Bulldog Freshmen Corley, Tatum Power State Past UNO, 7-2
March 11, 2003 | Baseball
| Brad Jones' pinch-hit double in the seventh drove in two runs. |
Corley, the Bulldogs' starting pitcher, struck out five and allowed two runs on two hits during his career-longest 4-2/3 inning mound performance. But it was at the plate as the designated hitter where the MSU rookie sparkled the most. Corley doubled in the game's first run in the opening inning off UNO starter David Kling (3-1), legged out a lead-off double and scored a run in the fourth, singled to shallow right and scored MSU's go-ahead run in the sixth and added another lead-off single in the ninth inning.
The Bulldogs struck for four runs in the seventh to pull away from a 3-2 contest. Catcher Craig Tatum singled in the first of the four runs to cap a 3-for-4, two-RBI outing. Brad Jones plated two runs with a pinch-hit double and Jeff Butts followed with a pinch-hit RBI single to spark the four-run, four-hit State spree.
Corley retired the first two batters he faced in the fifth, but gave way to Jonathan Papelbon after walking the next two batters. UNO's Mike Nuckles greeted Papelbon with a game-tying RBI single up the middle. But he retired Mike Forbes on an infield pop-up to end the inning and blanked UNO on one-hit pitching the next two innings to earn the win. Saunders Ramsey worked the final two frames, allowing one base runner with a walk while striking out two. State pitching survived a season-high eight walks while matching a season-low by allowing but four hits.
Senior shortstop Matthew Maniscalco extended his season-opening hit streak to all 12 games with a triple, his third in seven days and the 10th of his career. He is now tied for fourth with Rex Buckner (1990-94) among MSU's career leaders in triples.
First baseman Gabe Trevizo laced a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the first to highlight the Privateers' attack. UNO left 11 runners on base, seven in scoring position.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, NEW ORLEANS 2
MSU 100 101 400 -- 7 13 2UNO 100 010 000 -- 2 4 0
WP -- Jonathan Papelbon (3-0). LP -- David Kling (1-3). HR -- Gabe Trevizo (4). T -- 2:56. ATT -- 894.
