Bama Strikes Early, Evens Series With 5-3 Win
May 07, 2005 | Baseball
Official Game Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- No. 12 Alabama (34-15, 14-9 SEC) scored three runs in the first inning and got a strong eight-inning pitching performance by left-hander Wade LeBlanc to register a series-evening 5-3 win over Mississippi State (29-16, 10-12 SEC) Saturday night at Dudy Noble Field.
The loss dropped Mississippi State into 10th place in the overall league standings while division-leading Alabama stands tied with Florida for second in the overall league standings.
Evan Bush had a double and a two-run home run to pace the Tide, who out-hit the Bulldogs 11-8.
LeBlanc (4-3) gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits with three walks and six strikeouts. David Robertson worked the final frame and registered three strikeouts, the last two with the tying run at second base.
As it did in Friday night's opener, Alabama used the long ball to jump out to a quick lead.
State starter Todd Doolittle (4-6) issued a two-out walk to Gabe Scott, and Evan Bush followed with a home run to right center. Morrow Thomley then singled and later scored on a double to left by catcher Kody Valverde. The Bama damage in the four-hit, two-walk inning was lessened when lead-off hitter Emeel Salem, who opened the game with a single to left, was thrown out by freshman catcher Ed Easley on a stolen base attempt. And the inning ended when Zac Welch was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Valverde's double.
State answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Thomas Berkery singled to left, stole second, and advanced home on an overthrow to third base by Thomley, the right fielder.
A Bulldog error enabled Alabama to rebuild its lead to 4-1 in the second. Rocky Scelfo opened the inning with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a bunt, and came home when Brian LaNinfa dropped Allen Rice's towering fly ball in left.
After giving up the first inning run, LeBlanc held MSU in check for the next five innings, working around a double by Thomas Berkery to open the sixth. The Bulldogs got to LeBlanc for a run in the seventh to make it 4-2. Joseph McCaskill hit a ground rule double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Brian LaNinfa's single up the middle. Jeffrey Rea got the Bulldogs' third hit of the inning, but Thomas Berkery took a called third strike to end the inning.
State threatened again in the eighth when Joseph Hunter drew a two-out walk and Ed Easley beat out an infield single. But LeBlanc ended the inning with an infield pop-up.
Brett Cleveland replaced Doolittle in the seventh, getting the final two outs of the inning and facing three batters in the eighth. But in the ninth Alabama parlayed a single, a ground rule double by Bush and a run-scoring infield groundout by Morrow Thomley.
MSU mounted one final threat in the ninth. LeBlanc walked LaNinfa to open the inning, ending his impressive eight-inning stay in the game. Pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland greeted relief pitcher David Robertson with a single, Jeffrey Rea struck out, and Thomas Berkery drew a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch by Davidson advanced the runners and scored LaNinfa. But Robertson struck out Brad Corley and Brad Jones to end the game and earn his sixth save.
Doolittle gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Berkery and Easley led State at the plate with two hits each.
While there were no runs scored in the middle innings, the game was not without its dramatic moments during the span. Home plate umpire Steve Dew ejected Bulldog pitching coach Russ McNickle and then head coach Ron Polk for disputing the umpire's ball-strike calls.
The Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide conclude their three-game series with a deciding "rubber game" Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
ALABAMA 5, MSU 3
UA 310 000 001 -- 5-11-1MSU 100 000 101 -- 3- 8-1WP --- Wade LeBlanc (4-3). LP --- Todd Doolittle (4-6). SV --- David Robertson (6). HR --- Evan Bush (14). T --- 3:10. ATT --- 3,432 (6,675 paid)
