Bulldogs Score Twice In Eighth To Nip Skyhawks 8-6
May 16, 2006 | Baseball
* Official Statistics
* Official Statistics (PDF)
Mississippi State twice took 3-0 leads only to see the Skyhawks answer withthree-run innings.
In the eighth inning Thomas Berkery drew a one-out walk, Brian LaNinfablooped a single to shallow left, and after Joseph McCaskill grounded out,Hunter laced his tie-breaking single to left. State scored another run onback-to-back walks for an 8-6 lead, and relief pitcher Brett Cleveland(1-0), the last of four pitchers in the game, retired the Skyhawks in orderto nail down the win.
Edward Easley had a pair of hits, including a two-run single to cap MSU¹sthree-run second inning burst. Joseph McCaskill singled in two runs in thesixth inning, while Joseph Hunter and Jeff Butts had a pair of hits each.
UTM lead-off hitter Hideaki Sato went 3-for-5 and drove in a run while JasonHockaday added a pair of singles.
UTM scored three unearned runs in the fourth inning off MSU starter JonCrosby, who scattered five hits and struck out four over four innings. TrentHill allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits in two innings of relief,while Mike Valentine and Cleveland worked a scoreless inning each for MSU.
UTM starter Derek Link gave up five runs on seven hits while walking five.Carmeron, who replaced Link in the sixth, walked six during his 2-2/3 inningrelief stint.
The Bulldogs resume competition at Dudy Noble Field Thursday night, openinga crucial three-game SEC series against instate SEC rival Mississippi(34-19, 15-12 SEC). The series-opener is set for 6:30 p.m..
