State Claims First Series At Alabama Since 1994 With 7-1 Win
May 22, 2004 | Baseball
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Jeff Lacher Goes The Distance; Jeffrey Rea Rips Four Hits
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Senior right-hander Jeff Lacher registered his second complete-game pitching performance of the season and freshman Jeffrey Rea lashed a career-best four hits Saturday afternoon leading Mississippi State (33-22, 12-17 SEC) to a series-clinching 7-1 win over Alabama (29-25, 10-19). The win was MSU's fourth in its last five SEC games and nailed down State's fourth SEC weekend series. It was MSU's first series win in Tuscaloosa since 1994.
Lacher retired the Crimson Tide in order in six of nine innings, retiring Alabama in order the first four innings before giving up his only run of the game in the fifth. Gabe Scott singled to open the fifth and Zac Welch doubled him home. Lacher scattered five hts, walked one and struck out four in nine innings. He registered MSU's only other complete-game pitching performance this season at Kentucky April 11.
"Jeff's a Bulldog, and he pitched his heart out on a hot day today," said coach Ron Polk. "He stayed ahead in the count, didn't throw many pitches, and did what we needed, and saved our bullpen."
State plated a run in the third and took control of the game with a four-run fifth off Alabama starter Andrew Walker (4-1). Jeffrey Rea, who had hits in his first four plate appearances, laced a triple to right and scored on Steve Gendron's two-out single to right.
Rea started MSU's four-run burst with a single to open the fifth. Steve Gendron followed with a double and Brad Corley drew an intentional walk to load the bases. Brad Jones then lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score Rea and Craig Tatum followed with a three-run blast over the left field fence, his 12th home run of the campaign.
State used the long ball to plate its final two runs an inning later. Jeff Butts reached with a two-out single and Rea belted his second home run of the year over the left field fence.
Rea just missed a perfect 5-for-5 afternoon and a cycle-producing double in his last at-bat when his drive into the left field corner was reeled in.
Steve Gendron cracked the SEC's career hits top 10 with a 3-for-5 plate performance. The Bulldog co-captain raised his career hits total to 311, passing former LSU great Todd Walker into 10th place among the league's all-time career hits leaders.
State out-hit Alabama 13-5 and has 27 hits for the two-game series.
Walker gave up five runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts during his five-inning start. Brent Carter followed Walker in the sixth and was charged with two runs on six hits.
The Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide conclude their three-game weekend series and 2004 regular season schedules with a 1:30 p.m. Sunday matchup at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 7, ALABAMA 1
MSU 001 042 000 --- 7-13-0ALA 000 010 000 --- 1-5-1
WP --- Jeff Lacher (4-6) . LP --- Andrew Walker (4-1) . HR --- Craig Tatum (12), Jeffrey Rea (2). T --- 2:17 . ATT --- 4,554 (paid) .
