Dogs Unleash 18-Hit Attack In 14-2 Win Over Jacksonville State
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State (5-1-1) completed a doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville State Saturday evening, piling up a season-high 18 hits in a 14-2 win over the Gamecocks (7-7). The two teams close out their three-game weekend series Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Dudy Noble Field.
JSU used a pair of infield hits and an infield groundout to take a 1-0 lead off MSU starter Paul Maholm (1-1) in the first inning. But the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs answered with four runs in their half of the first and cruised to their fourth consecutive win of the young season.
Maholm registered a staff season-high 11 strikeouts, scattered six hits and walked one in six innings of mound work. Robby Goodson worked two innings of no-hit, shutout relief and Jacob Blakeney made his MSU pitching debut in the ninth, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Matthew Maniscalco and Matthew Brinson extended their season-opening hitting streaks to all seven games, with Brinson and Jason Burkley delivering three hits each. Burkley belted a two-run home run in the first inning, his second blast of the doubleheader and team-leading fourth of the season.
MSU's 3-4-5 hitters in the batting order, Brinson, Burkley and Jon Mungle, followed up their three-consecutive home run showing in the opening game with three straight doubles during a four-run, five-hit Bulldog scoring burst in the fourth inning.
Heath Comer had a double and a single to lead JSU at the plate. Starter Lucas McCollum (1-2) took the loss and was charged with 10 runs during his four-inning stint on the mound. Bobby Wynns worked the final four frames.
MSU junior lefty Joey Collums (0-0, 3.60) and JSU senior right-hander Jeremy Hudson (1-0, 2.77) are expected to draw starting mound duties in Sunday's series finale.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 14, JACKSONVILLE STATE 2 (Game 2)JSU 101 000 000 -- 2- 6-3MSU 402 421 01x -- 14-18-2WP -- Paul Maholm (1-1). LP -- Lucase McCullom (1-2).HR -- Jason Burkley (4). T -- 2:51.ATT -- 5926 (paid). 1,039 (actual).