Johnson's Career-Best 11 Strikeouts Leads State Past MVSU 3-2
May 10, 2005 | Baseball
Official Game Statistics (in pdf)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Josh Johnson struck out a career-high 11 batters Tuesdaynight as Mississippi State (32-16) closed out a run of five games in fivedays with a 3-2 win over Mississippi Valley State (19-28). It was the lowestscoring and smallest winning margin for the Bulldogs, who have won all 13games in the series.
MSU, with wins in four of its last five games, travels to Gainesville, Fla.,this weekend, resuming SEC competition against Eastern Division powerFlorida May 13-15.
Bulldog starter Josh Johnson, after retiring the Delta Devils in order inthe first inning, ran into problems in the second. MVSU loaded the baseswith a pair of singles and a walk, then got a sacrifice fly by Derick Weeks.
Mississippi State, held by MVSU starter Rudy Casias to two hits and twoother base-runners the first four frames, took the lead with a pair of runsin the fifth. Joseph Hunter singled to open the inning and scored from firston Jeff Butts' triple into the right-center field gap. Butts then scored thego-ahead run on an infield groundout to second base.
Ed Easley found the gap on a double to open the ninth and plated aninsurance run on Brad Jones' single to center field.
The Bulldogs would need that run, as Valley cut the Bulldog lead with a runin the ninth. Ian Corona struck out to open the ninth but reached on a wildpitch and Ross Myers beat out a bunt single. With one out in the inning,Zach Penprase rolled a grounder to second base. Rea's throw to secondretired Myers, but shortstop Bunky Kateon's throw to complete the doubleplay at first base sailed into the MVSU dugout, allowing Corona to score.Relief pitcher Brett Cleveland, who entered the game in the eighth, thenstruck out Rod Williams to end the game and earn his third save. It was the16th strikeout by Bulldog pitching, matching a season-high.
Johnson (4-0) struck out a career-high and two-year staff-high 11 batters,giving up a run on seven hits. Eric Ebers retired the two batters he facedafter replacing Johnson in the seventh, and Cleveland fanned four and wascharged with one unearned run during his 1-2/3 inning relief stint.
Casias (3-2), charged with two runs on four hits over 6-1/3 innings, tookthe loss.
Easley had a double and a single to pace State at the plate, while MVSU gottwo-hit performances by John Morgan and Derick Weeks.
