Dunn Strikes Out 11, Goes The Distance As Bulldogs Take Series Opener
May 05, 2006 | Baseball
* Official Statistics (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Brooks Dunn fanned a career-high 11 batters andregistered his second consecutive complete game pitching performance Fridaynight as No. 21 Mississippi State (32-15, 10-11 SEC) posted a series-opening6-2 win over Florida (24-24, 6-16 SEC) at Dudy Noble Field. Dunn turned inhis first career route-going performance last weekend in a 7-2 win at No. 12South Carolina.
"He pitched great tonight," said coach Ron Polk. "He's a senior and he's putsome recent struggles behind him. And it helps to get a three-run home runin the first inning,"
The home run was delivered by Mitch Moreland and highlighted a four-runfirst inning for the Bulldogs. Jeffrey Rea and SEC hitting leader ThomasBerkery had base hits, brian LaNinfa lofted a sacrifice fly to left, JosephMcCaskill drew a walk and Moreland followed with his fifth home run of theyear.
State added a run in the second. Brad Jones doubled into the left fieldcorner, advanced to third base on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice flyby Rea for a 5-0 Mississippi State lead.
Dunn (8-4) blanked the Gators over the first three innings, stranding fourbase-runners. But the Gators got on the scoreboard in the fourth. AustinPride singled, Brian Leclerc doubled and Pride came home on a wild pitch.The Gators scored their other run in the eighth. Gavin Dickey found therightfield gap with a two-out double and Pride followed with a single toleft.
The Bulldogs put together a three-hit inning to score their sixth run in theseventh. Rea and Edward Easley singled and LaNinfa poked a double to left.
Florida starter Bryan Augenstein (8-5), making his first Friday night start,was charged with all six runs and all eight Bulldog hits during hisseven-inning stint. Augenstein walked two and struck out seven before givingway to David Hurst, who struck out two of the three Bulldog batters he facedin the eighth.
Dunn, who scattered eight hits but did not walk a batter, matched aseason-high for strikeouts by a Bulldog pitcher. John Lalor fanned 11 in a9-3 MSU win over Marist Feb. 24. He gave up three hits over the final fiveinnings
The top of the Bulldog batting order provided six of MSU's eight hits -including two each by Rea and Easley.
Brian Jeroloman and Pride had three hits each for Florida.
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. Sophomore lefty Justin Pigott (4-0,1.23) will open on the mound for MSU opposite Florida senior righthanderBryan Ball (4-7, 5.45).
