over UAB

March 18, 2009 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

? Official Statistics
? Official Statistics (PDF)

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State's Ryan Powers hit a go-ahead three-run home run as the Bulldogs rallied past UAB 8-4 in college baseball action Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.

The 25th-ranked Bulldogs improved to 13-6 overall and 12-2 at home this season. MSU won for a 14th straight time against UAB. The Blazers last knocked off the Bulldogs during the 2001 season. The Conference USA-member Blazers fell to 10-7 with the defeat.

The teams zipped through three quick scoreless innings before UAB broke on top with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. In that at-bat for UAB, Brint Hardy started things with a leadoff walk. Cody McMurry followed with a two-run home run - his fifth of the season - right inside the left field foul pole.

The teams then traded runs with MSU scoring once in the fourth and UAB scoring once in the fifth.
The Bulldogs grabbed the lead for good with three scores in the home half of the fifth inning.

In the MSU fifth inning, Connor Powers and Luke Adkins each drew walks. Ryan Powers followed with his first career home run - a towering shot to left center.

The Bulldogs blew the contest open an inning later by scoring four runs. Again, walks proved beneficial. Jet Butler and Connor Powers drew back-to-back one-out walks. After a strikeout, Ryan Powers was hit by the pitch, loading the bases. Ryan Collins then drew a walk, forcing in a run. Grant Hogue then cleared the bases with a three-run triple down the right field line. For Hogue, it was the first triple of his MSU career.

MSU only managed six hits in the contest. The Bulldogs did take advantage of eight walks by the Blazers. Ryan Powers was the lone multiple hitter for the Bulldogs, collecting half of his team?s hits.
For the MSU shortstop, it was his second three-hit game and third multi-hit game of the season. For both Ryan Powers and Hogue, it was their first three-RBI game of the season.

Jamal Austin and Cody McMurry each had mutiple hits for UAB, which finished with eight hits.

Lee Swindle (1-1) earned the pitching win. Swindle allowed two hits and one run (earned) in two innings of relief work. Drew Hollinghead posted a strong start for the Bulldogs, working the first four-plus innings. Hollinghead allowed three hits and two runs (both earned), with four strikeouts and two walks. Jared Wesson followed Hollinghead and preceded Swindle. Devin Jones thtew the final 2-2/3 innings for the Bulldogs.

Tristan Farrell (2-1) was touched for Powers' three-run home run and took the loss for the Blazers.

MSU returns to action this weekend with a Southeastern Conference road trip to third-ranked Georgia. The SEC Battle of the Bulldogs is set for start times of 6 p.m. CT Friday, 2 p.m. CT Saturday and 1 p.m. CT Sunday. The Friday and Sunday MSU-UGA contests will be televised regionally by Comcast Sports Southeast.