MSU Falls To Hot-Streaking Georgia, 8-4
May 08, 2004 | Baseball
Official Game Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Justin Holmes homered for the second time in as many days Saturday afternoon as the Georgia Bulldogs topp Mississippi State 8-4 to clinch the three-game weekend series at Dudy Noble Field.
Georgia (32-15, 14-9 SEC) matched a school-record with its 11th straight win, ninth straight in league play and remains one full game behind Florida for the Eastern Division lead. MSU (28-20, 8-15 SEC) dropped its fifth straight game and its sixth straight conference game.
"This was such a big win for us," Georgia coach Dave Perno said. "Our guys are playing with a lot of confidence. When you get down on the road early, it takes that confidence to came back and win the game."
MSU actually built the early lead Saturday by scoring three runs in the first inning. Jeffrey Rea began the game with the first of his three hits. After a groundout, Brad Corley was hit by a pitch and Brad Jones singled. Jones hit scored Rea. Back-to-back RBI singles by Tyler Scarbrough and Craig Tatum helped MSU push the lead to 3-0.
Georgia began its answer when Holmes slapped a two-run home run to left field in the third inning. The visiting Bulldogs took the lead for good with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning.
MSU made a pair of errors in the fifth inning. An inning later, the defensive bug bit again. Georgia actually had six outs to work with thanks to three MSU errors in the sixth inning. Despite the misplays, Georgia only scored once to inch the lead to 5-3.
The homestanding Bulldogs closed within 5-4 on a Steve Gendron sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.
"We kept battling but it seems like our backs are always against the wall," MSU starting pitcher Jeff Lacher said. "We had a big first inning and that should have set the tone for the game."
Georgia then removed all doubt with a pair of runs in the eighth inning and a single score in the ninth inning.
MSU finished with nine hits. Besides three hits by Rea, Scarbrough also multiple hit with a pair of singles.
Georgia finished with 11 hits. Clint Sammons had three hits. Holmes, Marshall Szabo and Josh Morris each had two hits. Morris also hit his 15th home run of the season - a solo shot in the ninth inning.
"Georgia has a nice team and they are playing really well right now," MSU coach Ron Polk said. "You really can't give quality teams extra outs to work with."
Jeff Lacher (3-6) started and worked into the fifth inning. The defensive collapse helped force his exit. Saunders Ramsey got the final out in the fifth inning and finished the contest for MSU. Lacher allowed six hits and four runs (two earned) with two walks and a strikeout. Georgia finished with five earned runs thanks to a season-high six errors by MSU.
Michael Hyle (5-1) worked into the sixth inning to pick up the win. Hyle allowed eight hits and three runs (all earned) in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two walks and struck out two. Bo Lanier picked up his first save by allowing one hit and one run (earned) the rest of the way.
The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Georgia 8, Mississippi State 4
Georgia (32-15) 002 021 021 - 8 11 0 MSU (28-20) 300 000 100 - 4 9 6WP-Hyle (5-1). LP-Lacher (3-6). Sv-Lanier (1). HR-Holmes (6), Morris (15). T-2:29. A-2,638.
