Late Surge Pushes Rebels Past State 10-4 In Mayor's Trophy Game
April 13, 2004 | Baseball
JACKSON, Miss. -- Seventh-ranked Mississippi (27-6) scored seven times in the final three innings Tuesday night to post a 10-4 win over Mississippi State (21-12) in the 25th annual Entergy/Mayor's Trophy Game.
Brian Pettway and Barry Gunther turned in two-hit, two-RBI performances for the Rebels, who notched their third straight win in the neutral site series and their third win in four meetings with the Bulldogs this season.
Junior right-hander Todd Doolittle, making his first career start for State, was tagged for four runs in the third inning when Mississippi took the lead. Eight Rebels came to plate in the inning, with Gunther and Stephen Head belting doubles in the frame.
State battled back, scoring a run on three hits off UM starter Brae Wright in both the fourth and fifth innings and taking the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. Joseph Hunter, who led all hitters with a 3-for-4 plate performance, delivered a clutch two-out single to right and when Seth Smith's throw to the plate caromed into the MSU dugout, Tyler Scarbrough raced home with State's fourth run.
The Bulldog bullpen was unable to protect the lead.
Eight Rebels went to the plate and collected five hits, scoring a run off Josh Johnson and two more off relief ace Saunders Ramsey (4-1). Charlie Babineaux's sacrifice fly to center field scored Stephen head with the go-ahead run.
The late-game surge continued in the eighth, when Jamie Gant, during a season-first one-inning relief stint, gave up a triple to Cooper Osteen and an RBI single up the middle by Matt Tolbert.
UM used a pair of walks, two singles, and a fielding error to add three more insurance runs in the ninth off junior pitcher Eric Ebers.
Jeremy Zick (3-1), after replacing starter Wright and then giving up Hunter's RBI single to right, retired the next seven batters he faced, the last four via strikeouts, to earn the win. He finished with five of UM's nine strikeouts.
Ramsey was charged with two runs on four hits, recording just two outs during the crucial seventh inning and being tagged with his first loss of the campaign.
Brad Corley and Brad Jones had two hits each for State, who was out-hit 15-11. A fourth inning double by Tatum was the lone extra-base hit for the Bulldogs at Smith-Wills Stadium.
A sellout crowd of 5,287 braved chilly weather to watch the action.
Mississippi State resumes Southeastern Conference play at home this weekend, entertaining the 19th-ranked Florida Gators in a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field. Junior right-hander Alan Johnson (1-1, 6.32) is the scheduled starting MSU pitcher in Friday's 6:30 p.m. series-opener. Saturday's game starts at 3:06 p.m. and will be televised by FOX Sports Net South as the SEC-TV Game of the Week.
MISSISSIPPI 10, MSU 4
UM 003 000 313 --- 10-15-1 MSU 000 112 000 --- 4-11-3WP --- Jeremy Zick (3-1). LP --- Saunders Ramsey (4-1). T --- 3:08. ATT -- 5,287.
