Tigers Clinch Series With 14-3 Win
March 28, 2004 | Baseball
Official Game Statistics (PDF)
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Ivan Naccarata smacked two home runs and drove in a career-high seven runs Sunday afternoon leading No. 1 Louisiana State (21-4, 4-2) to a 14-3 win over No. 24 Mississippi State (14-8, 2-4 SEC) at Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers sent 10 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the third. After retiring the first batter, State starter Alan Johnson (0-1) gave up four singles, a walk, a sacrifice fly and a three-run blast by Naccarata. Naccaratta added a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a three-run blast to right in the seventh to cap a career game.
LSU starter Nate Bumstead (4-0) gave up 10 hits but managed to stay away from the big inning. The Bulldogs got a career-first home run from Brad Jones in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead off Bumstead. But the LSU pitcher allowed just two more runs during his 7-1/3 inning mound stint en route to the series clinching win.
The Tigers out-hit State 16-11, with Blake Gill going 4-for-5. Will Harris delivered a pinch-hit two run single to key LSU's three-run eighth.
Lane Mestepey got the final out in the eighth and worked a scoreless ninth.
Steve Gendron and Brad Jones went 2-for-4 for the Bulldogs. Gendron, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tied and passed former Bulldog great Rafael Palmeiro in MSU's career hits list. Gendron stands seventh now with 269 career hits.
Johnson, who pitched a complete-game four-hit shutout against LSU last year, allowed eight runs on nine hits with three walks. Brooks Dunn replaced Johnsoninthe fifth and Todd Doolittle pitched the eighth.
The Bulldogs opened a five-game homestand Tuesday night, entertaining the UAB Blazers in a 6:30 p.m. game at Dudy Noble Field. MSU hosts UL-Monroe Wednesday and then takes on instate SEC rival Mississippi in a three-game weekend set.
LSU 14, MISSISSIPPI STATE 3
MSU 010 010 100 --- 3-11-1 LSU 007 010 33x --- 14-16-3
WP --- Nate Bumstead (4-0). LP --- Alan Johnson (0-1). HR --- Brad Jones (1). Ivan Naccarata-2 (3). T --- 2:20. ATT --- 5,487 (8,040 paid).
