Johnson Quiets No. 5 UT As Unbeaten Bulldogs Clinch Series, Win Streak Record
May 25, 2016 | Baseball
* Official Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Josh Johnson blanked Tennessee for eight innings andsixth-ranked Mississippi State (15-0, 2-0 SEC) staved off a UT rally in theninth to post a series-clinching 4-3 win over the Volunteers (14-5, 0-2 SEC)at Dudy Noble Field. The win was 15th in as many games for the Bulldogs thisseason, breaking the school record for season-opening wins set by the 1985Mississippi State team.
"To win 15 straight, you've got to pitch, hit and play defense, and for themost part this season we've done a pretty good job with that," saidMississippi State head coach Ron Polk. "It wasn't a great day for usoffensively today, but Josh did a tremendous job pitching against a fineTennessee team."
Johnson (4-0) scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out four overeight innings. The junior right-hander did not allow a lead-off baserunnerin eight innings, managed to get out of the first innings despite giving upa pair of doubles and held UT scoreless in the fourth when the Vols loadedthe bases with a walk and two singles.
State scored a run and left the bases loaded off UT starter Josh Lindblom(4-1) in the first. Edward Easley drew a one-out walk, advanced to thirdwhen Thomas Berkery extended his career-longest hitting streak to 12 games.Joseph Hunter then smashed a single past third base to score Easley.
The Vols, who had a runner gunned down at the plate in the first inning,loaded the bases in the fourth with a walk and a pair of singles. ButJohnson struck out Tony Delmonico to end the threat.
After stranding 11 base runners in the first six innings off Lindblom, theBulldogs greeted relief ace Craig Cobb with a two-run seventh. Brad Joneswalked to open the inning, Andy Rice reached on a fielding error at secondbase, and both Mitch Moreland and Michael Rutledge followed with RBIsingles.
State expanded its lead to 4-0 with a run in the eighth. Edward Easleyreached on a throwing error, Thomas Berkery doubled to right, and Brad Jonessent Easley home with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The insurance run became critical, as the Vols struck for three runs in theninth. With State relief ace Brett Cleveland in the game, Jared Frazierreached on an error to open the inning and Ryan Jones and Cody Brownfollowed with singles to load the bases. Tony Delmonico and Chris Siewartfollowed with run-scoring infield groundouts and Michael Rivera's single toleft drew UT to within a run before Cleveland retired Vol catcher J.P.Arencibia on a grounder to second. Cleveland gave up three runs, one of thema season-first
Joseph Hunter had a season and game-high three hits while Jeffrey Rea,Thomas Berkery and Michael Rutledge contributed two-hit plate performancesto MSU's 11-hit attack. The Bulldogs stranded a season-high 14 baserunners.
Michael Rivera, Brian Van Kirk, Ryan Jones and Cody Brown had two hits eachfor Tennessee.
Lindblom (4-1) absorbed his first loss of the season for Tennessee. He gaveup a run on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts over six innings.Cobb was charged with three runs (one earned) in his two-inning reliefstint.
The victory clinched MSU's first SEC series of the campaign and set theschool record for consecutive wins to open a season. It also matched State's15-game overall win streak record set in 1987.
Mississippi State and Tennessee close out their SEC opening weekend seriesat Dudy Noble Field Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. contest. Sophomore righty JohnLalor (3-0) will open on the mound for MSU while Duente Heath (2-1) isslated to start for Tennessee.
