Lea, Bulldogs Blank Indians 11-0 In Nightcap
April 05, 2006 | Baseball
* Official Statistics
* Official Statistics (PDF)
PEARL, Miss. - Freshman Matt Lea (5-0) blanked ULM with seven innings of two-hit pitching Wednesday night as No. 3 Mississippi State (24-4) completed a doubleheader sweep with an 11-0 win over the Indians (5-23) at Trustmark Park. A gathering of 6,241, the third-largest crowd in Trustmark Park's two-year history, watched the action.
Lea allowed six base-runners (two singles, two walks and two hit batsmen) in a season-longest pitching start.
State pounded out 13 hits, with Jeffrey Rea going 3-for-5 and both Jeff Butts and Thomas Berkery collecting two hits each.
As they did in the opener, the Bulldogs struck early, scoring two runs in the first and second frames and stretching the lead to 7-0 with a three-run third. Edward Easley and Butts delivered run-scoring doubles in the first two innings.
The Bulldogs sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four times the seventh inning.
Chad Crosswhite worked a scoreless eighth and Brett Cleveland worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to preserve the Bulldogs¹ first shutout of the season.
ULM starter A.J. Ford (0-4) gave up seven runs (six earned ) on five hits over 2-1/3 innings to take the loss.
State opens a three-game Super Bulldog Weekend series against SEC East foe Georgia Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Dudy Noble Field.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 11, UL-MONROE 0
MSU 223 000 400 --- 11-13-2ULM 000 000 000 --- 0- 3-0
WP --- Matt Lea (5-0). LP --- A.J. Ford (0-4). T --- 2:53. ATT --- 6,241 (third-largest attendance at Trustmark Park).
