State Earns Split With Blue Raiders In 9-8 Wednesday Victory

Wednesday, April 22

Starkville

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

21-21

Middle Tennessee

28-11

Middle Tennessee

Mississippi State

Diamond Dogs Rally In The Ninth To Claim Season Opener From URI, 9-8

State Earns Split With Blue Raiders In 9-8 Wednesday Victory

April 22, 2009 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State's Ryan Collins collected five hits, including the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning, as the Bulldogs defeated Middle Tennessee 9-8 in a college baseball game Wednesday night at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs played their final regularly-scheduled non-conference home game and completed a two-game series split with the Blue Raiders. MSU moved back to .500 at 21-21 overall, while MTSU fell to 28-11.

“Our kids prepare so hard, it is great to see their hard work and competitiveness pay off with a win tonight,” MSU head coach John Cohen said. “It was good to see some young guys like Ryan Collins and Frank Rawdow get great results. They're just showing their potential and that is exciting.”

Collins, a sophomore outfielder, had his first five-hit game with the Maroon and White. It was also MSU's first five-hit game since Jeffrey Rea had five hits in a 14-13 win at Florida on March 18, 2007.

The teams were tied 7-7 when Collins capped his monster night by hitting a line drive two-run home run right down the right field line. The ball snuck inside the foul pole and landed about 20 feet up the hill in the outfield lounge area.

The Blue Raiders got a run back in the ninth i nning when Blake McDade hit his second home run in as many at-bats. However, MSU closed the door when a line drive double play, picked off a Blue Raider at second base and ended the contest.

For MSU, starting pitcher Chad Crosswhite worked a season-best seven innings. While throwing 105 pitches, the senior right-hander allowed 11 hits and five runs (all earned), with four strikeouts and no walks. Ricky Bowen faced five batters but managed only one out. Caleb Reed then completed the contest and moved his record to 2-1 with the win.

“I was glad to see Chad (Crosswhite) go seven,” Cohen said. “He was a great matchup with their guys. He did a fine job out there tonight.”

The Bulldogs struck quickly Wednesday night, scoring five times in the third inning. Connor Powers had a two-run double and Russ Sneed hit a towering three-run home run - his eighth of the season.

The Blue Raiders slowly answered with single runs in the fourth and fifth inning before McDade cranked a three-run home run in the seventh inning. The MTSU first baseman doubled his home run total for the season by slapping two out Wednesday night.

MSU grabbed a 7-5 lead in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly by Luke Adkins and RBI-single by Scott DeLoach.

MTSU answered on a two-run single by Bryce Brentz off Bowen in the eighth inning.

Brentz was 3-for-3 Wednesday night=2 0and finished the series 7-for-8 with five RBIs. For MSU, Collins also collected seven hits in the two-game series.

For the contest, MSU finished with 12 hits. Freshman infielder Frank Rawdow had his first three-hit game for the Bulldogs.

MTSU finished with 1 hits. McDade had four hits, while Tyler Burnett followed Brentz in the ledger with a pair of hits.

Marshall Mears (0-1) worked the final 1-1/3 innings and took the loss.

MSU returns to the road this weekend for a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs and Commodores are slated to play at 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.