Pigott Goes The Distance But UKats Clinch Series With 3-2 Win
May 14, 2006 | Baseball
* Official Statistics
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LEXINGTON, Ky. - A solid second straight complete-game pitching performance by Bulldog sophomore Justin Pigott was not enough for Mississippi State Saturday night in Lexington, Ky., as MSU dropped a series-clinching 3-2 decision to No. 7 Kentucky before 2,027 fans at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The SEC-leading Wildcats (39-11, 18-8 SEC), out-hit 8-6 by MSU, got solo home runs from John Shelby, Ryan Strieby and Sean Coughlin to nip the Bulldogs (33-18, 11-14 SEC) and claim their first series win over State since 1998.
Pigott, making his third career start, scattered six hits and did not issue a walk over eight innings, registering six strikeouts along the way. UK's first three hits in the game were solo blasts --- by John Shelby in the second inning and by Ryan Strieby and Sean Coughlin in back-to-back at-bats in the fourth.
Kentucky starter Craig Snipp (6-3) gave up seven hits and three walks over 7-1/3 innings. But Snipp and UK relief pitcher Andrew Albers combined to limit the Bulldogs to two runs, stranding nine MSU base-runners and getting an assist from the Wildcat defense, which turned double plays in the first and ninth innings.
Shelby launched his 15th home run of the year in the second inning to give UK the early lead. State tied the score in the fourth when Edward Easley registered State's first hit of the night, Thomas Berkery drew a walk, and two batters later Joseph McCaskill tied the score with a single to right that scored Easley.
Kentucky regained the lead with consecutive fence-clearing solo swats by Strieby and Coughlin in the fourth.
State stranded runners at second and third in the sixth inning and again in the eighth when the Bulldogs plated their final run. Easley opened the inning with a double, Brian LaNinfa singled to right. UK then replaced Snipp with relief ace Andrew Albers, and the first batter he faced, Joseph McCaskill's reached base when his hot shot to third base was misplayed, allowing Easley to score and drawing the Bulldogs to within a run at 3-2. Albers retired Joseph Hunter and Brad Jones to snuff out the MSU rally. After walking Mitch Moreland to open the ninth, Albers snared a line drive off the bat of Jeff Butts and doubled Moreland off at first and went on to register his fifth save of the year.
Easley had a double and a single to lead MSU's eight-hit attack while McCaskill drove in both MSU runs.
Michael Bertram had two hits to lead UK at the plate.
The Bulldogs and the Wildcats conclude their weekend series Sunday at Noon (CDT).
KENTUCKY 3, MISSISSIPPI STATE 2
MSU 000 100 010 --- 2-8-0UK 010 200 00x --- 3-6-1WP --- Craig Snipp (6-3). LP --- Justin Pigott (5-1). SV --- Andrew Albers (5). HR --- John Shelby (15), Ryan Strieby (16), Sean Coughlin (14). T --- 2:24 . ATT --- 2,027.
