Corley Homers Twice, Johnson Goes To Distance As No. 19 Bulldogs Belt Florida Atlantic 13-2
June 03, 2005 | Baseball
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Brad Corley lashed two of MSU's season-high fivehome runs and right-hander Alan Johnson registered a complete-gamepitching performance as the Bulldogs powered past Florida Atlantic 13-2in the opening game of the 2005 NCAA Coral Gables Regional. MSU (41-20)advances to Saturday's 6 p.m. (CDT) winner's bracket game against thewinner of Friday night's other opening round matchup between host Miamiand Virginia Commonwealth.
Corley launched a pair of three-run home runs to give MSU a 6-0 lead inthree innings, more than enough offense for Johnson. The Pleasant Grove,Ala., product blanked FAU with one-hit pitching over the first fiveframes and closed out his fourth career complete-game performanceallowing two rouns on six hits. Johnson struck out six and walked two.
"We got through the heat and beat a nice ball club," said Bulldog headcoach Ron Polk, noting the steamy weather conditions at Mark LightStadium. "I don't think our hitters want to get back on the bus. Theywant to stay here because the ball jumps out of this ball park."
Corley's two home runs opened a season-best five-dinger afternoon forState. Designated hitter Joseph McCaskill launched a solo home run ---his first blast of the year --- during MSU's four-run third inningburst. Brad Jones ripped a solo blast to left, his fifth home run of theseason, in the sixth and freshman Mitch Moreland, pinch-hitting forMcCaskill in the seventh, opened the frame with his secondroundtripper.
The five home runs in a game was one shy of the MSU record, lastreached against Nebraska in the 1999 Columbus, Ohio Regional. Theprevious single-game high for home runs in a game this season was two.
"It was nice to get the early runs again," said Johnson. "I waslocating my fastball today and didn't throw too many changeups or curveballs. They were hitting pop-ups and I got the occasional strikeouts,and that's what you need as a pitcher."
FAU starter Chris Salberg (6-5) retired the first two batters he facedin the game before issuing walks to Thomas Berkery and Brad Jones.Corley then followed with his fourth home run of the campaign. Twoinnings later, Berkery doubled, Jones drew his second walk, and Corleyagain followed with a blast to left, giving State a 6-0 lead.
"Brad's two home runs were the key," said Polk. "He was the hero in theearly part of the game."
Corley's two-dinger performance was his first since the Louisville,Ky., slugger belted two against Birmingham-Southern April 28, 2004. Itwas Corley's fifth career two-home game and raised his career home runtotal to 25.
The Bulldogs got four hits out of the designated hitter slot, withMcCaskill going 2-for-3 with his first career home run and Morelandgoing 2-for-2 with a double, his second home run of the year and a pairof RBI.
FAU broke up Johnson's shutout bid in the sixth when Tim Mascia reachedon a two-out infield single and Jonathon Shapland followed with a homerun to left. Shapland had two of the Owls' six hits.
State plated single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh and put thegame away with a three-run eighth. Brad Jones and Joseph Hunter drewwalks in the eighth, Mitch Moreland doubled in one run and both BrianLaNinfa and pinch-hitter Bunky Kateon laced run-scoring singles inState's final scoring inning.
Salberg was charged with seven runs on five hits and three walks duringhis 2-2/3 inning stint. Andrew Tomlin, Chris Eberhart, Mark Culp andJason Doherty also pitched for FAU.
State totaled 13 hits for its 10th double digit hit total in the last11 games.
The win was coach Ron Polk's 107th in 191 postseason tournaments.Polk-coached teams have posted at least one win in 50 of his 52postseason events.
Senior right-hander Todd Doolittle (5-7, 3.89), who earned LouisvilleSlugger National Player of the Week honors for his 13-strikeout, 8-2/3inning gem pitched against South Carolina last weekend, is due to startfor the Bulldogs in Saturday's 6 p.m. (CDT) winner's bracket game in theCoral Gables Regional.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 13, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 2
FAU (36-23) 000 002 000 --- 2-6-0MSU (41-20) 304 011 130 --- 13-13-0WP --- Alan Johnson (5-6). LP --- Chris Salberg (6-5). HR --- BradCorley-2 (5), Joseph McCaskill (1), Mitch Moreland (2). T --- 2:35. ATT--- TBA.
