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

Friday, February 19

Starkville

4:00 PM

Mississippi State

1-0

Rhode Island

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rhode Island	1	0	5	1	0	1	0	0	0	8	13	1
Mississippi State	1	2	1	1	0	0	2	0	2	9	13	5

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

February 19, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

• Official Statistics
• Official Statistics (PDF)

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State's Luke Adkins ripped a game-winning single in the bottom half of the ninth inning, capping the Bulldogs' 9-8 comeback win over Rhode Island Friday afternoon in a season-opening college baseball game.

A Dudy Noble Field crowd of 2,490 watched the Bulldogs kick off the 2010 ledger with a wild victory on an unusually mild afternoon. Temperatures remained in the 50s and skies were clear as the Bulldogs clawed back from a 7-3 deficit and also overcame five errors.

"We did everything defensively to lose the game," MSU head coach John Cohen said. "Offensively, I liked what we were doing. I like what we can do on defense too. However, we need to loosen up. For the past few days, we have been stiff.

"One of the biggest positives is that we never stop competing."

In the MSU ninth inning, Ryan Duffy battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a leadoff walk. After a pickoff attempt went awry, URI reliever Dan Johnson also walked Wes Thigpen on a 3-2 pitch. A sacrifice-bunt by Jonathan Ogden advanced the runners. An intentional walk to Jaron Shepherd loaded the bases.

After a flyout, Ryan Collins hit a chopper on the infield grass, beating that contact out for an infield single. That hit scored Trey Johnson, who was pinch running for Duffy. Adkins followed with his no-doubt smash past a shallow outfield, scoring Thigpen with the game-winner.

Adkins had a team-best three hits for the Bulldogs. Collins also had a two hits and a team-best three RBIs. Connor Powers, Thigpen and Nick Vickerson each had multiple hits.

The news was not as good for sophomore left-hander Nick Routt. The Bulldogs' staff ace a year ago, Routt only lasted three innings, allowing seven hits and six runs (four earned). Caleb Reed followed in relief, working a career-best five innings with a career-best seven strikeouts. Greg Houston worked a perfect ninth inning to garner the win.

For Rhode Island, Zoey Angulo and Oliver Palmer each had three hits. Mike LeBel also had multiple hits for the Rams. The top three spots in the URI lineup had eight of the squad's 13 hits.

A two-run single by Rob DeVeney highlighted a five-run third inning for the Rams.

The Bulldogs slowly battled back with the gap finally being closed with two-run seventh and ninth innings.

The teams resume their weekend series with a 2 p.m. start Saturday. Freshman right-hander Chris Stratton is expected to make draw his first Bulldog start in that contest. The series concludes with a 1:30 p.m. first pitch Sunday.