Five-Run Burst Powers No. 12 Bulldogs Past No. 21 USM 6-4
May 25, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- No. 12 Missisippi State (29-9-1) erupted for five runs in the sixth inning Tuesday night and went on to top Southern Miss 6-4 before 4,017 fans at Dudy Noble Field.
The Bulldogs, held to three hits over the first five innings by USM starter Cliff Russum (5-5), collected five hits and batted through the order in the sixth inning.
Steve Gendron singled up the middle, Matthew Brinson lashed a double and Brad Corley reached safely on Beau Griffin's fielding error at third base. Gendron scored on the game's only error. Robby Goodson followed with a run-scoring pinch-hit single up the middle, ending Russum's five-inning stint.
But the Bulldog barrage continued. Craig Tatum advanced the base runners with a sacrifice bunt and freshman center fielder Jeff Butts laced a two-run double into the right field corner. Butts scored the fifth run in the inning on a single by Matthew Maniscalco, who finished the night with a season-high four hits.
Southern Miss, ranked 21st this week and leading Conference USA, scored twice in the third on Jeff Cook's inside-the-park home run and added another run in the top of the sixth to lead 3-0 off MSU starter Jeff Lacher. Lacher (5-0), from Hattiesburg, Miss., scattered six hits, struck out five and walked one during his six-inning stint, and picked up the win when the Bulldogs overtook the Golden Eagles in the sixth.
Robby Goodson replaced Lacher in the seventh, retiring three of the four batters he faced. He left the game in the eighth after giving up a lead-off walk and a single by Brad Willcutt. Brian Owens followed Goodson, retiring heavy-hitting Clint King on a groundout that advanced runners to second and third. Griff Israel followed with a groundout to second base that plated a run and advanced WIllcutt to third base. State then turned to Jonathan Papelbon, who retired Jason Lowery on a groundout to shortstop.
State added an insurance run in the eighth when Jeff Butts single to to right center and took second on the throw. Maniscalco followed with his second RBI single fo the game.
Jarrett Hoffpauir opened the ninth with a single to left. But Papelbon got pinch-hitter Marc Maddox to ground into a double play and picked up his fifth save of the year when Matt Shepherd lined out to left.
Maniscalco had four singles and Jeff Butts a single and double to pace the Bulldogs' 11-hit showing against USM. Jeff Cook, Brad Willcutt and Clint King, the 3-4-5 hitters in the Southern Miss batting order, each had two hits on USM's 10-hit night. Cook's home run in the third was his 17th of the season and the 44th of his career, second-most for a USM player.
Ray Antonelli, Bob McCrory and Austin Tubb pitched an inning each for USM.
The teams conclude the two-game set with a 6:30 p.m. game Wednesday. A pair of freshman right-handers, MSU's Brad Corley (0-1, 4.28) and USM's Daniel Best (1-0, 5.09), will square off in the series finale.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 6, SOUTHERN MISS 4
USM 002 001 010 -- 4-10-1MSU 000 005 01x -- 6-11-0
WP -- Jeff Lacher (5-0). LP -- Cliff Russum (5-5). SV -- Jonathan Papelbon (5). HR -- (USM) Jeff Cook (17). T -- 2:30. ATT -- 6,313 (paid), 4,017 (actual).
Jeff Lacher, Robby Goodson (7), Brian Owens (8), Jonathan Papelbon (8) and Craig Tatum. Cliff Russum, Ray Antonelli (6), Bob McCrory (7), Austin Tubb (8) and Brad Willcutt.
