Rookie Hurler John Lalor Fans Eight In Bulldogs' 14-2 Win Over Jackson State
March 09, 2005 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State wrapped up its season-opening eight-game home stand Wednesday afternoon with a 14-2 win over Jackson State at Dudy Noble Field. The Bulldogs, ranked as high as 16th in the latest collegiate rankings, completed a sweep of that home stand and moved their overall record to 8-0. MSU makes its first road trip of the season this weekend, opening a three-game series at No. 9 Arizona Friday (8 p.m. CST).
MSU freshman John Lalor of Germantown, Tenn., sparkled in his collegiate mound debut, striking out eight of the nine batters he faced over three innings to lead MSU's split pitching crew. Lalor and the six MSU pitchers that followed him to the hill, Trent Hill, Justin Pigott, Saunders Ramsey, Jesse Carver, Brett Cleveland and Brad Corley, scattered five hits and combined for a team-high 16 strikeouts.
"We started out with a good home stand," MSU coach Ron Polk said. "I am looking forward to seeing us play in Arizona. That will be a big challenge. We will be facing a really fine ball club."
MSU held a narrow 2-0 advantage before breaking the game open with three runs in the fourth inning. The flood gates then opened in the sixth inning as the Bulldogs pushed across six more scores. Jackson State managed single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Sophomore outfielder Ben Grisham, making his first start of the season, singled three times and drove in a pair of runs to pace MSU's 10-hit attack. Junior right fielder Brad Corley highlighted the big sixth inning with a two-run home run, his first home run of the campaign. First baseman Brad Jones singled to extend his team-leading hitting streak to all eight games.
JSU starter Omar Stokley (1-1) lasted two innings and took the loss for JSU. The Tigers collected five hits off Bulldog pitching, two by first baseman Kenji Williams. Jackson State was also plagued by five errors.
MSU 14, Jackson State 2
Jackson State (5-8) 000 000 011 - 2-5-5 MSU (8-0) 110 306 03x - 14-10-1
WP-John Lalor (1-0). LP-Omar Stokley (1-1). HR-Brad Corley (1). T - 2:47. A - 485 (5,564 paid).
