Diamond Dogs Fall To Vanderbilt In Extra Innings

Saturday, May 15

Starkville

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

21-30, 5-21

Vanderbilt

38-13, 14-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Vanderbilt	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	2	8	13	15	0
Mississippi State	1	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	7	11	0

Diamond Dogs Fall To Vanderbilt In Extra Innings

May 15, 2010 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

• Official Statistics
• Official Statistics (PDF)

STARKVILLE, Miss. - On Mississippi State baseball team's Senior Day, the story of the day may have been a true freshman. Pitcher Chris Stratton carried a lead into the ninth inning but the Bulldog bullpen let it get away as No. 17 Vanderbilt stormed back for a 13-7, 10-inning win Saturday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.

The victory allowed the Commodores to clinch the weekend Southeastern Conference series, two games to none. The series finale, as well as MSU's final home game of the season, is slated for a 1:30 p.m. first pitch Sunday afternoon.

On a day in which seven seniors were honored for their contributions to the Maroon and White, Stratton sparkled. In eight-plus innings, the right-handed rookie allowed nine hits and four runs (all earned), with eight strikeouts and five walks. After throwing 144 pitchers earlier this season in a complete-game win over Tennessee, Stratton threw 143 in Saturday's quality start.

After walking the leadoff batter in the ninth inning, things were turned over to the bullpen. The Commodores eventually meshed two walks, two hit batsman and one base hit into the two game-tying runs.

The wheels fell off an inning later as Vandy sent 12 batters to the plate and plated eight runs.

Jonathan Ogden hit a two-run home run in the home half of the extra frame. However, the Bulldogs would eventually strand the final three of 13 left base runners.

For a second straight day, the Bulldogs actually sprinted out to a 5-1 advantage. On Friday night, the Commodores scored the game's next 12 runs and held on for a 13-8 victory.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs again scored in the first inning on an RBI-single by Russ Sneed. The lead grew to 3-0 on a Ryan Duffy solo home run and Jet Butler RBI-double in the fourth inning.

The Commodores scored in the fifth inning on an RBI-single by Jason Esposito.

MSU answered by taking a 5-1 lead with two more scores in the home half of the fifth inning. A two-run double down the right field line by Jaron Shepherd was the big blow in that at-bat.

An inning later, the Commodores had Stratton on the ropes. After a leadoff walk, Andrew Giobbi slapped a two-run home run. The Commodores followed with back-to-back hits but a failed bunt attempt opened the door and Stratton worked out of that tight spot.

Again in the seventh inning, VU had a pair of hits but did not score. Stratton retired the side in order in the eighth inning before leaving after the leadoff walk in the ninth inning.

In the extra frame, the Bulldog bullpen had more wildness. Vandy had five hits in the inning but a hit batsman by C.C. Watson loaded the bases. Watson then walked in the go-ahead run in. A three-run double by Mike Yastrzemski was the big blow in the inning.

The Bulldogs finished with 11 hits. Powers, Duffy, Sneed and Cody Freeman each had multiple hits.

The Commodores finished with 15 hits. Esposito had a five-hit night, while Giobbi had two hits and four RBIs. Joe Loftus also had multiple hits.

Russell Brewer (2-2) earned the win in relief, while Caleb Reed (1-6) started the 10th inning and took the loss.