Bulldogs Stepping Up At The Plate, On The Mound
Catcher Jason Burkley leads the way with four circuit blasts, the first two in the win at Louisiana Tech and one in each game of Saturday's weather-created doubleheader with JSU.
Matthew Brinson, Burkley and Jon Mungle launched consecutive home runs in Saturday's twinbill opener against JSU. It was the first time for such a feat at Mississippi State since 1989 when Richie Grayum, Pete Young and current MSU assistant coach Tommy Raffo homered consecutively against Memphis State.
Brinson, Burkley and Mungle came back in the second game Saturday and belted consecutive doubles.
Team hitting leader Casey Long (.500), outfielder Steve Gendron (.429) and designated hitter Jon Mungle (.316) share the team lead with three doubles each, while Michael Brown (.214), the lone Bulldog starter without a double thus far, has MSU's only triple.
MSU's pitching staff also turned in some noteworthy performances in the past week.
Junior Chris Young (1-0, 6.55), making his first career start in his 50th appearance, registered MSU's first complete-game pitching performance in a 6-5 MSU win at UL-Monroe (2/27).
Junior left-hander Joey Collums (1-0, 2.25) registered a career and staff season-high 15 strikeouts in a strong seven innings of work against Jacksonville State (3/3). Relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, who earned his first career decision in a four-inning game-ending stint at Louisiana Tech (2-26), fanned five of the six batters he faced the final two frames against JSU, giving MSU pitching 20 strikeouts in the game.
Senior righty Tanner Brock (2-0, 0.69) became MSU's first two-game winner in game one against JSU (Mar. 2) and sophomore southpaw Paul Maholm (1-1, 3.38) notched MSU's first double-digit strikeout total with 11 Ks in the twinbill's nightcap.
Junior Jacob Blakeney, sophomore Robby Goodson and freshman Saunders Ramsey made their Mississippi State pitching debuts with relief appearances during the past week.