No. 21 Bulldogs Roll Past MVSU, 21-2
May 02, 2006 | Baseball
* Official Statistics
* Official Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - No. 21 Mississippi State plated a season-high 21 runs,seven of them during a first-inning burst as the Bulldogs (31-15) poundedout a 21-2 win over Mississippi Valley State (23-27) Tuesday afternoon at DudyNoble Field. Eight of MSU's runs scored on three home runs, and 12 of the 24Bulldogs that played registered hits.
Senior left fielder Jeff Butts went 3-for-4 and matched a career-high withfour RBI. He belted a three-run home run over the center field wall to cap aseven-run, six-hit Bulldog surge in the first inning. Brian LaNinfa drove intwo of his three runs with a double to start the MSU scoring.
Mitch Moreland (2-0) picked up the win, allowing two base-runners in threeinnings of one-hit, shutout mound duty. John Lalor led off MSU's splitpitching crew, allowing single runs in the first and second innings. JoshJohnson, Jesse Carver and Brett Cleveland each worked an inning of scorelessrelief.
Five Bulldogs registered multi-hit games, including a career-best 4-for-5,two-RBI performance by rightfielder Matt Richardson. Richardson legged out apair of doubles and drew a walk. SEC hitting leader Thomas Berkery went2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, including a two-run two-bagger when MSUscored three runs in the fifth. LaNinfa capped his three-RBI afternoon witha sacrifice fly, also in the fifth inning.
MSU batted through the order in the third inning, scoring six runs, three onEdward Easley's fourth home run of the campaign. Michael Rutledge, who tookover for Easley at third base in the sixth inning, belted his fourthroundtripper of the year with a runner aboard to begin a four-run eighthinning for State.
Danny Hall (4-9) took the loss for the Delta Devils. He was charged with 13runs on 11 hits during his three-inning stay in the game. He was followed inthe game by Brandon Dotson, Keegan Porch and Ryan Roberson.
MVSU loaded the bases in the first inning with a strikeout/wild pitch, awalk and a Mark Vance infield single. Derrick Weeks drove in the game'sfirst run with an infield groundout before Lalor ended the inning with astrikeout.
After MSU's seven-run spree in the first, MVSU scored again. John Morganlegged out a triple to center field and scored on Kyle Latiolais' sacrificefly. But that would be the last of the scoring for the Delta Devils in theerror-free game. MVSU had just four base-runners over the final seveninnings, and two of those were erased with double plays.
State opens a key three-game SEC weekend series Friday against defending SECchamp and 2005 NCAA runner-up Florida. Mississippi State will salute one ofits past baseball stars, All-American outfielder and 15-year major leaguerDel Unser prior to Friday's 6:35 p.m. CDT series-opener.
