Dogs Score Three In Ninth To Clinch Series With Kentucky
April 24, 2005 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Brad Corley's RBI single capped a big ninth inningcomeback as No. 29 Mississippi State (27-11, 9-8 SEC) defeated Kentucky 3-2in college baseball action Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.
MSU scored three times in the ninth inning against Kentucky (20-19, 3-14SEC) to clinch its fourth league series in six weekends of SoutheasternConference competition. With its victory, the MSU regained third place inthe SEC Western Division race, 1-1/2 games behind division-leading Alabamaand a half-game behind LSU.
Kentucky pitching baffled MSU hitting most of the afternoon. freshman leftyAndrew Albers started on the mound for the Wildcats, stranding base-runnersin scoring position in five of his first six innings. He left the game afterregistering two outs in the seventh inning. Brock Baber completed theseventh inning and also threw the eighth inning. In a save situation, ScottGreen (2-3) only managed one out after starting the ninth inning on themound for the Wildcats.
"We were in a position to win," Kentucky coach John Cohen said. "Sometimes,the hardest thing to to do is to learn how to close ball games down. We'vehad a few get away from us like that. Andrew threw a great game. Wecertainly had a chance to win."
In the MSU ninth inning, Brian LaNinfa drew a full-count walk to start thecomeback. Bunky Kateon followed with a hard-hit single to right field. Bothrunners advanced a base on a passed ball and pinch-hitter Daniel Tackett,after working the count to his advantage, drew a walk to loading the bases.Jeff Butts drew a bases-loaded walk on a full-count pitch to force in thefirst Bulldog run, and the game-tying second run came home on Jeffrey Rea¹schopper to first base. An intentional walk to Thomas Berkery reloaded thebases, and Corley laced the first pitch up the middle for the game-winner.
"This was a huge win for our team," Corley said. "Winning two games out ofthe weekend series is a big plus. We really didn't get down or give up.Everybody was frustrated after Saturday¹s game, but it all worked out."
Kentucky scored its first run in the fourth inning. Collin Cowgill drew awalk from MSU starter Jon Crosby and scored on an RBI double by J.P. Lowen.
The Wildcats took advantage of a Bulldog error to take a 2-0 lead in thesixth inning. John Shelby reached on a bunt attempt to start the sixthinning. Shelby's bunt went back to the mound but Crosby overthrew first basefor a two-base error. A groundout moved Shelby to third base and he laterscored on an RBI single by Cowgill.
Crosby flirted with danger most of the afternoon. The sophomore right-handerallowed eight hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings of work. Crosbystruck out four and walked two while facing 27 batters. Red-shirt freshmanJustin Pigott (1-1) threw three innings of three-hit shutout relief to earnhis first career victory.
"Justin has come up big in conference play for us," MSU coach Ron Polk said."He throws strikes and he throws with a lot of confidence. Most of theafternoon we were waiting for something good to happen."
Kentucky out-hit MSU 11-9. Antone DeJesus had three hits while Cowgill andJ.P. Lowen had two-hit hits each for the Wildcats. For MSU, Corley finishedwith three hits, his fourth three-hit performance in MSU's last five games.Freshman Mitch Moreland added a pair of hits while Brad Jones went hitlesson the day to end his career-best hitting streak at 15 games.
MSU hosts in-state rival Southern Mississippi in the midweek. The Bulldogsand Golden Eagles play at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
MSU 3, Kentucky 2
Kentucky (20-19) 000 101 000 - 2-11-1MSU (27-11) 000 000 003 - 3-9-2
WP-Justin Pigott (1-1). LP-Scott Green (2-3). 2B-Antone DeJesus (9), JohnShelby (8), J.P. Lowen (7). 3B-Antone DeJesus (5). T-2:56. A-2,025 (6,166paid).
