Bulldogs Top FAU Owls 8-4; Set For Rematch With Host Miami
June 06, 2005 | Baseball
Official Game Statistics (PDF)
CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Jeff Butts went 3-for-4 and belted his third home run of the campaign Sunday afternoon as No. 19 Mississippi State (42-21) stayed alive in the NCAA Coral Gables Regional with an 8-4 win over Florida Atlantic. The game ended just as a tropical rainstorm hit the Mark Light Stadium area, postponing a scheduled 6 p.m. (CDT) matchup between the Bulldogs and the 11th-ranked Miami Hurricanes.
Butts' home run, a two-run blast, gave State a 3-2 lead in the fifth. He doubled in another run an inning later when the Bulldogs sent eight batters to the plate, scoring four runs on four hits. The Bulldog outfielder added a second double in the eighth.
Sophomore righty Jon Crosby worked four innings, givving up single tallies in the first two frames and two more before leaving the game in the fifth.
But Josh Johnson and Brett Cleveland held FAU scoreless over the remainder of the game, with Johnson (5-0) picking up the win and Cleveland earning his fifth save.
Two other Bulldogs had three-hit games to spark MSU's 15-hit attack. Brad Jones singled in his first three plate appearances and later reached with a walk, while Joseph Hunter opened the game with three singles, driving in MSU's first run in the second and adding another RBI hit in the four-run, four-hit Bulldog sixth.
Florida Atlantic starter Mike Crotta (5-4) worked 5-1/3 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits. Crotta and two Owl relief pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts in the game.
Tyler Stevens went 4-for-4 and scored twice to lead FAU.
The Bulldogs have announced junior lefty Brooks Dunn (6-2, 3.59) as the starter in the Sunday night game with Miami. State will need a win over the Hurricanes to play for the regional tournament title Monday.
Florida Atlantic finished its season with a 37-24 record.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 8, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 4
MSU (42-21) 010 024 001 -- 8-15-1FAU (37-24) 110 020 000 -- 4-13-0WP - Josh Johnson (5-0). LP - Mike Crotta (5-4). S - Brett Cleveland (5). HR - Jeff Butts (3). T - 2:50.
